Brume: After The Battle (A Chronicle Of The Joy Of Life) and 7 Kisses
Two different albums by Christian Renou aka Brume from the depths of time and space. Beautifully released by EE Tapes in thick 7" cardboard boxes covers.
They are different in terms of the compositional process and approach as well as the ideas for music used by Christian here.
''After the battle'' is more electroacoustic and uses different techniques than the latter which you might associate with musique concrete. Certain structures, textures and tonalities sound very often like a link to what has been happening in those genres between 1950's and now, as if it was empowered by post-industrial abrasive characteristics. But since Brume is an ever changing and an ever expanding hybrid of multitude of different elements - you cannot mistake it for anything else. There is a some sort of noble, grandiose energy that Christian elevates his tracks to. ''Broken hearts'' - his third track here proves that. and also, once again defines his style - on the outside you can easily recognize all the elements that are involved in it, but as it progresses the listener understands how deceived he was and brings out many more elements. And then when we understand the whole musical conundrum, everything comes to an unexpected halt and takes us somewhere else, somewhere completely elsewhere. That's the next track ''Stalingrad''.
With Brume - second or the third or even the fourth listening is necessary - everything coincides with things not easily recognizable and things that are not so obvious. It gives you the chance to see many other elements of the puzzle and hey, it's so satisfying.
''7 kisses'' is a completely different story, refreshing album of ''computer music''. Made with computers that were not necessarily working and as Christian pointed - no analogue equipment has been used here. If you would like to quickly jump to some sort of a conclusion or rash re-evaluation when it comes to classifying this lovely piece - I would go as far as comparing it with the sound of late Peter Rehberg of Pita and Mego as well as some more experimental aspects of Autechre music. But as always - this is too rash and too quick - Brume has something entirely different to offer. ''7 kisses'' has this pointillism aesthetic to it - a sort of a very well defined hologram structure that is both closed and shaped by a strict modus operandi of the whole album. There is no unnecessary details to it. The use of computer as a tool adds a specific shape to the whole sound of this album. It is still Brume as we know it - with a strong emphasis on the particular narrative, accentuation and all the nuances. But it is definitely a different, very interesting chapter in Christian's whole musical journey.
Thanks to Eriek for publishing those gems. Excellent work!
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