EXISTENCES INVISIBLES

French multi-instrumentalist from Paris, born 1958, who's career started actually in late-70's as part of several unknown groups.During the 80's he collaborates with several musicians, starts music lessons and courses and even sets up a few concerts.In the 90's Balestracci begins his involvement in producing music for movies, documentaries, ballets and TV reports.In 2001 he finished the creation of his debut ''Existences invisibles'', released on Carbon 7, a label being ran by ex-Univers Zéro members Guy Segers and Alan Ward.

Needless to say that after such a long experience in the music field, Balestracci is the one and only person performing the material of the show.Unfortunately ''Existences invisibles'' sounds closer to Free Improvisation than Progressive Music, incorporating elements from Electronic, Jazz and New Age music, and that's a pitty because the man known how to play.The album, split in fourteen short pieces, presents different, dreamy soundscapes, coming as a blend of natural and programmed instrumentation, and are mainly delivered as a background orchestral/Electronic synthesizer music interrupted either by light jazzy guitars and pianos or by a jazzy drumming, supported by bass.There are also many other sounds here, like sound effects or programmed strings, but the result is deeply unconvincing.The absence of structural parts, the lack of energy or even some more virtuosic themes is just dissapointing.Additionally the heavy use of sampled instrumentation is another huge disadvantage, as the album sounds so cheap and mechanical all the way.Last but not least comes the overall mood, which is totally cold and inhuman with no sign of any moving or emotional texture.The extended length of the album, does not help either, in my opinion listening to such kind of music experiment more than 20 minutes is an achievement.

Plastic and unnatural musicianship with zero level in energy and melody.Simply boring and far from recommended.