Bell Orchestre - Recording Tape The Colour Of A Light
[Rough Trade]

The quiet windy commencement to this album by way of ‘The Canal (the horns play underneath the canal)’ and ‘Les Luminaries pt1’ drifts you away slowly and serenely. However, if you were expecting a long soft and floating journey then you are given a sharp wake up call as early as the third track, whereby; ‘Les Luminaries pt2’ has a bolder, more vibrant and jive friendly feel.

The album, by and large, keeps at a restful pace, but still manages to proffer instrumental variety that is epitomised in the throbbing horn fuelled instrumental kaleidoscope of ‘The Upwards March’ that has a The Silent Orchestra and Aphex Twin feel to it.

There is not a vocal within earshot and neither is there or force or strangled beat to be located anywhere; it is almost as though this empirical Canadian 5 piece that includes The Arcade Fire bassist Richard Parr, has set music free into the wild. ‘Recording A Tunnel (the invisible bells)’ has a wistful oceanic feel to it and is a marathon of discovery and karma. Noises just float around and meet up in the bracing moments to give the five minute plus track direction and meaning.

The Bell Orchestre has achieved a laudable feat in thrusting something refreshing and different into a bloated musical market, is modern music broad and diverse enough to embrace it?