TABLEAU NO. 1/ SELF-TITLED

This 2-on-1 release is unusual in the respect that it is set so that the listener plays the follow-up, then the debut, which given the music on 'Tableau N˚ 1' is quite brave. This album was recorded in 1979 by French guitarist Jean Pierre Alarcen and is a neo-classical symphony in three movements. What I found intriguing about the album is the way that he utilises the level of sound, as well as the music itself. This means that when the album is quiet, it is really quiet, but when it is loud, IT IS DEAFENING! In fact, I nearly crashed the car when it moved from a quiet section to a loud one with no warning, as I had turned the volume up nearly to maximum in an attempt to hear what was going on. This makes it an interesting album to listen to, and I have yet not been able to play it all of the way through without making volume adjustments of one kind or another (oh, and I don't play it in the car anymore).

While the follow-up is more of an acquired taste, the debut is a jazz-rock album in the area of Colosseum II or Weather Report. It also contains some singing, while 'Tableau' is totally instrumental. The band comes across well and Jean has a very fluid style. It took nineteen years for Jean to release a sequel to 'Tableau', and of the two that is definitely the more difficult to fully comprehend, but it certainly is interesting. For those who enjoy jazz-rock with some classical stylings that is certainly out of the ordinary. I enjoyed it.

Originally appeared in Feedback #67, Apr 02