The Caterpilar by Ödland is a concoction of classically-trained pianist Lorenzo Papace of Lyon, France. Vocals (very likely through influence by French masters like Serge Gainsbourg) are contributed from actress and enchantress Alizée Bingöllü. Isabelle Royet-Journoud can be found on ukulele and environmental sounds, and Léa Bingöllü provides stringed accompaniment in the form of violin. These four individuals are Ödland, a French folk/classical group whose music is beautifully peaceful and unmistakably original.

The sound Ödland creates hints at a greater influence, one dating back a few centuries. Gainsbourg can be heard in the vocals of songs like title track “The Caterpillar” and its successor “Les Yeux de L’Oiseau”. But Ödland quickly takes a different approach in “La Chanson du Parasite”, giving the vocals added harmony as opposed to the more poetic wordsmith so evident in the first two songs. Likewise, the instrumentation is fuller; Papace’s piano even has the sound of a well-tuned 19th Century piece, a trait that follows throughout The Caterpillar.

As The Caterpillar continues, it looses the minimalism found in the first few tracks. “Sur les Murs de Ma Chambre” has the most impressive melody on the EP, while closing track “Mathilde Rossignol” forays into a very 1950s style musical-style of folk-pop; you can almost visualize Alizée tap-dancing to select portions of the track. Like the entire Aerotone Records catalog, The Caterpillar is available for free download.

Ödland: Sur les Murs de Ma Chambre [mp3]

Aerotone Records [Digital EP, 2009]

1. The Caterpillar
2. Les Yeux de L’Oiseau
3. La Chanson du Parasite
4. Sur les Murs de Ma Chambre
5. Mathilde Rossignol

A synthesis of bedroom pop, shoegaze, and folk-tronica, Anois finds a near perfect balance of melody and dissonance. From the pleasant instrumental loops to the off-norm harmonic male/female vocals, Tree House Whispers is an instant classic filled with the dawning of love and passion that mature and bloom into meaning and life.

Opening with the instrumental intro “Small Electric Battery”, Tree House Whispers quickly catches interest in “Happy Holiday”, then builds into the sleepy, lovable pop gem “Beds And Dishes”. However, one of the more intriguing tracks is “Homecall”, where Anois finds comfort in awkward harmonies and eerie feedback backed by clean acoustic guitar plucks.

Tree House Whispers is an album that simply must be experienced. And after a few listens, put headphones on and you’ll fall in love once again. It’s overwhelming, really. Focusing on the lyrics, one discovered Anois, and Tree House Whispers all over again. We fall into the solitude of this room / You draw it on my back / Our shapes draw shadows on the walls begins the first three lines of the opening verse on “Sew New World”.

Even in the less romantic moments, there’s an undeniable power behind each note, each lyric, each harmonic melody. So much emotion pours out from the violins, the guitars… even the percussive shuffle, be it natural or electronic.

It’s difficult to describe perfection. It’s impossible to put to word absolute beauty. How do you describe something so unbelievably amazing that it brings tears to your eyes? I can only hope I did it justice.

Anois: Homecall [mp3]

Anois: Happy Holiday [mp3]

Aerotone Records [Digital LP, 2009]

1. Small Electric Battery
2. Happy Holiday
3. Beds And Dishes
4. Homecall
5. There Must Be Some Book About It
6. Sew New World
7. November
8. A Noise
9. He Sings To Me
10. On Top Of The Highest Mast
11. Waltz Of Wolves
12. Remote Control
13. It Is All So Curious At The End

Sometimes all you need is to slap on that scratched up old copy of Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis, pour yourself a stiff glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, and crank up the volume knob. For you jazz enthusiasts out there, you know exactly what I’m talking about. There’s something inherently cool about drinking red wine amidst your record collection while a classic jazz album cracks and pops over your speakers. It’s primo stress relieving material.

Bluebridge Quartet may not be Miles Davis (and, for that matter, they may not be a true quartet), but boy can I get into their eclectic rhythms – this is the stuff I look for when seeking out new jazz artists and, while I prefer to imbibe them on vinyl, I’ll drink it up any which way it comes. And yes, that includes a digital release, like Adjusted For Low Noise Tape.

Listen to the sax in opener “Spektrum” and the wild erratic percussion in “Tandberg”! Listen to the melodic piano intro that builds into the amazing “Karp” and the dissonance in the sax notes opening “Landet”! This is the jazz that gets me excited; this is jazz I’d drop right next to Kind Of Blue in the “inherently cool” section of my collection. Now, if only I could find it on vinyl…

Bluebridge Quartet: Spektrum [mp3]

Bluebridge Quartet: Karp [mp3]

Aerotone [Digital EP, 2007]

1. Spektrum
2. Tandberg
3. Karp
4. Landet

Thomas Peter’s brainchild Cantaloup offers a vibrant and enduring stimulus with the distinctive release, On A Hill Not Far Away; it is a record engorged with antiquity, and sounding like voices in the background of a beautiful European mountain. For anyone under the impression that Germany only breeds strange techno/metal artists, you are in for a rude awakening with this one.

“Fireworks” is a well oriented distribution of kindness and despair. While “Last Song” serves up a delicious plate of instrumentals with a hint of ambiance. But the brightest star on the hill would have to be the almost frightening melody in “Day By Day”. With echoing vocals, and transparent piano keys, this definitely is a worthwhile six and a half minutes.

It’s not that easy to completely comprehend what exactly Peters is getting at with Cantaloup. But, it is obvious that he is riding a musical boxcar all his own. The artistic ingenuity of this album is almost un-comparable to anything created in the experimental.

Cantaloup: Day By Day [mp3]

Cantaloup: Fireworks [mp3]

Aerotone [mp3 album, 2008]

1. Wake Up Call
2. Fireworks
3. When My Girl Walks Through This Garden
4. Last Song
5. Day By Day
6. My Discurse With Mr. Lloyd
7. Wake Up Call (Hoodwink Remix)
8. Crooked Rain

Contrary to what many much older than myself would believe, the best instrumental music is typically reserved not for the classical genre. It’s a mash of classical with… something else – be it electronic, folk, or whatever. Sure, there are some more contemporary exceptions, like Kaada and the epic Johnny Greenwood (I’m thinking his score for There Will Be Blood here). But the mashup allows for something a bit more unique, typically.

A prime example would be Le Mépris and their self-titled release, Le Mépris. There are moments where electronic sounds burst through the haze, but, overall, it’s piano and orchestral heavy. The songs blend into each other, creating a mesmerizing effect that is soothing. No, this is not driving music. It is music to put on before bedtime, music to put on when you need to think, music to calm the soul.

Overall, what you hear not only fits (lightly) the classical genre, it can be described more accurately by the terms experimentalism and minimalism. Le Mépris comes from a Jean Luc Godard film. The band: is Reiko Matane, born 1975, tokyo, japan. Like the entire Aerotone catalog, Le Mépris is available for free download here.

Le Mépris: Susu [mp3]

Le Mépris: Hashirikaki Suru [mp3]

Aerotone [mp3 album, 2007]

1. Hikkikomori
2. Susu
3. Aki
4. Kodo
5. Hashirihaki Suru
6. Shibo
7. Yuki Piano
8. Kuki