Aphar’s Cave
Circum-Disc, 2023
8/10
A very creative duet listen from Léon Aphar and Ivann Cruz, there is no lack of Nick Cave influence to be found here, where folk and gospel moments are present and appreciated, too.
“Dream I” opens the listen with the mysterious guitar playing amid the cryptic talking of the atypical folk song, and “Sisters” follows with a more melodic approach of acoustic strumming and expressive singing in the dreamy delivery.
Further along, “Dream IV” finds a hypnotic place to reside, where firm guitar and repetitive singing makes an impressions, while “Maison-ruine” is a bit off kilter in very exciting ways, and the conversational singing and wordless gestures make this the album’s best.
Approaching the end, the atmospheric “Nuit troueé” uses call and response singing, light percussive sounds and atypical guitar progression, and “Par dessus la ferraille” exits with a distinct intimacy that’s unorthodox but immediately memorable.
A listen that’s steeped in semantic and aesthetic inclinations, Aphar’s voice and Barcelona’s guitar and Cruz’s voice, Kinshasa’s guitar and tambourine make for 18 tracks of unpredictable and inimitable songs that are avant-garde and experimental in very enlightening ways.
Travels well with: Peter Orins- Dead Dead Gang; Kaze & Ikue Mori- Crustal Movement