Michel F. Côté, Québec's most eclectic percussionist, had decided to put his
Bruire ensemble on hold after three records on Ambiances Magnétiques to form a new band. This time, he proposed a trio with
Bernard Falaise (
Miriodor, Les Projectionnistes) on guitar and
Alexandre St-Onge on bass.
Klaxon Gueule (something like Yelling Horn) was at first a talkative trio -- as indicated by the title of this album,
Bavards. The first disc of the short two-CD set contains 12 improvisations with humorous titles like "Aptitude Algébrique Innée" ("Innate Algebraic Aptitude") and "Friandise Cannibale" ("Cannibal Candy"). To the nervous drums of
Côté and the busy bass of
St-Onge,
Falaise adds noisy textures with sharp angles, creating an electric and noisy free jazz. The second CD showcases
Klaxon Gueule with saxophonist Christopher Cauley on six quartet improvs. Here, the music is more in the orthodox free improvisation realm. The contagious energy of the musicians makes
Bavards a real treat. This was recorded at a time when
St-Onge still approached the bass in a conventional way and the trio played jazz-anchored improv. The situation would change drastically with
Klaxon Gueule's second CD, eloquently titled
Muets (Silent), an exploration of textural string-scratching, feedback-controlling free improv. ~ François Couture