Balestracci, Franck - Modified Reality CD (Mega Blowout Sale)
SKU
C7-076
“Franck Balestracci is French (but he probably has Italian ancestors) and puts together sounds. Originally a drummer and percussionist, he has expanded his instruments to include various acoustic and electronic sound generators, mostly with keys. He records his albums (three to date) single-handedly, cobbling together a multitude of sounds and noises and using modern studio technology to transform the whole thing into complex, electro-acoustic sound creations. Every now and then he gets a little help - in terms of production, mastering and a few instrumental guest appearances - from Guy Segers ( Univers Zero, Present ), Alan Ward ( Univers Zero ), Reginald Trigaux ( Present ) or Pierre Vervloesem ( X -Legged Sally ) e.g.
The names just mentioned and the bands associated with them already indicate the direction in which Balestracci's music is moving. He is influenced by the chamber rock of the Franco-Belgian avant-garde, but his sound creations are much more electronic and occasionally move into ambient realms.
Balestracci called his third album “Modified Reality,” which is quite an apt title. The Frenchman transforms and manipulates various natural sound sources, all kinds of speech samples, environmental noises (reality) on the album (which was released in autumn 2006 on Guy Seger's Carbon 7 label), underpinning the sounds with his playing on acoustic and electronic percussion instruments various keyboard sounds and electronic sounds, some singing and other strange expressions of the human voice, and decorates the whole thing with a few appearances by his guest musicians on bass, electric guitar and violin. The result is an extremely dense, complex and sonorous suite of strange numbers that sometimes rock strangely, sometimes reverberate in an ambient and dark way, sometimes rush forward nervously and mechanically, sometimes make a lot of noise, sometimes meander soberly but voluminously, but mostly threatening and powerful from the speakers flow.
"Modified Reality" is probably most comparable to Art Zoyd's newer productions , but Balestracci's compositions are much more rhythmic and rocky and what is offered is much more entertaining. Occasionally the music also reminds me of the electronic sound puzzles of László Hortobágyi and The Future Sound Of London . Finally, from time to time you can also make out certain loud and jazzy rock rudiments that are vaguely reminiscent of Seger's ex-band .
"Modified Reality" is a very impressive album with strange and modern sounds, which is also extremely varied. Despite the length, there are no problems with listening to the record in one piece (I think it could go on like this for a while). Anyone who is interested in “new music” in the avant-garde rock area and appreciates the sources of comparison and inspiration mentioned above should get this album!”-Babyblaue
- LabelCarbon 7
- UPC5413902000767