Misere et Cordes: Au Ni Kita

Glenn Astarita

Senior Contributor since 1997

Longtime contributor to AAJ and Downbeat, Jazz Review, EjazzNews, Radio DirectX.

Recent articles (1,629 total)

Published: September 1, 2001

“Misere et Cordes” signifies a quartet of French guitarists who cleverly meld an amalgamation of electro/acoustic-based discordant musings with experimental inclinations that often parallels some of the work brought to fruition by guitarist, Derek Bailey and others of note. Here, Pascal Battus performs on “surrounded” guitar, which encompasses amplified percussion, e-bow, radio and electronics, whereas Emmanuel Petit utilizes the acoustic and Dominique Repecaud handles electric guitar duties while Camel Zekri multitasks between classical guitar and various electronics. Throughout, the artists’ provide the willing listener with subtle inflections, oscillating countercurrents, bizarre sounds, brazenly executed crunch chords, alien soundscapes and interactive exchanges. However, the band does maintain an abstract sense of rhythm and flow amid the respective musicians’ nimble picking and fluent developments. Meanwhile, the quartet also elicits lucid imagery of mechanical gears grinding away, galloping horses, and dripping water atop fragmented or at times, disfigured micro and minimalist style themes. Essentially, “Au Ni Kita” makes for a curiously interesting endeavor.

Potlatch

Track Listing: Tet raz; Eg sumo; Analog; Thinging; Zone; Argil; Au Ni Kita

Personnel: Pascal Battus; surrounded guitar: Emmanueal Petit; acoustic guitar: Dominique Repecaud; electric guitar: Camel Zekri; classical guitar & electronics

Record Label: Potlatch Records
Style: Modern Jazz