Stereoscope - Stereoscope


Year of Release: 2006
Label: B-Smile Records
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 42:22:00

Jeremie Grima - who is 50% of Stereoscope - told me his new band is a "folk / progressive / pop / acoustic duet." Good description - although I might have left out the word "pop." Yes, this record will have wide appeal, but it ain't pop. It's an acoustically oriented, very mellow, almost minimalistic style of music, and it's sometimes hard to remember that just two artists play on this record. But don't strain your ears listening for the drums, or the bass guitar. They aren't there - and somehow they aren't missed. Two artists only have four hands, and all credit to Grima and Sebastien Bourdeix for the fact that there's a minimum of overdubbing in this recording.

Grima and Bourdeix are also band mates in French outfit the Black Noodle Project, and since Grima is the principal songwriter in both bands, Stereoscope can safely be described as Black Noodle Unplugged. The Pink Floyd influences aren't as apparent, but the songrwiting, keyboards, guitars and vocals are essentially similar. The electric (but not the acoustic) guitar work is clearly Gilmour-esque and the vocals are in a soft mid-range, melodic and competent, vaguely recalling a more relaxed version of Roger Waters. The delivery is slightly accented and the grammar in the lyrics isn't perfect - but it still sounds good. Although the overall sound is in the Floyd / early-RPWL / early Porcupine Tree camp, thankfully, it's far from derivative.

The chief difference between Black Noodle and the duo is in Stereoscope's elegant simplicity, the mature and very full sounds produced with a minimum of instrumentation, and the straightforward short-song orientation. Although it was an unfair criticism, Black Noodle was accused by some as being morbid. Stereoscope also dwells in the minor keys, but think of it as introspective rather than dark, more reflective than depressive.

As with the Black Noodle Project, there's nothing exciting or even outstanding here. It's just slightly out of the ordinary, and it's a damned good listen. Recommended.

Rating 4 / 5


Tracklisting:
The Typewriter / Clouds At The End / A Minute Of Eternity / The Girl In The Paper / Sleeping With U / Open Book / 1+1=2 / Eva / The Sun On Your Hair / The Beauty With The Colt / Upon A Sky Corner / Good Night

Musicians:
Sebastien Bourdeix - guitars, keyboards
Jeremie Grima - guitar, voices, keyboards

Discography:
Stereoscope (2006)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin FR

Added: August 6th 2006
Reviewer: Duncan N Glenday
Score:
Artist website: www.stereoscopenet.com
Hits: 2074
Language: english

  

[ Back to Reviews Index | Post Comment ]