ALCO FRISBASS

ALCO FRISBASS are a relatively new band out of France, a duo in fact of multi instrumentalists Patrick Dufour and Fabrice Chouette. We do get some guests helping out including violinist Archemede De Martin, guitarist Jacob Holm(WHITE WILLOW) and Thierry Payssan(MINIMUM VITAL) on mellotron. The music is very much keyboard driven as there are a variety of them, and there is a Canterbury flavour to this as well. I just can't get over how amazing the compositions are though. Complex sure, but they are just so interesting and I really like the melancholic vibe this recording has as well.

"La Suspension Ethereenne" features some relaxed Fender Rhodes as the violin comes in over top. It then kicks into gear at 1 1/2 minutes as the rhythm section and violin standout. A calm follows before it kicks in again this time with the mellotron helping out. Check out the keyboards before 3 1/2 minutes. I love the melancholic synths before 6 minutes as the song continues to change in tempo and mood. More violin after 7 minutes but check out the guitar after 9 minutes. So good! "Pas A Pas" has some different keyboard sounds to start and they sound amazing. Love the melancholy as the drums join in. Man there is so much going on and it all moves me for some reason. A calm with piano only before 4 1/2 minutes as other sounds start to join in including synths and violin. It fades out to end it.

"Induction Magnetique" has these catchy pulsating keyboards with percussion and bass as it builds. This is a real toe-tapper. Some vocal melodies as well before 1 1/2 minutes which suits the music really well. A happy tune no doubt. Piano then comes to the fore followed by distorted organ sounds then mellotron 3 1/2 minutes in. Piano leads again but it's interesting that we get the same melody but with different instruments leading. The guitar leads after 7 minutes then mellotron 8 minutes in. "La Danse Du Pantin" is kind of jazzy with drums, Fender Rhodes and bass. Some crazy keyboard sounds come and go over top. The organ is a nice touch before 2 minutes. A calm with piano only arrives a minute later as the bass joins in then it builds. Simply a great sounding song, but they all are to be honest.

"Escamotage" has so much going on early on as the ever present drums and keyboard sounds lead the way. Some organ and violin come and go then mellotron after 3 minutes. I love the guitar that joins in. Sounds like a horn before 5 minutes as it calms down. So good and we're only half way through this song(gasp!). Hey we even get some whistling 8 minutes in and later around 11 minutes. "Judith Coupeuse De Tete" is the closer and it opens with keys as the drums and organ join in. Back to piano only then picked guitar and organ as it builds some although this is all fairly laid back so far. I'm not the biggest fan of the sound after 5 minutes that lasts about a minute. A calm follows and I like the jazzy vibe to follow. It ends with some crazy applause which I think the band inserted for humour.

I saw many Avant fans praising this album so I was very surprised when I first heard it as I assumed it would be more in that vein but it's not. Without question this will be near the top of my "Best of 2015" list at the end of the year. A must!