Tête À Queue / Tete A Queue

The first album from the avant rock quartet Papa Boa, Tête à Queue (Tailspin) is a roller coaster of energy and surprises. The group features Bernard Falaise on guitars, Pierre Labbé on saxophone and flute, Rémi Leclerc on drums, and Frédéric Roverselli on bass. This CD presents 12 short songs (nothing over six minutes). These 12 anthems dominated by Falaise's screaming guitar and Leclerc's octopusian rhythms are 12 fine examples of twisted, deconstructed, revisited rock. Papa Boa benefited from guests on this record. Acadian singer Marie-Jo Thério lends her voice and exaggerates her accent on "Un Lutin," while storyteller Michel Faubert screams the story of "Jean Baribeau." Song structures and melodies recall Miriodor's album Jongleries Élastiques (Elastic Juggling) — Falaise and Leclerc comprised two-thirds of Elastic Juggling era Miriodor — as well as groups like Etron Fou Leloublan and Volapük, although moving beyond the clichés and further integrating improvisation in compositional and interpretational processes. Tête à Queue delivers a strong punch and reminds listeners that the song format is also a field for avant-garde exploration. The CD also marks the arrival at Ambiances Magnétiques of Bernard Falaise, a new creative force to reckon with. ~ François Couture, Rovi