LAURENT BRONDEL
Everything you need to know about…
Frequencies
Laurent has a singularly individualistic take on making music. Although he’s originally a guitar player he identifies with no instrument, no particular style, no view: just making music “dark and long”. Concentrated towards aural satisfaction any vehicle will do: from free form improvisations, sampled and treated with the Macintosh, to elaborate electronic compositions and everything in between, any instrumentation will be warped to satisfy his vision.
But where does he come from then?
Non-traditional from the beginning he says the first record he wore out was “Udu Wudu” by Magma That led him to the apprenticeship of jazz, mainly through the music of John Coltrane. Mixing that and the electronic music coming from Germany in the ‘70s (Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream) and Britain in the ‘90s (Metalheadz, Warp) pulled him like a magnet towards the underground dance music coming from Detroit. The discovery of Underground Resistance and all the artists and labels from the 7th City were, and still are, a shock.
What does he do?
Eschewing traditional DJ skills “melding and welding, man…” he likes to create infinite and hammering soundscapes. He also has an ongoing project with trumpeter Cuong Vu, whom he produced the last LP (“Pure” on Knitting Factory Works). Playing a guitar and a laptop on stage from time to time, alone, with Vu or various musical mates, he satisfies his quest for total improvisation.
Having performed, as a guitar player, with such different personalities like the Francis Lai Orchestra, Billy Cobham, The Micronauts, Nicolas Frize, Geoffrey Oryema, Cuong Vu, Djurdjura, Noel Akchoté amongst others he experimented electric jazz, contemporary music, African music, avant garde, and most importantly electronic music with the same curiosity.
So what’s the deal then?
Laurent’s “Turtle Neck” & “Happiness” came out on Statra’s Paradigm Shift (Statra Recordings) in March 2000, a “Parallel World” EP is scheduled for June 19th 2001 on Statra Recordings and the “Weld” LP comes out July 24th 2001 on Tone Casualties.
"Statra's most impressive discovery is Frenchman Laurent Brondel: a true free spirit among composers. His "Turtleneck" is a throwback to proto-industrialists like Einsturzende Neubauten and Wire, whereas "Happiness" is a shockingly wonderful bit of jazz disguised as Detroit electro."
--Al Ritchie Lotus Magazine issue #26
"Laurent Brondel represents with the uber-chic of "Turtleneck" juxtaposing this with his "Happiness", a snappy electro thumper with orchestral flourishes and a nod to the city of Detroit."
--Andrew Duke
Cognition, Andrew Duke in the Mix
"Utopia-visioned song titles run riot: French beatnik Laurent Brondel has the gall (ic humor) to tittle one of his brooding filmic soundscapes "Happiness"."
--Peter Orlov, Sonic Net
"Pair that with Frenchman-in-New York Laurent Brondel's dark and long soundtrack-worthy meditations ("Turtleneck") culled from his impressive musical resume (Billy Cobham, Francis Lemarque), and his playful jazz meets electro amalgam ("Happiness") that meshes Bambaatta-beats with Brandford Marsalis-style trumpets and you have to admit that a true transformation is at hand.
--Thomas, XLR&R issue n'41
"Laurent Brondel's bouncy robot jam "Happiness": finger snapping vocoder phrases with a jazzy horn laced through everything."
--D. Keast, The Skinny
"If you like your techno chunky, Eurotrashy, and with orchestral flourishes, Laurent Brondel should be your first destination, either "Turtleneck" or "Happiness", the former more dramatic, the latter more like a cross between Kraftwerk and Snooze."
--Forestter Cobalt, Supersphere / Mediamix
"Dope it is again with the scary, fucked-up Turtleneck from Frenchman Laurent Brondel. Happiness is lighter, although as disturbed. Combining bouncy electronica and jazz, the man displays a wide range of talents. If there is someone in charge of the X Files at Statra, it is definitely he.
--The Milk Factory, January 2001
Dark and long are the tracks nine and ten from Laurent Brondel. These are my favorite tracks. Minimal voice samples and classic sounds with instruments which follow each other nicely.
--XPander January 2001
LINKS:
DISCOGRAPHY / COLLABORATIONS:
Statra's Paradigm Shift (Statra Recordings)
Dominique Grimaldi 'Close Up' (Tangram)
Francis Lemarque 'Paris' (FNAC)
Cuong Vu 'Pure' (Knitting Factory WORKS)
Also collaborated with Billy Cobham, Noel Akchote, Geoffrey Oryema and Nicholas Frize.
TONE CASUALTIES
6353 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA. 90028
©2001 Klasky Csupo, Inc.
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