Vaisseau Monde
Dur et Doux, 2019
8/10
A French collective committed to retaining the creative, diverse and experimental side of music, Le Grand Sbam make art like no one else today, where erratic and unclassifiable noises gel together in some hybrid prog-opera that sounds like it was created under a circus tent in another dimension.
“Dins o Sbam” starts the listen with a manic delivery of keys, percussion and rabid vocals in the completely unorthodox opener, and “Les lotus ont fleuri, je suis assis a cote d’un elephant aux oreilles usees” is nearly as long as its title as the 12 minute opus recruits spacey sounds, fuzzed out rock, and operatic-ish singing that can get extremely bare, but also furiously busy with unconventional patterns.
The back half of the listen offers us “Woubit”, which manipulates space well with vocal effects and prog-like ambience, and “Vishnu Foutroline” ends the listen percussively strong and dynamically challenging, theater-esque and avant-garde friendly.
After my first listen here I was confused. The second trip had me intrigued, albeit in a timid fashion. By the third venture I was a fan, as Le Grand Sbam offer a truly exceptional and artistic slant on today’s version of indie-rock that anyone with an ear for the adventurous will appreciate.
Travels well with: Hidden People- Tambour Cloche; Fantomas- The Director’s Cut