Entre Vifs - Art of Noises - 110th Anniversary

 

Entre Vifs – Art of Noises – 110^th Anniversary – Vinyl LP – Aussaat – Aussaat 30 – 2023

https://entrevifs.bandcamp.com/music 

                Side 1 – Session 57A -1

                Side 2 – Session 57A – 2

I’ve become increasingly familiar with the works of Entre Vifs through continual reviews for the label Aussaat.  Each of their sessions are recorded at the project’s Noisecraft Workshop, in the Maisons Alfort suburb of Paris, these particular sessions were recorded in November 2019. The theme of this lp is Luigi Russolo’s 1913 Book ‘The Art of Noises.’ I found the first essay in the booklet by Zorin on Noise to be exciting, I liked how he talks about the context of Entre Vifs “Joy Through Noise”. Zorin was active in Le Syndicat since around 1982 so in the booklet he also talks about his reaction to SPK and Throbbing Gristle. The whole booklet could have been this essay expanded as I started to want to know more about the history and present of Industrial Music in France, you know all that stuff Tape Mag site publishes! The text and featured artwork also made me think how I approach my own painting in relation to all this music. The second essay Lyrical Brutalism as Cognitive Art contextualises the work of Entre Vifs beautifully. When releases come with essays, I can be dismissive as I’m not often convinced, but here, I am glad I read through the booklet that comes with the album

Session 57A – 1, scrapes, clangs and sonically barks into life. The wailing of Entre Vif’s homemade instruments is like the sound of a familiar friend as they begin their fractured dialogue. The metallic resonations and clanging echo ricochet around as under-drones hum underneath the work for short time and disappear as if they are a rug pulled from underneath the feet of the main body of noise, leaving a raw, honest rhapsody of noises. That leads to other noises entering and starting to thicken the texture of the session as it shifts into a busier overload of violent joy. As with any piece by Entre Vifs, the movement of the track shifts between fractured and fluid and a wide range of sounds seem to come out of each instrument, they wail and feedback against other noises as if pushed way beyond their own limits. The noises do sound like voices wailing and arguing at times.

The sound on the second side Session 57A 2 is immediately textured, not as densely as the first side, but in away that allows space between all the sounds that are being made. As I have often said the sophistication of what’s happening is evident as new noise language comes into the work, it shifts the flow of the session into other directions. As it breaks off into less noises and eventually one noise wailing off, the shift in density from busy to solo is an impressive contrast to the earlier busier combustion of the session. The work does sound dark at times, without even trying too hard, it doesn’t need any imagery to do that, the instruments shift mood a lot from pained to joyful and anywhere between within a move.

As ever, Entre Vifs has never made a bad album. This vinyl debut is beautifully presented by the cover and large booklet, the sound is sophisticated and outstanding. To be honest I wouldn’t expect any less.

Army of One 2024.