Dedales is the second LP from Opera Mort following a debut for the inhouse label of the sadly defunct Parisian record shop Bimbo Tower. The project is an ongoing collaboration between Jo Tanz and Laurent Gerard, two figures from France's contemporary avant garde underground; Jo with his Tanzprocesz label and Laurent with his Élg project (Élg's Mil Pluton' album appeared on Alter in 2012). They also form two thirds of the trio Reines D'Angleterre with the legendary French artist Ghedalia Tazartes who will be returning to live performance later in 2014. The 8 tracks on Dédales were edited down from a series of improvised live takes of abstract and other-worldy electronics, shifting the Opera Mort sound into more focussed territory and creating a musical language that's uniquely singular and a direct result of their close collaborative relationship.

 

This latest release from gallic experimentalists Opera Mort (aka Jo Tanz and Laurent Gerard) is no different, and whilst most of us might not have been digging deep enough to grab the duo’s 2009 debut album Le Tour De L’Oubli, that’s no reason to ignore its crucial followup.

Dédales was edited down from a series of improvised live recordings, and as such is imbued with a kinetic energy and creativity that’s often left for dead on most po-faced experimental full-lengths. ‘Les Spirales Messmer’ is our first taste of the record, and exhibits Opera Mort’s soupy, unsettling explorations perfectly with wobbly basses, cooing synths and percussion that chatters more than grandad’s dentures after a sneaky rub of whizz. (Fact Mag)