À L'AMITIÉ

Well it's a huge honour to be the first to review AQUASERGE's latest album "L'amitie". The music is difficult for me to pin down but it's been called a blend of psychedelia, jazz and avant pop. The vocals are very understated, almost whimsical at times. We get complex and twisted melodies with plenty of clarinet and percussion and to my ears this sounds very French. The leader Julien Gasc played keyboards for a short time for one of his all time favourite bands STEREOLAB, and the drummer played with TAME IMPALA for a while.

"A L'amitie" is spacey to start then those almost mono-toned vocals take over with a beat, bass and atmosphere. Intricate sounds come and go. Piano and more also help out. A calm before 3 1/2 minutes as sounds beat and pulse then it starts to pick up as the organ creates atmosphere. The vocals are back again 5 minutes in as an earlier theme returns. Guitar takes the spotlight after 6 minutes. "Serge Singe" opens with fuzzed out guitar and a cool sounding rhythm to start. It settles down with clarinet as these contrasts continue. So much going on. "For Bob" as Gasc pointed out in an interview with "Quietus" has a beat inspired by Hip-Hop. It opens with vocals, a beat, atmosphere, piano and more. Some good backing vocals here as well. This is catchy with those understated vocals and we get some left of center guitar for a while then the clarinet joins in. "Sillage 1 & 2" and the next track which is a continuation of this one are my favourite tracks. Drums to start then this CAN-like rhythm kicks in along with piano. Love this stuff. It changes shades somewhat after 3 minutes. So good!

"Sillage 3" has more of that CAN-like beat. I love when the clarinet joins in. Piano after 2 1/2 minutes as it feels like it's winding down. "Je Viens" opens with sounds that echo as bass and some atmospheric keyboards join in. Vocals and clarinet also join in. I really like the backing vocals and mood of this one. It sounds like whistling after 3 minutes as it settles right down. Amazing song. "Travelling" opens with piano as the sounds of cars driving by can be heard. Clarinet helps out then this interesting rhythm kicks in. Strange synth? sounds arrive followed by more clarinet after 1 1/2 minutes. Voices can be heard in the background after 2 minutes. Twittering sounds only after 3 minutes then it ends with an experimental soundscape. "Preparation" is a short avant piece with outbursts of sounds coming and going. "Je Viens(Reprise)" has this guitar tone that reminds me of the sixties. Another short piece. "Ceci" opens with percussion-like sounds as dark piano lines come and go. Vocals after a minute will also come and go. This is a haunting song that turns experimental late to end it.

Man i'm so excited about discovering this band and without question one of my favourite releases from 2014.