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Fontanelle
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This is an EP (or EP priced album, I am not sure, although I am sure you can buy it for an EP price, which is nice because it is almost forty minutes long) of almost B-sides that were recorded at the same time as Fontanelle’s last album. Knowing this, I am not sure that this is the best introduction to the band,
but unfortunately it is all that I have to go on. Unless I am gravely mistaken however, it probably sticks to their sound: an electronic jazz smedgely. If this EP does one thing, it keeps the listener at bay. Whether you like bands that keep you guessing will determine how much you might like this CD. The songs are loose which is the good and the bad of it. When a band like this is loose, the listener hears unexpected expansion of songs and never really knows where a song might go. However, songs don’t always go the easiest way. This means allowing for times when a band may not groove the way that sounds best to a listener’s preformed notions of what the song should sound like. Many times the music may be constantly repetitive and many times the music does not repeat at all. Songs often rely on one or two interesting noises, but there are payoffs. A large portion of "Corrective Lenses" does this, until the song breaks down into various entertaining things like drum rolls or angry syncopated noises. The only song that I feel is too repetitive is "Floor Tile", which can grow to bother people such as a person from another room who requested that I stop playing the song before he went crazy. (he already is by the way, but I see his point) "Slow January" is the highlight with its slow subtlety. The relaxed, building melodies are perfect. The guitar play offsets the other noises and works in surprising ways that do not repeat territory too often explored by Tortoise and its hordes of sound-a-likes. Another band that makes a byproduct of jazz and electronic, Fontanelle takes pieces of the puzzle that is music and makes them fit together in unconventional, yet interesting and engaging ways. This makes me very anxious to hear the A-sides album that were recorded at the same time. Reviewed by John Steinbacher |
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Fontanelle
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Here is a new album coming from two
members of the now defunct Jessamine. Fontanelle has carried
over some of the same electronic sounds Jessamine is known for.
The drums are a treat to listen to and actually turn this project in
more of a jazz/noise enasmble. There seems to be a lot of bands
floating into soft, chilling, abstract jazzy moods of music.
I've liked most of what I've heard, but have yet to hear a release of
such music blow me away. Fontanelle fails to excite my ears with
extreme pleasure or amazement. Repetitive musical thoughts
become tiresome without a leading focal point. In most good jazz
bands there is someone leading the pack, demanding the interest of the
listener. Fontanelle produces splendid melodies and impressive
musicianship, but needs a third element of impact to seal the deal. |
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