Video Premiere: Fatso Jetson & Gary Arce Debut Collaboration with Hifiklub
The official name of the project — Hifiklub vs. Fatso Jetson & Gary Arce, Double Quartet Serie Volume 1 — is kind of complicated, but what it works out to is gorgeous psychedelic spaces crafted with a spirit of resonant improvisation. Indeed, the parties involved in the seven-track Subsound Records release are collaboration-prone French experimentalists Hifiklub (they’ve also worked with Alain Johannes and have a new record out with Jad Fair and kptmichigan), as well as Fatso Jetson — who at the time of the recording were touring as the trio of Mario Lalli, Dino von Lalli and Tony Tornay — and Yawning Man guitarist Gary Arce, with whom they were on the road. Two quartets. Hence “double.”
Subsound will have the full-length out next month, and I haven’t yet heard the whole thing, but listening to the two tracks included in the video below, “Tenderloin Vignette” and “Glorious Whores,” my only quibble is with the “vs.” part of the collaboration’s moniker. There’s very little working against each other going on here, if any. Granted it might be awkward to go with Hifiklub & Fatso Jetson & Gary Arce, but that’s really kind of how it works out. Each party makes clear contributions, but I wouldn’t say there’s any antagonism on a sonic level to be found — only fluid, desert-infused psychedelic jamming, oddly choral vocalizations, and a bendy-string intro that soon gives way to two cuts anchored by warm and consuming bass tone over which guitars shine out in engaging progressions. I get the use of “vs.” as a stylistic choice in naming the project, but it’s worth making clear that nobody in Hifiklub or Fatso Jetson seem like enemies by the time the songs are done.
Rather, the vibe that pervades is delightfully let’s-go-into-the-studio-and-see-what-happens. The underlying motion of “Tenderloin Vignette” and the bass push that starts “Glorious Whores” seem to have been thought out beforehand, but there’s a lot here that sounds off the cuff, a real “sessions”-kind of release. You get members of one band or the other screwing around between the tracks and all, and it makes the whole thing seem even more natural, not that it was hurting in that regard.
The video, directed by Laetitia Bica, captures Mont Faron, in Hifiklub‘s native Toulon. Some of the portion in the second half going backwards gave me kind of a queasy feeling, so if you’re affected by that kind of thing, keep an eye out, but even if you put it on and click to another window, I think you’ll agree it’s well worth your time to listen.
More to come on this release next week. Please enjoy:
Hifiklub vs. Fatso Jetson & Gary Arce, “Tenderloin Vignette”/”Glorious Whores” official video
Subsound Records is happy to announce the ‘2 Tracks video’ (track 1 and 3) from the upcoming album “Double Quartet Serie” Vol.1 HIFIKLUB Vs FATSO JATSON w/ GARY ARCE, directed by the artist Laetitia Bica.
It’s a portrait of the montain in Toulon, Le mont Faron, France.
The release will be out via Subsound Records in October and distributed worldwide.
Tracklist :
1. Tenderloin Vignette
2. Un Gribouillis De La Beautè
3. Glorious Whores
4. Black Without White
5. Safe In Pieces
6. À La Fin Je L’Espère Calme
7. The Rocky Road To Holiness
Double Quartet Serie Volume 1
Hifiklub vs Fatso Jetson + Gary Arce
2016, Subsound Records
Two tracks:
1. Tenderloin Vignette
2. Glorious Whores — starts at 6.49
Music by Pascal Abbatucci Julien, Régis Laugier & Nico Morcillo
Arranged with Gary Arce, Ahmad Compaoré, Mario Lalli, Arnaud Maguet, Tony Tornay & Dino Von Lalli
Quartet 1, left channel — Hifiklub
Ahmad Compaoré – drums
Régis Laugier –bass & vocals
Arnaud Maguet – effects
Nico Morcillo – guitar
Quartet 2, right channel — Fatso Jetson + Gary Arce
Gary Arce – guitar
Mario Lalli – bass & vocals
Tony Tornay – drums
Dino Von Lalli – guitar
