*. Guillaume Séguron Quartet .*

Album: Witches (2013)
Genre: Jazz Fusion (Prog/Improvisation/Vocal Jazz)  /  France

I can't say that I've ever heard anything like this record. It starts off with "King of Pain" a kind of Goblin-esque track with some Tori Amos-style whispery vocals that veer into a vocal-style more akin to Diamanda Galas, which really earns the record the title they've given it. As the album progresses it moves into a more traditional free jazz, ripe with improvisations by some talented players. The title track brings in some progressive-rock electric guitar overlaid with an almost Oingo-Boingo combination of instrumental layering. "Wrapped Around Your Finger" transitions from 80's post-punk to a 60s psychedelic freakout with a jazz drum solo on top. A great bass solo makes the transition into a delicate cover of Police's "Don't Stand So Close to Me". "Contact" has a great Laurie Anderson feel to it veering once again into free jazz improvisation. If this review sounds very name-droppy it's because this album is clearly a post-modern pastiche that takes decades of popular musical styles and reinterprets them into the Quartet's distinctive interpretation of the jazz idiom. There is a sort of alchemy going on in this record with its conflicting influences that make the record as a whole a joy to listen to. Review by "J. W. Hays" (www.amazon.co.uk).

Line-up / Musicians
Guillaume Séguron / double bass
Laure Donnat / vocals
Rémi Charmasson / guitars
Éric Échampard / drums

RATING:  ???????????

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