CENTENAIRE

CENTENAIRE
S/T (2007)
320 KBPS

Quite different from other Chief Inspector releases (Rigolus, Besson Rifflet, Camisetas, Collectif Slang, etc.) which are more jazz oriented, Centenaire debut album is a goldly surprise. Musicians included are, usually, to be found in either electronic, experimental or pop formations: Damien Mingus (My Jazzy Child), Axel Monnaud (Orval Carlos Sibelius), Stéphane Laporte (Domotic) and Aurélien Potier (Section Amour, Concertmate).
Centenaire appeared following the Orval project that already included Sibelius, Mingus, Monnaud and Potier, nethertheless, it's a real new step in those eductated musicians’ career. Here, they all gather in a rather different universe made of English folk, psychedelic pop and progressive rock.
With guitars, a cello, a clarinet, an organ, a drum set and a mini-guitar (the "charango"), they’ve build their music from many improvisation sessions. With influences such as Robert Wyatt, Pentangle and other Brittish musicians from the 70’s there was no doubt they will come out with something that could have been released 30 years ago yet still possesses the "air" of today’s expression (you can sometimes think of Espers or Animal Collective).
The four musicians have deliberately kept things simple, nourrishing their old-fashioned psychedelic folk as seminal and beautiful as can be. The result is quite easy to the ear yet possesses hidden treasures to those who will take the time to discover it. A very nice album.

1. Norway
2. Le Retour
3. Castle
4. Take me Home
5. Swan
6. The Day Before
7. Bugatti
8. Heavy for everyone
9. The Dress
10. Masquerade
11. Riverside
12. Ending Fast
13. You
14. Strong