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Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
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Reviews

Interférence Sardines — Zucchini
(Ambiances Magnétiques AM 095, 2001, CD / DL)

by Sean McFee, Published 2002-04-01

Zucchini Cover art

We were hideously late reviewing this fine ensemble’s debut recording, Mare Crisium (released in 1998, our review in the last issue). Hopefully we make up for it this time! Interférence Sardines, for those who still do not know, is one of the many bands making new music in the musique actuelle style, a blending of classical music, avant-garde experimentation, Québecois folk music and a generally playful spirit. A quintet with a dual violin attack, in addition to sax and all the usual rock instrumentation, these guys sound like a mix of Miriodor and Conventum, with a slightly more “art school” sheen in places. The line-up is augmented by several guests, including the highly underrated and ubiquitous Pierre Tanguay on percussion and toys. Like the first album, this is mostly instrumental, and when vocals pop up occasionally, they are either wordless, or the conveyors of surreal Dadaist imagery (one song translates as “A Staircase with a Nose”). Many avant-garde bands from Québec make use of this silly / serious dichotomy, and Interférence Sardines pull it off as well as anyone. As a sucker for moldy Canadian folk-prog, I can’t help but most enjoy those elements in the music here; however, there is something for almost all tastes, and a band like this is so good it’s hard not to like them whatever one’s background. An avant-prog essential.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 24, 2001 releases

Related artist(s): Interférence Sardines

More info
http://interferencesardines.bandcamp.com/album/zucchini

 

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