LA POURSUITE DE L'EXCELLENCE

Vialka are a french avant-prog outfit consisting of Eric Boros and Marylise Frecheville (and avant prog fans will be interested to know Bob Drake was involved in the recording of this album). Eric handles guitar and trumpet, Marylise drums, and they both sings. In many tracks, they layer their instruments, so the studio sound is quite full.

The music they play is angular and rhythmic, clearly avant although with some minor math and folk influences, but it is also quite accessible. Each of the 8 tracks on this album features at least one vocal melody that will stick in your head, although (despite their short run times) most of them actually have at least three different distinct themes. This is one of those albums that seems to end too fast; the album doesn't even surpass the 30 minute mark, but each song is enjoyable from start to finish so it seems even quicker.

My favorite track on this album is Footage of an Uproar, which builds from horns and guitars to thick, pulsing bass, up to an aggressive chorus: "Music is almost clever manipulation of tones and rhythmic changes .... almost clever dilapidation changes of tones with reactionary lyrics", backed by charging guitars and pounding drums.

If you are looking for accessible, catchy avant-prog with a bit of a punk spirit, this album is an absolute must.