Due chitarre che improvvisano: Seino sul canale destro, Berthiaume su quello sinistro. Uno propenso a farsi drone o camuffarsi ambientale, l’altro a trasmutare assolo scorticati e devastati. L’insieme – tra i frippertronics, Frisell e l’avant odierna – non esalta e non annoia; stupisce, piuttosto, per la grande varietà di accenti che espone – par di ascoltare dieci strumenti diversi, e tutti inappuntabili. (6.5/10)

Le label montréalais Ambiances Magnétiques continue sa série Jazz avec ce jeune trio, dirigé par le saxophoniste Philippe Lauzier. Auteur de la majorité des thèmes, Lauzier a aussi adapté deux pièces tirées des Mikrokosmos de Bartók, et le contrebassiste Miles Perkin contribue de deux compositions. Si l’album commence de façon plutôt polie, l’usage de la clarinette basse et du soprano varie judicieusement le son, et dès la quatrième piste, Broken Glass, le groupe explore un terrain un peu plus glissant. Les deux pièces de Bartók fonctionnent très bien dans ce contexte et rappellent celles du trio Romano / Sclavis / Texier. Un petit bémol: les pièces, plutôt courtes, ne permettent pas au groupe de vraiment «faire lever» le tout, quoique la batterie de Kuster sur la finale Ivresse (un thème qui rappelle un peu Thomas Chapin) laisse entrevoir un autre registre. Un quatre étoiles pour un début prometteur.

July 5th, 1961 is reminiscent of exactly that: a return to gritty ‘60s Britpop, sprinkled with a dash of B-52’s overtones. The Eastern Stars are a Brooklyn-based duo who are truly onto something. The male/female dueling vocal melodies create a creepy retro feel – I mean “creepy” in a good way – comparable to Said Sadly by The Smashing Pumpkins (Iha/Gordon). The instrumentation is simple but well thought out, and – while metaphorical – the lyrics are believable.

The first two tracks on the album (They Know What To Do and Lovely Love) are primarily acoustic. From that point on, however, the album begins to define itself through programmed beats, light distortions, and gentle feedback while still keeping a rugged pop feel. The band thrive on keeping listeners on their toes, as you never know who’s singing the next line or what the next song holds. Little Punk is my favorite: it blends soothing programmed rhythms with the sounds of early B-52’s.

The band are not trying to be something they’re not, which on some songs creates minor flaws. I found myself at times wanting a fuller sound, as certain tracks felt stripped down and bare. But I’m sure such an approach can be used as a blank canvas toward evolution on future albums.

I would recommend this record to anyone who likes creative, semi-experimental music. It is fun, meaningful music that you won’t hear on MTV. The Eastern Stars most likely will never become stars at all, but I’m sure we’re all okay with that.