GILBERT ARTMAN'S LARD FREE

This is by far my favourite LARD FREE release. What really does it for me is the Jazz element on this one. Gilbert had played in a Free-Jazz band prior to forming LARD FREE, and so those influences come to the fore on this album. The next two studio albums they put out are more electronic falvoured in the HELDON style. It's really cool as well to have such pleasant music suddenly be crashed by dissonant sounds, this happens on this record a lot. By the way the sax is a nice touch throughout this album.

"Warinabaril" is my favourite song on here.The bass / light drum melody is very catchy as it gets louder with added sax a minute in.Then a minute later the guitar absolutely trashes the sound with some screaming and ripping sounds. "12 Ou 13 Juillet Que Je Sais D'Elle" is divided into 2 parts. Part 1 begins with reserved sax sounds as synths come in and build. Electronics are added after 3 1/2 minutes bringing some dissonance to the proceedings. Part 2 has a jazzy climate as bass throbs lightly with dissonant guitar. Sax after 1 1/2 minutes as the song developes an eastern flavour.

"Honfleur Ecarlate" opens with some nice bass lines before drums and sax join in.The guitar after 1 1/2 minutes is raw,distorted and out of control. "Acide Framboise" features electronics as guitar and drums join in after a minute. I really like this one. The guitar makes some noise 5 1/2 minutes in. "Livarat Respirated" opens with vibes as bass comes in. Sax 1 1/2 minutes in. Guitar comes and goes. This is a very slow moving track. "Culturez-Vous Vous- Memes" features electronics that sort of hum but then there are also waves of sound too. It stops 4 minutes in as piano tinkles away briefly to end it.

Like Sean I believe this one is a 4.5 star album and a very influential one at that.