The FIMAV Fest (Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville) or Victo Fest started in 1983, the label began in 1987, which is the first year that I drove up 10 hours in my Subaru from Rahway, NJ by myself, thanks to the coaxing of Fred Frith. I have returned every year (except for the pandemic) since the first one since it is an important music and social event, the one vacation I take each year that I look the forward to the most! When I first started going, Victo was 5 days long with around 25 concerts (from 3 to 6 per day), which does seem like quite a bit of challenging music to absorb but I remain a New Music junkie who thrives in an environment like this one. In the early years I dug every set that I attended! I got to hear a number of great Canadian bands and musicians like Miriodor, FAT, Les Granueles, Rene Lussier, Jean Derome, Joan Hetu, plus many European & avant jazz musicians who rarely (if ever) make it to New York: the London Jazz Composers Orchestra, Keith Tippett (3 times!), Evan Parker (many times), Fred Frith (ditto), John Zorn (with Naked City, Slan, Masada, El. Masada & many more), Henry Kaiser, Marilyn Crispell, Peter Brotzmann (many times), Otomo Yoshihide, Satoko Fujii & Natsuki Tamura, and many more. The founding father/figure Michel Levasseur stepped down 2 years ago and the fest is now curated by Scott Thomson, both great people and both good friends of mine. The past year has been a difficult one for Scott as the Victo office/Plateform closed, a bunch of the staff left and Michel had to move 1,000's of CD's to his house. The festival had to slim down to just two concerts this year on one night plus installations and films. Scott promises that the next Victo Fest (2026) will be back to a full four day schedule, I can hardly wait since i didn't make it up this year which was/is a sad thing for me and my Victo buddies that I've been going with for the past few years. One of my pals did make it up there and really dug the Fire! Orchestra. So there is hope for next year!
 
   Michel just contacted me and made me an offer, 50 Victo titles selling for $10 each. Here's the deal:

All 50 of the below Victo CD titles are $10 each
Plus if you buy 6, the next one is FREE!
The sale will run for around 2-3 weeks and it will take about two weeks to get our shipment here.
All of the titles are available and there should be enough of each for all orders.
I have included around ten reviews down below the first list if you want to check them out.
Thanks to all, time to load up on some Creative Music! - Bruce Lee Gallanter at DMG    

CONNIE BAUER - Toronto Tone (Victo 017; Canada) Solo trombone from a European master!
CD Sale $10

CONNIE BAUER TRIO With PETER KOWALD / GUNTER 'BABY' SOMMER - Three Wheels-Four Directions (Victo 023; Canada)
CD Sale $10

KEVIN BLECHDOM / EUGENE CHADBOURNE - The Chaddom Blechbourne Experience (Victo 112; Canada)
CD Sale $10

HELENE BRESCHAND / JEAN-FRANCOIS PAUVROS - Sombre (Victo 095; Canada)
CD Sale $10

CHRIS BURN - Music For Three Rivers: Piano Solo (Victo 050; Canada) Burn is a superb pianist, both as an interpreter of contemporary music & as an improviser. This is improvised music for piano & prepared & extended piano, & his unique attack upon the instrument's normal sound really makes this something to hear. Check out his ensemble discs with John Butcher, Evan Parker & Jim Denley!
CD Sale $10

EUGENE CHADBOURNE / RENE LUSSIER - L'Oasis (Victo 084; CVanada)
CD Sale $10

XAVIER CHARLES / DIANE LABROSSE / KRISTOF K ROLL / MARTIN TETREAULT - Tout Le Monde En Place Pour Un Set Americain (Victo 090; Canada) Review down below.
CD Sale $10

PAUL CRAM ORCHESTRA - Campin Out (Victo 078; Canada)
CD Sale $10

JEAN DEROME ENSEMBLE with ROBERT LEPAGE / PIERRE CARTIER / PIERRE TANGUAY / et al - Confitures De Gagaku (Victo 05; Canada) 11 musicians (multiple reeds, piano, bass, drums & voice) perform compositions & improvisations that are dedicated to the spirit of gagaku.
CD Sale $10

