Electroacoustician Ingrid Drese makes acousmatic music, and many of the pieces included on this 110-minute DVD-Audio (stereo sound only, regular fidelity) bear the influence of Francis Dhomont. There’s a number of strong and beautiful moments here, especially in Papillon, abîme, nuit (dreamy), Plis de la nuit (very Dhomont-esque in its plasticity), and Sept œils sauvages, although the latter also contains weaker passages. Quite recommendable.

Why, oh why is empreintes DIGITALes always sending promos late? Ubiquité would very likely have been included in my 2009 Top 30. A splendid slab of acousmatic art. Four heavy-minded pieces, full of rich, moving sounds that weave their own logic between the six loudspeakers in my living room. The walls are shaking, and so is my soul. Rites d’oiseaux pensants and Mont des borgnes are stunning compositions. Major art, not academic-sounding or predictable at all, almost rebel in attitude. Bravo. On DVD-Audio, stereo and 5.1 mixes, high fidelity.

I’m fond of Natasha Barrett. Her electroacoustic compositions have bite, subtlety, and depth. Her art is serious but welcoming. Bouteilles de Klein is her second album for empreintes DIGITALes. It is a 2-DVD set (stereo and surround mixes, high fidelity), 140 minutes of concert works and sound installations. The installations disc (the second) is nice but less captivating than the concert works disc which holds lots of highlights. I’d be hard press to choose a favorite between the recomposed field recordings of Microclimates III-VI and the orgiastic electroacoustics of Avoid Being Eaten by Mimicking Other Less Palatable Species (ABEMOLPAS) (now there’s a program of sonic mimicry!). Heartily recommended.

A lack of bass? Not La rage’s problem, clearly. This is Pierre Alexandre Tremblay’s latest offering on empreintes DIGITALes, and it is much better than his previous DVD. La rage is a 50-mnute suite featuring drummer Stefan Schneider in a concertist’s role. Metal electroacoustics! The 5.1 spatialization job is sobre yet effective, digital treatments are hard-hitting, the composition is dynamic, multiverse, and grabs you by the balls more than once. That said, I LOVE percussion — others may find this tiring on the long run.

The Montréal/Québec-based noise trio Napalm Jazz is back! This band predates morceaux_de_machines and used to feature A_dontigny, Érick d’Orion and Philémon. Released on LP (yes, it was today’s main theme), Le viandier de Taillevent features two studio tracks by the original trio and three live tracks with Philémon and d’Orion alongside a different guest for each track (experimental turntablist eRikm steals the show on Faus Cuernon). This record features a rather wide sound palette and draws from die-hard noise art, sound collage, and electroacoustic improvisation. Watch out for David Bowie’s surprise appearance in Pourcel Farci! However, I was supprised by the rather wimpy mastering — it lacks some “oomph” in the bass register, me thinks…

These great releases are much appreciated. Your service to the world of sound art is invaluable.