A COMPLEX NATURE

In 2004, master guitarist Frederic L'Epee was back in top form... and with a vengeance. After dissolving the great French rock fusion band Philharmonie in 1998, L'Epee broke away from the clean and seamless sophistry of his past project and formed a looser, harder and more versatile union of great players; bassist Stephane Bertrand, drummer Volodia Brice, and his student Julien Vecchie on second guitar. With precise polyrhythms in one hand and urgent rebellion in the other, these guys rip apart eight tracks of some rough-edged rock with a jazzman's sensibility, hopping between manic, Hendrix- tainted guitar stank and quirkey white man's jazz.

The harmonic abrasions of 'Les Deux Mondes' start us off and lead into the smart and powerful riffing that is the trademark of this ensemble before quieting down and rising again to finish the job. Demanding, melodic, marvelous. 'Souterrain' continues in this mode, and 'Seducteur Innocent' percolates with chunky chords, jazz breaks and nice twin-guitar harmonies. 'Compassion' calms things down a bit and meanders soothingly, showing hints of Frippism, 'Manchild' reflects the arithmetic progressions of Don Caballero and the math scene, while 'Impatience' bops with a nod to the melancholy electric jazz of Joe Pass and Wes Montgomery topped-off by some heavy mud. 'Le Masque Rouge' finishes this very pleasing CD.

Intricate without being arrogant, rockin' without being low-brow, Frederic L'Epee's Yang comes most highly recommended, especially if you're in the mood for a change.