JEAN DEROME ET LES DANGEREUX ZHOMS 7 with LORI FREEDMAN / B ERNARD FALAISE / MARTIN TETREAULT / JOANE HETU / et al- Plates-Formes Et Traquenards (114; Canada)
CD Sale $10

MARK DRESSER / DENMAN MARONEY - Duologues (Victo 073; Canada)
CD Sale $10

LISLE ELLIS With CHRISTOPHER CAULEY / GLENN SPEARMAN / JOE McPHEE / LARRY OCHS / et al - Elevations (Victo 027; Canada)
CD Sale $10

EROSONIC with JOSEPH PETRIC  & DAVID MOTT - Mystery Theatre (Victo 085; Canada) In 1994 Joseph Petric (accordion) approached David Mott (baritone sax) and suggested the idea of a unique duo which would explore new compositional, improvisation and artistic terrain. In the baritone saxophone discography, this disc reinforces the well known work of David Mott as he uses an extended registral spectrum, circular breathing, vocal modulation, multiphonics and timbral shifts.
CD Sale $10

CHARLES GAYLE - Unto I Am (Victo 032 ,Canada) A rare solo disc by Free Jazz Giant Charles Gayle!
CD Sale $10

GIANNI GEBBIA TERRA ARSA With MIRIAM PALMA/ VITTORIO VILLA - Il Libro Degli Eroi (Victo 051: Canada) ''From the 1st fluttering notes, Gebbia (alto sax), Miriam Palma (vocals/perc), & Vittorio Villia (drums/perc) joined for music full of charm & invention. Gebbia has managed to absorb both his native Sicilian folk music & the playing of saxists like Evan Parker to come up with a personal approach. Their set (released here)...successfully eluded categories throughout.''- Cadence.
CD Sale $10

BEN GOLDBERG With JOHN SCHOTT / LARRY OCHS / TREVOR DUNN / MICHAEL SARIN - Eight Phrases For Jefferson Rubin (Victo 057; Canada)
CD Sale $10

GUNDA GOTTSCHALK & XU FENGXIA - You Lan (Victo 117; Canada) review below
CD Sale $10

LARS HOLLMER LOOPING HOME ORCHESTRA with FRED FRITH / JEAN DEROME/ et al - Looping Home Orchestra - Door Floor Something Window "Live 1992-1993" (Victo 024: Canada)
CD Sale $10

ANNA HOMLER / GEERT WAEGEMAN / PAVEL FAJT - Corne De Vache (Victo 047; Canada) It's great to see another release by this unique trio of Anna Homler-voice, Geert Waegeman-keyboards, etc. (of Cro Magnon) & Pavel Fajt (duo with Iva Bittova) -percussion, who released the excellent & otherworldly ''Macaronic Sines'' CD. This live release features the addition of saxist Koen Van Roy.
CD Sale $10

BORIS KOVAC - Anamnesis-Ecumenical Mysteries (Victo 039; Canada) Kovac is a composer from the former Yugoslavia. This features the composer's clarinet as he leads the ''Ritual Nova'' Ensemble (soprano voice, violin, cello, piano & percussion). The music sounds deceptively sparse at first, but these are both yet more in a long string of good releases by this undefinable artist.
CD Sale $10

RENE LUSSIER & NOW ORCHESTRA with PEGGY LEE / RON SAMWORTH / PAUL PLIMLEY / COAT COOKE / BRUCE FREEDMAN / et al - Le Tour Du Bloc (Victo 036; Canada) Something a little different for guitarist Lussier, as he leads a 15 piece band through a series of both densely composed sections as well as sections that allow for a much greater amount of improvisation & freedom.
CD Sale $10

RENE LUSSIER / MARTIN TETREAULT / OTOMO YOSHIHIDE - Elektrik Toboggan (Victo 115; Canada)
CD Sale $10

MIYA MASAOKA ORCHESTRA With GEORGE E LEWIS / VIJAY IYER / CARLA KIHLSTEDT / FRANCIS WONG / GLENN HORIUCHI - What Is The Difference Between Stripping And Playing The Violin (Victo 058; Canada) review below
CD Sale $10

MARI KIMURA / ROBERTO MORALES MANZANARES - Leyendas (Victo 069; Canada)
CD Sale $10

