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LP
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BTR 136LP
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The Bolbec duo return with their sophomore album Foutu Félin, a richly cinematic collection of instrumental music that unfolds like an imaginary soundtrack, melodic, tactile and transportive. The record is inspired as much by the cut-and-paste production techniques of Portishead and the Beastie Boys as by the legendary composers of le cinéma français and il cinema italiano. Following directly from their debut Victime De L'aube, Foutu Félin feels like a continuation rather than a departure, a second reel instead of a reset. Axel Concato and Barth Corbelet each wrote five pieces independently, deliberately exploring as instinctively and introspectively as possible before reshaping their embryonic ideas together into bigger, brighter compositions, uncovering hidden humor along the way. Cinema remains Bolbec's primary language. Barth points to Alberto Iglesias as a key influence, while Axel draws inspiration from the melodic logic of film scores from the '60s to the '80s, where characters carried themes and melody mattered as much as atmosphere. In contrast to contemporary soundtrack trends that prioritize texture over tune, Bolbec consciously foreground melody, harmony and rhythm in search of a personal musical signature. Much of Foutu Félin was sketched at home before being taken to Fish Factory Studio in the UK, where musicians were encouraged to interpret and improvise freely. Performances were then carefully edited and reshaped, closer in spirit to cut-and-paste production than traditional jazz recording. Feel consistently took priority over technical perfection. Returning players Tim Giles, Riaan Vosloo, Ross Stanley, and Gareth Lockrane are joined by saxophonist James Allsop, whose contribution became a defining surprise, notably on "Ponto Final." Additional recordings were completed in Rouen, with final mixes by Axel mastered by Sean Joseph in Bristol, whose sense of warmth and acoustic space helped shape the album's sound. Ultimately, Foutu Félin confirms Bolbec's identity. Music that feels like the beginning of a story. Less theatre, more cinema. Close your eyes, the film is already rolling.
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LP
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BTR 099LP
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Bolbec, brand new project of childhood friends and multi-instrumentalists Axel Concato and Barth Corbelet, present their debut record, Victime De L'aube, on Batov Records. Drawing on their wide blend of musical tastes, from spiritual jazz and folk to classical and electronic sounds, Bolbec create an imaginary soundtrack that could easily sit beside the best of Piero Piccioni or Michel Legrand. The album features the duo playing over a dozen different instruments between them, with some heavyweight support from the Nostalgia 77 rhythm section. Whilst their names might not be household names, the pair have quietly built up a discography and reputation writing for, producing and recording for other artists. Axel's eclectic career includes producing some of the most exciting artists to break out of the underground Parisien scene, such as Steeple Remove and the sci-fi pop of Halo Maud, on Heavenly Recordings, and met success with his own Pi Ja Ma project, while Barth's ventures ranged from recording albums in his bedroom and raiding the annals of rock history with Hastings-based Del Vargas as Bosco Rogers, to writing songs for renowned artists like Hollie Cook. Victime De L'aube, embodies Bolbec's unique blend of musical tastes and eclectic instrumentation, and the album's title, which translates to "Victim of the Dawn," reflects the duo's exploration of the poignant emotions evoked by the breaking of dawn. Victime De L'aube showcases Bolbec's ambitious creative vision, transforming an array of instrumentation into poetic musical pieces that conjure moods and places. You can hear traces of Mal Waldron's "Warm Canto," and the Shoplifter soundtrack by Haruomi Hosono. Album standout "Vengeance Tropicale" is a spirited jazz number with an almost joropo swing, Piero Piccioni meets Aldemaro Romero perhaps. Whilst "Feuille D'orage," is a beautiful bossa jazz number, again showcasing the Bolbec's singular sound and musicality. Elsewhere, "À L'instar Du Flair," transports the listener on a modal jazz journey, recalling Yusef Lateef, and the evocative title track, "Victime De L'aube," promises to captivate listeners with its walking bass and suspenseful atmospherics. Bolbec's sound is an eclectic mix of deep jazz with the art of esoteric soundtracks, through lenses of electronica, folk, classical, and more, that is sure to captivate listeners on initial and subsequent hearings.
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