Bleep

After her one-off 'Colleen Et Les Boites Musique' project that was released last year with glowing reviews, Colleen returns with another highly personal but more adventurous and confident record. This album signals a change of approach and progression for Colleen. Gone is sampling and looping with the emphasis has changed to the natural tones produced by a range of unusual instruments that seem to be handpicked for the purpose. Her deep viola playing is supplemented with another Baroque instrument, the spinet, a smaller relative of the harpsichord. The clarinet was also recruited, along with Schott's trusted classical guitar and crystal glasses for percussive effect. Les Ondes Silencieuses translates as 'still waters' or 'waves' (as in 'sound waves'), and in that poetic French way, Schott's intention was to refer to the quiet stillness of calm waters, which by definition can never be completely at rest. Sound and atmosphere, total ambience and tone is what this album is about as much as melody. Colleen really manages to get things right with this truly unusually considered and beautiful record. As the year goes on, great records are coming out of some interesting and unexpected pockets.