PINO MINAFRA QUARTET With SANDRO SATTA / GIORGIO OCCHIPINTI / VINCENZO MAZZONE - Canto Libero (Victo 077; Canada)
CD Sale $10

ROSCOE MITCHELL QUINTET with RICARD DAVIS / VINCENT DAVIS / et al- Songs In The Wind (Victo 011; Canada)
CD Sale $10

JOE MORRIS / SIMON H FELL / ALEX WARD - The Necessary And The Possible (Victo 116; Canada)
CD Sale $10

MY CAT IS AN ALIEN with MAURIZIO & ROBERTO OPALIO - Il Suono Venuto Dallo Spazio (Victo 101; Canada)
CD Sale $10

NEW WINDS with ROBERT DICK / J D PARRAN / NED ROTHENBERG - Digging It Harder From Afar (Victo 028 ,Canada)
CD Sale $10

NEW WINDS with ROBERT DICK / HERB ROBERTSON / NED ROTHENBERG - Potion (Victo 05; Canada)
CD Sale $10

NON CREDO - Happy Wretched Family (Victo 033; Canada) The 2nd release by this LA-based RIO duo. Using female voice, clarinets, strings, keyboards, bass & drums they combine a large number of influences (art rock, Art Bears, art-song, electronics) into their own blend.
CD Sale $10

NOW ORCHESTRA  with COAT COOKE / RON SAMWORTH / DYLAN VAN DER SCHYFF / PEGGY LEE MARILYN CRISPELL - Pola (Victo 97; Canada)
CD Sale $10

PAUL PLIMLEY / LISLE ELLIS / GREGG BENDIAN - Noir (Victo 022; Canada)
CD Sale $10

PAUL PLIMLEY TRIO with LISLE ELLIS / SCOTT AMENDOLA - Safe-Crackers (Victo 066; Canada)
CD Sale $10

QUARTET NOIR with URS LEIMGRUBER / MARILYN CRISPELL / JOELLE LEANDRE / FRITZ HAUSER - Lugano (Victo 096; Canada)
CD Sale $10

LEE RANALDO / WILLIAM HOOKER With JIM O'ROURKE / GIANNI GEBBIA - Clouds (Victo 054; Canada)
CD Sale $10

YANNICK RIEU - Sweet Geom (Victo 030; Canada)
CD Sale $10

ROVA SAXOPHONE QUARTET with BRUCE ACKLEY / STEVE ADAMS / LARRY OCHS / JON RASKIN - Ptow!! (Victo 040; Canada)
CD Sale  $10

ROVA SAXOPHONE QUARTET with BRUCE ACKLEY / STEVE ADAMS / LARRY OCHS / JON RASKIN - Bingo (Victo 056)
CD Sale $10

KAZUE SAWAI / MICHEL DONEDA / KAZUO IMAI / LE QUAN NINH / TETSU SAITOH - Une Chance Pour L'ombre (A Chance For Shade) (Victo 094; Canada)
CD Sale $10

ELLIOTT SHARP / ZEENA PARKINS a/k/a PSYCHO-ACOUSTIC - Blackburst (Victo 044; Canada)
CD Set 19

SLAWTERHAUS with JON ROSE / JOHANNES BAUER / PETER HOLLINGER / DIETMAR DIESNER - Live (Victo 013; Canada) Featuring Jon Rose on strings & invented things, Johannes Bauer on trombone, Dietmar Deisner on sax and Peter Holliger on drums. This was one of the best and most intense Euro style improv quartet sets!
CD Sale $10

MICHAEL SNOW / ALAN LICHT / AKI ANDA - Five A's, Two C's, One D, One E, Two H's, Three I's, One K, Three L's, One M, Three N's, Two O's, One S, One T, One W (Victo 111; Canada) Featuring Michael Snow on piano, synth, short wave radio & cover art, Alan Licht on guitar & electronics and Aki Onda on cassettes & electronics.
CD Sale $10

AKI TAKASE / CONNIE BAUER - News From Berlin  (Victo 081; Canada) Pianist Aki Takase and trombonist Konrad Bauer in the studio in Berlin in January, 2002. "News From Berlin is good news indeed. It suggest a broadening of perspectives, but also a focused devotion to artistic values arrived at through long consideration of what music means to these players."- Josef Woodard
CD Sale $10

