Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient, epic.

Background/Info: Behind Trèfle Noir is hiding French artist Alexandra Nordrac who’s also active as the singer in Liyr. She set up this solo-project to exorcise dark-ambient demons.

Content: “Villanelle Du Diable” which can be translated as “Dance Of The Devil” invites the listener to join in for a strange dark-ambient voyage. It’s not exactly the classical format of dark-ambient music, but the atmospheres are definitely devoted to this style of music.

The main difference and specificity of Trèfle Noir is the addition of vocals by Alexandra Norcdac. I even can speak about a conceptual approach as the lyrics are taken from old French poetry of the 19^th Century. The lyrics are dark and sometimes a bit tormenting, which is accentuated by a ghost-like interpretation. Other vocal parts reflect a childish timbre of voice, which reminds me of BeNe GeSSeRiT.

The sound has been reinforced by industrial components and even some tribal percussion parts. You also will notice epic arrangements injecting some drama and bombast to the work. This is the kind of atmosphere which might remind you of In Slaughter Natives.

+ + + : Trèfle Noir has accomplished a very personal adaptation of dark-ambient music. The work is carried by captivating, chilling sound waves while elaborated by many other influences. I like the heavy bombast and spooky vocals. The debut song “Fleur De Verre” is a remarkable and totally representative cut to give you an idea about this album’s potential.

– – – : I’m not that fond of the more childish timbre of voice used on some of the tracks, but the main point I regret is the absence of a booklet with the lyrics and references. Poetry is one of the most essential elements of this album so it would have been cool to get more information about it.

Conclusion: Alexandra Nordrac got inspired by the devil and accomplished a dark and bewitching opus, which I can only but recommend.

Best songs: “Fleur De Verre”, “Amour d’Hôpital”, “La Ronde Du Remords”, “Villanelle du Diable”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.facebook.com/Trèfle–Noir-595124217289889

Label: www.rageineden.org / www.facebook.com/rageinedenrecords

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Experimental, psychedelic, cinematographic.

Background/Info: The “4 In 1”-series has been created by Alain Neffe during the early 80s. The concept was to bring 4 bands together on 1 record. There’s a serious hiatus between both debut releases and the third one released on EE Tapes in 2012. The newest edition has been released on Alain Neffe’s own label Insane Music and brings 4 bands together.

Bands: M.A.L., Kosmose, Alice Just, BeNe GeSSeRiT.

Content: BeNe GeSSeRiT is a band that doesn’t really need any further introduction. It remains the main and most famous formation Alain Neffe has been involved in. The sound is characterized by a mix of good-old 80s elements and pure experimentalism. I sometimes call it sonic Dadaism.

M.A.L. is a project set up by Daniel Malempre who you maybe know from other projects and especially Human Flesh and Kosmose. The sound remains pretty experimental, but also a bit soundtrack-minded with some psychedelic elements on top.

Kosmose has been featured as well with one single, but with a long duration cut in the purest experimental tradition.

Alice Just is a band I never heard of before and they make their first steps on this cassette. It sounds a bit in the line of some BeNe GeSSeRiT-music so it was not coincidental realizing that Alain Neffe is helping a hand. But Alice Just first of all is a female theatrical voice telling you absurd and somewhat surreal stories in a French poetry style.

+ + + : Insane Music deals with sounds that fashion music lovers have never heard. It’s more than simply experimental music, it sometimes appears to be a kind of childish and somewhat innocent-like music style. I’m not always convinced by the music the label is dealing with, but I highly respect the creation and spirit of Alain Neffe. I’ve a preference for the songs of BeNe GeSSeRiT and M.A.L.

– – – : No doubt about it, this is music for a restricted number of music freaks. This is an antidote to all kind of commercial productions and catchy pop songs. That’s for sure what will make it hard to listen to.

Conclusion: There’s one main point you can’t reproach to Alain Neffe; he’s composing really different music than the masses. He’s a kind of alien moving throughout a music universe that is too often repeating itself and easily jumping on fashion trends.

Best bands: Bene GeSSeRiT, M.A.L.

Rate: (6).

Label: www.facebook.com/Insane–Music–Alain–Neffe-1731327493853451

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Experimental, electronics, abstract, new-wave.

Background/Info: Alain Neffe and Nadine Bal better known as the Belgian duo BeNe GeSSeRiT are back on track unleashing a new album of 16 tracks on EE Tapes. The duo has been busy since the early 90s and never stopped composing music. EE Tapes definitely put them back on the map releasing several records during the past few years. “Eccentric????” features unreleased material from the past few years. The songs were selected by EE Tapes owner Eriek Van Havere.

Content: “Eccentric????” is an appropriated title for this duo, which once more reveal a real weird and especially uncompromised music style. You for sure will easily notice the somewhat experimental approach, which also comes through in some childish vocal parts and crazy lyrical themes.

Next to the experimental and abstract sound, you’ll notice some 80s reminiscences. It all sounds electronic-like although sometimes completed with guitar featuring guest musician Daniel Malempré who you’ll maybe know from some side-projects featuring Alain Neffe.

+ + + : The main strength of this formation is their very personal sound, which is mixing numerous influences. They often make me think of a kind of sonic Dadaism while a few tracks sound a bit into Serge Gainsbourg for their lyrical approach. It’s a totally weird, but cool kind of poetry.

– – – : The main strength of BeNe GeSSeRiT also is their main problem to conquer a wider audience. The minimalism rapidly moves into an abstract sonic format, which is hard to grasp. It sometimes sounds like pure improvisation.

Conclusion: The “Eccentric????” title is totally appropriated to understand the content of the work. Call it a bit eccentric, but it definitely reveals an uncompromised approach, which I experience as ‘sonic Dadaism’.

Best songs: “The House Of The Rising Song”, “Folie Cadencée (Le Plus Obscur De Nos Désirs)”, “Perdus”.

Rate: (6½).

Band: www.facebook.com/benegesseritbelgium

Label: www.eetapes.be / www.facebook.com/eriek.vanhavere

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com