CLACOSMIQUE

Formed in 2005 in Strasbourg,Camembert are a Jazz/Avant/Zeuhl/Prog band led by bassist Pierre Wawrzyniak, guitarist Vincent Sexauer and drummer Philémon Walter.As time went by, additional musicians joined the band to form an unusual seven-piece act with trumpets,trombones,harps,vibraphones and xylophones among the usual rock instrumentation.The band with a personal style of its own released a debut-EP in 2009,entitled ''Clacosmique''.

An all instrumental affair,''Clacosmique'' balances dangerously between Brass Rock,Jazz-Rock and KING CRIMSON-esque Progressive Rock with strong elements from World Music.The EP is highlighted by the two extended instrumental compositions ''Untung Untungan'' and ''Le vautour de Mars'' clocking at over 10 minutes,where the big time brass section is blended harmonically with complicated electric passages and mellower moments with a folkier edge.The use of xylophones,harps and vibraphones is heavy but always carefully executed,while the guitar work of Sexauer is trully interesting.There are also a couple of very short introductions to the longer pieces of the album,along with the two closing compositions,which can be regarded as one. ''Bernard l'ermite'' parts 1 & 2 do not differ much than the two long instrumentals,highly-executed Jazz-Rock with strong brass instrumentation,maybe a bit more melodic at the softer parts,but still musically challenging and rich.

For fans of Jazz-Rock,Avant-Prog and Zeuhl this album will end up among their premier preferences.Nice musicianship with the tracks though sounding a bit similar but certainly the quality is high.Recommended.