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Andre LaFosse — Disruption Theory
(7d Media no#, 2000, CD / DL)

by Mike Ezzo, Published 2000-10-01

Disruption Theory Cover art

Here is a guitarist whose playing has an assuredly original kind of American twang to it. With the exception of some drum machine work, all the sounds Andre LaFosse uses to produce his music are made by guitar. If the thought of drum machine turns you off, however, read on anyway: it actually fits right into his scheme of music making and the results are formidable. Besides, the way the machine is employed is such that no human could ever perform the patterns he uses. LaFosse gives you six lengthy instrumental portraits on this CD, and does a fine job of imprinting his own musical personality, rather than skipping around to various odd styles. His six-string is pumped up with energy, creating a firestorm of pyrotechnics and burning sounds, but with a sensitivity to weirdness and experimentation where need be. The relentless surge and brisk pace of most of these tunes are such that only a drum machine could ever keep up. I like how he settles into muscular grooves with a twisted sort of bending and slurring of tones, at times bathed in distortion, at others emulating a softer, Chapman Stick texture. You may notice a dearth of name-dropping in this review and that is because I can't really compare LaFosse to anyone I know of. Perhaps Hendrix could be pointed to, but only as an iconic influence. He seems to have roots in blues, jazz, 70s rock, and probably a bit of classical and experimental music as well. (Classical guitar training is likely.) And he utilizes it all to create an album that is usually made by people who can only capture “atmospheres” (since they can't play guitar well). “Chops” are often referred to disparagingly by people who work in experimental idioms, but Disruption Theory reveals the difference it makes when a player knows what he is doing. Here is one that deserves the title “unique.”

Filed under: New releases, Issue 20, 2000 releases

Related artist(s): Andre LaFosse

More info
http://andrelafosse7d.bandcamp.com/album/disruption-theory

 

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