Each month the good folks at Aquarius Records pick a disc that they think shines above the rest. Read their reviews and listen to a couple of sample tracks.
Maybe it's the Slint reunion (just ask us about how awesome that show was!!) or those for-now-aborted Bastro re-releases we were waiting for, but we've kinda been feeling the post-rock itch 'round here lately. So this disc by French instrumental post-rock outfit Chevreuil showed up at just the right time. They remind us of a comforting Don Caballero, a slightly scatterbrained Circle, or a more warm n' relaxed version of Aquarius faves Feuhler. And the use of synth brings in comparisons to local boys Crime In Choir too.
First released in 2003 by the French label Ruminance, now slightly updated and released domestically by Sick Room, Chateauvallon consists of eleven instrumental post-rock jams that just do us right. We especially like how their hypnotic grooves and repetitive riffery are allowed some wobbly breathing room ... they're far from sloppy but seem to get intentionally off-kilter and fucked-up sounding, like a dizzy Discipline (King Crimson), while paradoxically remaining tight as an Albini-recorded drum (which some of the drums on here are, in fact). Even in math rock, sometimes 2 + 2 = 5 can work, it seems. These derailments and double-exposures that they work into their songs
serve to increase the pleasurable tensions that are always a post-rock calling-card ... as is the mixture of mellow and pretty with the sudden on-rush of the hard and metallic which Chevreuil also expertly employ herein.
So, if you've got a soft spot for the post-rock, or want to try some on for size, this is our latest fave in the field for sure!
- the staff of Aquarius Records
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