MARTIN TETREAULT / KID KOALA - Phon-O-Victo (Victo 107; Canada) Two very Canadian turntable players.
CD Sale $10

KEITH TIPPETT - Une Croix Dans L'Ocean (Victo 031; Canada) Solo piano, outstanding!
CD Sale $10

VICTORIAVILLE MATIERE SONORE With FRANCISCO LOPEZ/CHANTAL DUMAS et al - Victoriaville Matiere Sonore (Victo 113; Canada) blurb below
CD Sale $10

**********

 Here's some reviews to consider:

HELENE BRESCHAND / JEAN-FRANCOIS PAUVROS - Sombre (Victo 095; Canada) Helene plays acoustic harp with devices and Jean-Francois plays electric guitar also with numerous devices. One of the extraordinary sets at this year's Victoriaville New Music Festival was by this unique French duo. Ms. Breschand plays acoustic harp with interesting plucking and bowing techniques, besides using some looping or echoes devices to alter her sounds. I was unfamiliar with her name before this set. Mr. Pauvros used a bow on his electric guitar and did a most impressive job. He also used his whammy bar in a quiet, distinctive way, as well as utilizing various devices to also alter his sounds. We know of the mysterious Jean-Francois Pauvros from his diverse work with Arto Lindsay (on Nato), Haino Keiji and Jac Berrocal. - BLG
CD Sale $10

XAVIER CHARLES / DIANE LABROSSE / KRISTOF K ROLL / MARTIN TRETAULT - Tout Le Monde En Place Pour Un Set Americain (Victo 090; Canada) Recorded Live at the Victoriaville Fest in 2003. "The most successful was the Saturday afternoon concert by Diane Labrosse (electronics), Martin Ttreault (turntables etc),Xavier Charles (clarinet and electronics) and French duo Kristoff K.Roll (household objects). The five were placed on a platform in the middle of the Colise, and the audience was free to walk around and observe the musicians at close range, which de-mystified the process. The improvisation was powerful and atmospheric, dominated by Labrosse's inventive use of samples taken from around her house. Ttreault was drolly inventive, while Charles and K.K.Roll added splashes of colors" Michael Chamberlain, Signal To Noise
CD Sale $10

JEAN DEROME ET LES DANGEREUX ZHOMS 7 with LORI FREEDMAN / BERNARD FALAISE / MARTIN TETREAULT / JOANE HETU / et al- Plates-Formes Et Traquenards (114; Canada) Featuring Jean Derome on saxes, flutes & direction, Tom Walsh on trombone, Guillaume Dostaler on piano, Pierre Cartier on electric bass and Pierre Tanguay on drums. The seven guests include Joane Hetu on voice, Lori Friedman on clarinets, Gordon Allen on trumpet, Nadia Francavilla & Jean Rene on violins, Bernard Falaise on electric guitar and Martin Tetreault on turntables. The Victo Festival & the Ambiances Magnetiques label both celebrated their 25 anniversary in 2008, the year this concert took place. The Ambiances Magnetiques label, which has about 150 releases and the Victo label which this disc is number 114, are both from Quebec and have nurtured & supported each other since the label and festival began. Hence, the 2008 Victoriaville New Music Festival began with this extraordinary performance. For a long time fans of Jean Derome and his partner Joane Hetu (who runs the AM label), we notice how their pieces become involved, focused and successful, whenever we get a chance to experience their works. Mr. Derome's ensemble Et Les Dangereux Zhoms has been around since 1992, with four fine discs on AM. For Victo 2008, Derome composed a new work for an extended ensemble. The ensemble performed two long works, each about 35 minutes. "Plates-Formes" refers to the shifting on continents or structures. After so many years, Jean has gathered an incredible cast of seasoned musicians who can capture his sound/vision perfectly. Commencing with stark and suspense-filled sounds, the sublime, melodic written material soon emerges and with superb, warm and flowing harmonies for all. Derome takes a lovely flute solo with elegant rhythm team support and marvelous backing from the horns and strings. One of the things that stands out is the use of voice, turntables and guitar mainly for subtle sonic seasoning. Derome also inserts a good deal of unexpected twists and turns, shifting into some joyous noisy sections for short bursts that feel well-placed. During the performance I wasn't quite sure how or why certain things fit together, but listening now, I can hear an underlying theme that is evolving. Parts of this work remind of some of John Zorn's game pieces when he conducts and pulls surprising sounds and combinations of players into fascinating areas. Other sections of this work remind me of the playful and complex structures that Zappa is so famous for. The other piece is called "Traquenards" which means "ambush" and again the shifting sounds are consistently engaging. What makes this music special is the seamless balance between the written and improvised sections. The ensemble is in fine form here, the music is progressive in its own way with some nutty voices used as occasional seasoning. "Traquenards" has a more cinematic sound, moving between the tranquil countryside near Victoriavile and hustle & bustle of Montreal. And of course like all discs on the Victo label, the sound is perfect, capturing the performance in all of its glory. Another gem from Jean Derome and his wonderful ensemble and another winner from our good friends up north at Victo. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD Sale $10

