A cross-continental meeting between two guitarists and two drummers,
The Unexpected One is a studio document of a too-rare intermingling between the Montreal and Vancouver free improv scenes. From the Eastern metropolis come two of Ambiances Magnétiques' household names of late, guitarist
Bernard Falaise (
Klaxon Gueule,
Miriodor) and drummer Pierre Tanguay (a regular sideman of
Jean Derome and René Lussier). Joining them in Vancouver are guitarist
Ron Samworth (Talking Pictures,
NOW Orchestra) and drummer
Dylan van der Schyff (also Talking Pictures,
Peggy Lee Band). The group doesn't work as a "double duo" but as a fully integrated unit, even though there are episodes of various guitars/drums and Western/Eastern groupings. The session is spirited, talkative, and occasionally raucous (
Falaise and
Samworth both have rock music experience and a tendency to foray into avant rock electric guitar sounds). Plenty of pensive moments can also be heard, like the last half of "Cinq Six Boîtes de Tomates Vertes" and the middle part of "Pink Crimson," an 18-minute epic ending with an improvised quasi-progressive rock motif. The best moments of the set are found in "It Was Nice!," "Oh My!," and "Corned Oliphant," all featuring thrilling interplay and ear-grabbing dynamic shifts.
Falaise's use of a volume pedal, pitch shifter, and looping device provide an eerie, slightly Frippian mood, while the complementary percussive approaches of Tanguay and
van der Schyff (and their close center-left/center-right positioning) give the illusion of listening to a single, extremely versatile drummer. This is a very satisfying studio session from a group showing lots of promise as a stable unit. ~ François Couture