HR145 - Nos Yeux Aveugles (N.Y.A.) - Loin Sur La Digue - C60 — 1989
|
SIDE A:
CHAUSSE-TRAPE L'OEIL DE LA BALEINE |
SIDE B:
JEU D'EAU ABYSSE, ABYSSAL |
REVIEW by Jerry Kranitz
There’s not much info to be found about French band Nos Yeux Aveugles other than some Discogs entries and the c/o Pascal Guillot in the tape credits contact information. But the music on this C60 is a stellar example of sound exploration and mood-craft.
The nearly 20-minute ‘Chausse-Trape’ opens the set with an eerily dreamy atmosphere, a steadily repetitive but distant drumbeat, various tinkling and pulsating effects, and slowly drifting soundscape waves. Sci-fi effects are introduced later in the piece, adding an alien element to the mix. It’s all quietly understated, and the dueling sense of mind massage and dread is just as meditative as it is disconcerting. Sheer beauty.
‘L’oeil De La Baleine’ is next and quite a bit different. It begins with electronic insect buzzing against a darkly pulsating backdrop that lasts for about two minutes before transitioning to what a succession of musical serenades for a chirping bird sanctuary. First, we hear a jaunty, melodic organ accompaniment, followed by jungle rhythms and swirling space effects, and then a stirring keyboard melody with haunted house electronics. Somewhat abruptly, the last couple minutes consist of a brief dirge of windswept noise before winding down with a sci-fi soundtrack finale. Very interesting piece. Lots happening in 11 minutes.
Side B kicks off with the 17-minute ‘Jeu D’eau’. It begins innocently enough with a rushing stream in the woods. But then a jolly organ grinder melody joins in before being briefly taken over by an oncoming wash of atmospheric menace, an array of intermittent effects, and all the while the stream continues to merrily flow. I love the blend of whimsically surreal melody, ambience, rhythmic pulse, field recordings, and freaky effects.
Finally, ‘Abysse, Abyssal’ opens with a dancefloor sense of minimal tribal grooves, accompanied by deep breathing exercises, lightly melodic ambience, whispery voices, camping out with the crickets, and more. This is the most musical of the four tracks, though it’s still a sound and effects collage fest.
Overall, this is a fantastic tape! N.Y.A. excel at taking what seem like starkly contrasting themes and blending them into surprisingly streamlined sound explorations. Loin Sur La Digue deserves the listener’s undivided 60-minute attention.
There’s not much info to be found about French band Nos Yeux Aveugles other than some Discogs entries and the c/o Pascal Guillot in the tape credits contact information. But the music on this C60 is a stellar example of sound exploration and mood-craft.
The nearly 20-minute ‘Chausse-Trape’ opens the set with an eerily dreamy atmosphere, a steadily repetitive but distant drumbeat, various tinkling and pulsating effects, and slowly drifting soundscape waves. Sci-fi effects are introduced later in the piece, adding an alien element to the mix. It’s all quietly understated, and the dueling sense of mind massage and dread is just as meditative as it is disconcerting. Sheer beauty.
‘L’oeil De La Baleine’ is next and quite a bit different. It begins with electronic insect buzzing against a darkly pulsating backdrop that lasts for about two minutes before transitioning to what a succession of musical serenades for a chirping bird sanctuary. First, we hear a jaunty, melodic organ accompaniment, followed by jungle rhythms and swirling space effects, and then a stirring keyboard melody with haunted house electronics. Somewhat abruptly, the last couple minutes consist of a brief dirge of windswept noise before winding down with a sci-fi soundtrack finale. Very interesting piece. Lots happening in 11 minutes.
Side B kicks off with the 17-minute ‘Jeu D’eau’. It begins innocently enough with a rushing stream in the woods. But then a jolly organ grinder melody joins in before being briefly taken over by an oncoming wash of atmospheric menace, an array of intermittent effects, and all the while the stream continues to merrily flow. I love the blend of whimsically surreal melody, ambience, rhythmic pulse, field recordings, and freaky effects.
Finally, ‘Abysse, Abyssal’ opens with a dancefloor sense of minimal tribal grooves, accompanied by deep breathing exercises, lightly melodic ambience, whispery voices, camping out with the crickets, and more. This is the most musical of the four tracks, though it’s still a sound and effects collage fest.
Overall, this is a fantastic tape! N.Y.A. excel at taking what seem like starkly contrasting themes and blending them into surprisingly streamlined sound explorations. Loin Sur La Digue deserves the listener’s undivided 60-minute attention.