In the archives of the electroacoustic pioneers, you have your unworthy bits, your obscurte but interesting pieces, and your little-known (or circulated) gems. Les couleurs de la nuit (38 minutes, 1982) is a little-known gem. This electroacoustic suite in nine segued movements compares easily – in scope, palette, depth, and mastery – to Francis Dhomont’s Sous le regard d’un soleil noir. Except that it’s less claustrophobic and livelier. Your attention is constantly being sollicited, but Bayle never crosses the threshold of saturation. Les couleurs de la nuit has everything I expect and love in electroacoustic music: studies of sound objects, a tale (an abstract tale told only through sound), internal logical that builds itself between your ears in ways undescribable yet unavoidable. This is a must-have.
Translated from French.
