"Rolling!" suddenly cries the drummer. The DAT is started and a story begins..Unedited recordings captured live during rehearsals underscoring the importance of improvisation. Behind the rigidity of the compositions, Tiemko explore new voices which lie behind a collective invention. Each member takes great pleasure in surprising the other. Without switching instruments, the drummer takes over the melody, the guitarist switches to percussion, and the keyboard is unrecognizable. During these dialogues, a creation takes shape showcasing the complicity and coherence of the three musicians. - Translation of liner notes.
Tiemko are one of those '80s French bands which carved themselves a niche alongside such notables as Minimum Vital and Hallowe'en. Ca Tourne is a 5-track EP of mostly improvised tracks. The music definitely has a very '80s penchant with electronic drums and guitar synthesizers making their appearance in nearly every track.
With few exceptions, improvised music lives or dies according to the synergy of the band members. When Tiemko are 'in the groove' (Ca Tourne, Variation) they create an exciting, exploratory mix of progressive rock and jazz fusion with excellent tension build up. However, this level is not maintained throughout as the disc's opus (Gnome Fantaisie) tends to have moments of pointless meanderings, mixed in with a few infectious grooves. This disc also contains a multimedia section. As a bonus we get a live video of the band playing a track entitled T-87. Comparisons to compatriots Minimum Vital are evident here, as the band rips through a modern fusion number hilighted by the frenetic, yet technical, fretwork of Remy Chauvidan . The CD-Rom also contains a very forgettable animated video for a track called Clone which has the band in full electronica mode.
This is my first exposure to this band so I cannot compare this EP with their previous releases. What I hear on Ca Tourne is a trio of solid musicians who have an excellent rapport. I usually find the use of electronic drums and guitar synthesizers to be annoying yet Tiemko incorporate these elements into their sound without over emphasizing them. They are tastefully used to expand the sound the band is reaching to create.
Track Listing:
- Hi! (1:08)
- Ca Tourne (6:02)
- Variation (9:46)
- Gnome Fantaisie (13:05)
- H.T.V. (2:12)
Multimedia:
- T-87 ( live )
- Clone(animated video)
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