Pegged behind their laptops, these two
Montrealers construct dense opuses which deftly explore the
intersection between acoustic sound and digital processing. Both
Bernier and Poulin-Denis have degrees in electroacoustic
composition, and their experience is evident on this polished
recording. Sur Fond Blanc was originally composed to
accompany a dance piece, as Poulin-Denis has an extensive background
in dance performance. Hence, despite the abstract, experimental
nature of this release, there is a continuous sense of cohesion amid
the freeformery, almost as if there was some sort of narrative being
played out -- the exact nature of which is, of course, to be sculpted
at the listener's discretion.
The tracks themselves are primarily
airy and ambient, as evidenced on the solemn drone on
"Pri," the
Oval-inspired soft glitch of "Mur,"
and the brilliantly organic, foreboding atmospherics found on
"Eur." One
imagines these moments of ominous calm accompanying the slow, fluid
motions of dancers. It's an intriguing set-up, as the mechanical,
layered laminae of electronic sound present a stark contrast to the
human element inherent in dance. This duality is mirrored by the
inclusion of recorded acoustic sounds amid the computer-generated
atmospheres. Meanwhile, all the ambiance is accompanied by regular
use of spoken and whispered human vocals, adding poetry to the fold
-- the portentous self-account of "Olo"
being a standout example. In a somewhat jarring move, the album's
early-established calm is occasionally shunted by busier moments.
"Len," for
example, is shockingly chaotic -- it whirls around in a thick vapour
of distorted speech, devilish electric humming, and a firm padding
of feedback noise. Meanwhile, the O Vertigo dance troupe contributes
the sounds of their feet clop-hopping against the ground on
"Air," which
almost becomes an Autechre track in its muddled rhythmic
complexity. Together, Bernier and Poulin-Denis have crafted an
interesting journey of a release – Sur Fond Blanc is an
infectious moodpiece that benefits from being well-planned and
intelligently produced.
