It's music that draws from mentalities, not modes of expressions. It combines elements of the well-known polystylism of the downtown New York jazz scene, the unruliness of German free jazz within progressive rock structure, the ingenuity of Leon Theremin, the easy flow of minimalism, the attitude of postmodern classical music, and the spirituality of the Beat generation.

And that's what's so invigorating about [iks]; it's a uniting concept and creative force; it's a vision and an approach to music. Too structured for Musique Actuelle and too wild for traditional jazz, the result is not eclectic and disparate, it's a new language. The influences range from classical to pop all the way through to Afro-American. The musical themes are strongly stated, the ideas and goals clear, but the melodic phrasing and the playing is anything but hackneyed.

As mentioned, [iks] isn't entirely unique in this respect. They're a part of a fresh new mind-set, one that explores all the limits of technology within an acoustic world, whilst producing music that doesn't put any focus on the technology. They possess that rare ability to transcend genre labels despite an albeit classifiable approach.

The band does have its quirks, but I can't think of one off-putting aspect other than it's been so long for them to produce another album.

[iks] is available on the Ora music label. You can sample some of their music on Myspace.

Discography

Punctum (1997)
Ora
All music published by Punctum Publishing (SOCAN/SODRAC). Montreal, September 10—October 10, 1997.
Tracks: Strato; Ze...; Le Chat; Si vis bellum; Epitaphion; Die Kreisel: im Taumel der Flucht; Escepticismo; Slide in the Zamboni Zone; Quelques pas dans l'inachevé (un).
Personnel: Jean-Sébastien Nicol: drums; Pierre Alexandre Tremblay: bass; Jean- François Paiement: piano, keyboard; Sylvain Pohu: guitars; Sébastien Arcand- Tourigny: saxophone.
Collaborators : Dice B: rap/voice; David Fafard: percussions.

Une Heure Vole au Temps (1999)
Ora
All music published by Punctum Publishing (SOCAN/SODRAC). Montreal, April—May, 1999.
Tracks: INTRO: Le vol; UN MONDE: Déplaçant mers et monts...; Combien de lectures d'un étalon flou?; UNE VIE: La poursuite—survie, lot quotidien; Le combat—dualité, bien et mal; La contemplation d'un moment fuyant; L'impact—puissance, tout ou rien; Les méandres de la concupiscence; UN SENS: En ouvrant les yeux; Toutes les étoiles; Déchiffrer l'horizon; Plus qu'une poussière; CONCLUSION: L'envol.
Personnel: Jean-Sébastien Nicol: drums; Sébastien Côté: percussions; Guillaume Coutu-Dumont: percussions; Julien Roy: percussions; Pierre Alexandre Tremblay: bass and direction; Nicolas Boucher: piano; Sylvain Pohu: guitars; Jean-François Blais: tenor saxophone; Sébastien Jean: trumpet

Le fil (2000)
Ora
All music published by Punctum Publishing (SOCAN/SODRAC). Morin Heights, Québec, September 6-12, 2000.
Tracks: Le chat (remiks A); Seul au monde; Le seuil; Avoir su; Le chat (remiks B); No Nu Tune; Cortège (du destin); So Yellow; La sincérité du geste; Le chat (remiks C).
Personnel: Sébastien Côté: drums; Pierre Alexandre Tremblay: bass and direction; Nicolas Boucher: piano and sampler; Sylvain Pohu: guitars; Jean-François Blais: tenor saxophone.
Collaborators: Rémi Bolduc: alto saxophone (Track #6); Pascal Rollin: narration (Track #7)

Le journal de sable (The Sand Diaries) (2002)
Ora
All music published by Punctum Publishing (SOCAN/SODRAC). Montreal, July 16-22, 2001.
Tracks: Courir pour rien; L'éphémère; La brûlerie (45° à l'ombre); L'oeil de la chèvre; Temps désertés; La belote; Afriks; Dakar; Toubab !; L'âne qui tousse; La carcasse; L'ennui; Carte postale; Le journal de sable.
Personnel: Sébastien Côté: drums; Guillaume Coutu-Dumont: percussions; Pierre Alexandre Tremblay: bass and direction; Nicolas Boucher: piano and sampler; Sylvain Pohu: guitars; Jean-François Blais: tenor saxophone.
Collaborators: Idrissa "Zal" Cissokho: kora (track #7); El Hadji Fall Diouf: sabar (Tracks #1, 14); Pape Abdou Kkarim Diouf: djembé (Tracks #1, 14)

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