Aug 7 2016
Recommended: Le Tigre des Platanes – “Disappearing”
The track “Disappearing/Keep the Sharks from your Heart” might be the best example of what the quartet Le Tigre des Platanes is capable of. The groove is thick and heavy and could conceivably be used as a weapon for blunt force trauma, but damn, that melody is made for dancing and leaping off a stage and the soundtrack for high-speed car chases. Catchy and ferocious, both. And that, actually, is the best way to sum up their 2013 release Disappearing.
The unison of the brass-reeds front line often sounds like a single, diversified instrument, yet their presence gives the impression of twice their number. And when they add keyboards and synths to the mix, the rhythm section of acoustic bass and drums latches right onto that and takes the quartet for a spin.
Even when they slow things down on “Spooning” and let the groove sway more than charge, there’s always gonna be one instrument (in this instance, baritone sax) that leaps forward and clears the path ahead. The exception that proves the rule is the formless “Without Warning, His Heart Stopped Beating,” which is the rare time the quartet discards its focused forward momentum for individual wandering from the song’s center. And while it’s nice to have that track for a little differentiation, the spirit of the album is found in tracks like opener “From the Top of the Mountain,” which should play from alarm clocks everywhere to get the world out of bed every morning.
A very fun and exciting album.
Your album personnel: Piéro Pépin (trumpet, bugle, keyboards, voice), Marc Démereau (baritone & alto saxophones, synthesizer, voice), Mathieu Sourisseau (acoustic bass) and Fabien Duscombs (drums).
Released in 2013 on the Mr Morezon label.
Listen to more album tracks at the label’s Bandcamp page.
Jazz from the Toulouse, France scene.
Available at: Bandcamp
An intriguing album released at the tail-end of 2014 is Whahay, the self-titled recording from the Whahay trio of bassist Paul Rogers, drummer Fabien Duscombs and multi-reedist Robin Fincker. The trio digs into the songbook of Charles Mingus, using the original compositions as the foundation from which to leap into a series of improvisations.
Apr 13 2019
Take a tour of the Mr Morezon label by downloading their free sampler
The Mr Morezon label has been on my radar for a number of years now. They only release a few albums each year, but each one has its own unique qualities and makes a pretty strong impression on me. For instance, the John Fahey-inspired recording by The Bedmakers was one of my favorite albums last year.
So, spend your Saturday digging through this free sampler and find what might become your next favorite album.
The album is retailing at Name Your Price, so take them up on their offer and put an amount of zero in the purchase amount field. There’s nothing stopping you from sending along some cash with your purchase or, instead, if you find you’re enjoying the sampler, then circling back later to it if you’re so inclined (you can always purchase the album a second time and give money that time).
However, the best way to show your appreciation for the sampler is to buy one of the albums featured on it. That, ultimately, is what these free samplers are meant to do… provide listeners a budget-friendly introduction to the label’s music, figuring you’ll hear something you like on it from one (or more) of the ensembles, and that’ll lead to an album purchase(s).
And be sure to check out some of the Mr Morezon recordings that have been featured here on Bird is the Worm.
You can download from the embedded player above or you can go grab it at the Mr Morezon bandcamp page. And while you’re there, you can check out all the other music they’ve got on that page.
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By davesumner • Free Music • 0 • Tags: Free Music, Mr. Morezon