With their gentle noise and cracked linearity, the duo of Éric Normand & Philippe Lauzier enact a sound environment that is contemplative yet stands on the edge of the precipice; an environment in which the monsters of rough texture are tamed. Calling forth hidden lyricism from their instruments, Lauzier and Normand scrape their fingernails across the proverbial blackboard to exquisite effect.
Active for more than 10 years, the duo played in festivals and series in more than 20 countries and worked with great international improvisers such as Joe McPhee and John Butcher.
Retiring to Tainan (Taïwan) to record new material out of their usual circles, the duo is giving some concerts in Asia and meeting local masters improvisers.
From the press:
« Philippe Lauzier and Rimouski’s Éric Normand really earned respect in their improvised set. […] the duo pressed themselves into the effervescence to bask in the light and heat. »
— Exclaim (Canada)
« The latter Québécois duo took home the honors, offering a mesmerizing audio and visual display in the smaller of Colisée’s two
stages. »
— The New York Jazz Record’s (USA)
« The sound of what seems a 1000 violins being scraped simultaneously, but this duo also knows how to pull back, slow down and space out, such as in the second part. Tour de Bras? Tour de force is more like it. Excellent stuff. »
— Vital (Pays-Bas)
Duo albums
https://tourdebras.bandcamp.com/album/not-the-music-les-temps-fluos
https://tourdebras.bandcamp.com/album/not-the-music-do
With John Butcher
https://ambiances-magnetiques.bandcamp.com/album/how-does-this-happen
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaqWDuls8Ng
web