HAPPY WRETCHED FAMILY

Non Credo is a duet consisting of two multi-instrumentalist, the beautiful Kira Vollman and Joseph Berardi. They first burst on the scene with the 1988 release Reluctant Hosts. So, the band has been around for some time and this album is their second release.

It took them seven years to release this effort after the great Reluctant Hosts, but it was definitely worth the wait. Vollman and Berardi not only managed to do an album that was a worthy successor to the debut, but actually created something that in many ways surpasses it.

It is extremely difficult to define exactly what kind of music this pair plays. Anything goes, basically. Sometimes we hear them doing some sophisticated chamber rock in the style of the masters of the genre, Univers Zero, sometimes we hear them doing heavier stuff, like the metal parts in Piano Urine. A lot of their music is indeed, like most avant-garde, based on dissonance, but it is obvious that they have an ear for a good melody as well. So they combine these sometimes very catchy tunes with experiments. And it all works amazingly well. You never get a feeling like anything is forced or out of place. An important element is the voice of Kira Vollman, which could put Non Credo in the category of zeuhl music, especially if I were being nitpicky. Vollman uses a lot of different vocal techniques, just like Vander in Magma, so that so many different and ambitious sounds emanate from her. It is truly amazing. She also sings in a very operatic way, which is another zeuhl characteristic. But anyway you look at it, the music speaks for itself. And the music is still as fresh, original and sounds as wonderful now as it did 15 years ago. If you are a fan of challenging music and do not mind a bit of vocal havoc, then I urge you to buy this record.

The duo are helped on a couple of tracks by Bernard Sauser-Hall on keyboards. His contribution is most noticeable on the brilliant Piano Urine, a true portrayal of all the aspects of the avant-garde. Not that the duo needs any help really. They manage just fine on their own. Berardi is mostly an excellent drummer, but he put down some keyboards and guitar parts as well. Kira Vollman is a superb vocalist, using the operatic qualities of her voice to her advantage and giving the music a zeuhl edge. She also plays keyboards, guitars, basses and the clarinet. They truly are a talented pair, but unfortunately they do not get the recognition they deserve.

This music takes a lot of risks and most of them pay off. That's what distinguishes the good experimenters from the bad. Non Credo know when to draw the line, especially when they find a sound or melody they like. This is not for fans of safe, middle of the road music, or music written in the established musical forms that are deemed ťprettyŤ. Non Credo, like most of the best experimental bands, create their own aesthetic values and if you give them a chance, they will blow your mind!

NON CREDO are the dynamic duo of Kira Vollman and Joe Berardi. Both multi-instrumentalists with Joe mainly known as a drummer, while Kira sings soprano and writes the lyrics that are filled with dark humour. She mainly plays clarinet and bass clarinet, but both add keys, guitar and bass. Joe adds marimba, radio, cello and viola as well. They released their debut "Reluctant Hosts" in 1988, and "Happy Wretched Family" is album number two from 1995.

They expanded some of the instruments here when compared to the debut, but there is probably the best balance between the instrumental work and vocals on this album. Still, their third, and so far final album from 2006 is a step up from both in my opinion. Yes they are like fine wine aren't they? That final record "Impropera" is vocal heavy, but man, what a show from Kira! So impressive.

"Happy Wretched Family" was released on the Victo label out of Quebec which is cool. It's an hour long with seventeen tracks. We get one guest adding piano on three tracks. I do have a top three, but this album, while adventerous with lots of twists and turns, just seems so uniform sounding. The second half of this record is strong beginning with "Hacked" and that opening haunting soundscape that is interrupted by a man saying "What is the meaning of this intrusion?" then it turns experimental times ten, and intense. A scream around 2 1/2 minutes then bass and marimba.

My favourite on here is "Miliza Three Flights Down" which opens with these funny soprano expressions. Wait until "Impropera"! Male vocals too but man she is something before 3 minutes. Her vocals even get demented before 5 minutes. I also really like "Looking For Eddie", it's just too much fun and my final top three. I like "Entzauberung" as well for the strings, accordion and other sounds that may not be so prevalent on the rest of this album. "Snake Oil" is great for those piano and theatrical vocal outbursts. And the bass. "Pay & Clean" is haunting late but the next track "Tokyorama" is the brightest piece on here.

This album ends strongly with some haunting sections on the closer, but really from "Hacked" on this gets better. "Big Teeth" always need a mention. There will be some changes by the time we get to their third album "Impropera", their most entertaining album to date. As for "Happy Wretched Family" it's a solid 4 stars, but certainly not for everyone.