Grain

The third installment in Klaxon Gueule's adventures showcases a mature trio that continues to evolve, albeit at a slower rate. After the complete transformation that occurred between Bavard and Muets, Grain solidifies the group's new grounds, expanding its pastures without leaving old ones behind. Michel F. Côté, Bernard Falaise, and Alexandre St-Onge display some of the highest forms of listening among electro-acoustic improvisers. They are not content with mere textures, however rich and complex they may be. The ten pieces on this short CD (42 minutes) feel like songs. Improvised, they nevertheless sound like they have been structured and polished. To take the music further, the trio expands to a quintet on five tracks with the addition of Sam Shalabi and Christof Migone, both on electronics. The two guests have become pillars of the "new" (i.e., noise-based, electronics-based) improvisation in Montréal and are involved with members of Klaxon Gueule in various other projects. Their integration is seamless, enriching the music with levels of sound pollution that help mesh individual contributions into a unified group sound without obliterating them. Klaxon Gueule pulls out an impressive balancing act between rhythm and texture, between forward motion and abstract stillness. Grain is a solid third album, similar but nothing like its older brother. ~ François Couture, Rovi