GUNDA GOTTSCHALK & XU FENGXIA - You Lan (Victo 117; Canada) With Gunda Gottschalk on violin & vocal and Xu Fengxia on guzheng & vocal. This was one of the highlights of the entire Victo fest in 2008. I know of Ms. Gottschalk from her work with Peter Kowald and Peter Jacquemyn and she once played a fine solo set at the old DMG space on 5th St. I've heard Ms. Fengxia from her collaborations with Joe Fonda and Peter Kowald's Global Village project. This same duo once played at an earlier Vision Fest and Ms. Fengxia also played a great solo set at Victo a couple of years ago. The guzheng is a koto-like instrument from China and both women are master improvisers. This concert took place at the college and the sound was just perfect. Starting with fragile yet exotic folk-like melodies, both women would bend their strings in similar ways that was always quietly intense. It took a little while for the duo to warm up to the level where they were able to combine forces and blend their strings into a most mesmerizing whole. Their entire set seemed to build in intensity with sections that were almost too much. In one part, Xu bowed the strings of her guzheng, making some truly strange, alien sounds while Gunda let out some scary screams. Their two worlds seemed to collide at times, yet they were not afraid to dig deep and let it all out. Towards the end of the set, Xu kept pushing her voice into darker and more explosive areas that were frightening at times. By the end of the set the audience was exhilarated and many were astonished by the level of intensity that these two women provided. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD Sale $10

MIYA MASAOKA ORCHESTRA With GEORGE E LEWIS / VIJAY IYER / CARLA KIHLSTEDT / FRANCIS WONG / GLENN HORIUCHI - What Is The Difference Between Stripping And Playing The Violin (Victo 058; Canada) ''My impetus for founding this 16 piece orchestra was based on the desire to have a hybridized, inter-cultural, electronic-friendly, inter-media orchestra that could perform my compostions...''-Miya Masaoka. "Miya is a koto virtuoso from the bay area. She has an excellent solo cd out, an acoustic trio cd with Henry Kaiser that I'm still trying to locate, a fine new tribute to Thelonius Monk cd with Reggie Workman & Andrew Cyrille and has been doing improv gigs in NYC with John Zorn & co. and a trio with Ikue Mori & Mark Dresser. Still, none of the above has prepared us for Miya the composer & conductor. This release is an ambitious effort for a multi-cultural, electro-acoustic, multi media orchestra conducted by Miya utilizing her entire body like Gagaku dancer. The 14 and 17 piece orchestras contain the instrumentation of erhu, sho, sheng, ney, shamisen, strings, reeds, turntables & electronics. "24,000 Years is Forever" commemorates the 50th anniversary of the bomb dropping on Hiroshima and paints pictures with many genres & feelings. It is both demanding, startling, disturbing and brilliant. "What is the Difference..?" was inspired by the brutal deaths of five prostitutes killed in Miya's neighborhood. Once again this music and its theme are thought provoking, powerful, ever-changing and fascinating. A brave move for all concerned" - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD Sale $10

MY CAT IS AN ALIEN with MAURIZIO & ROBERTO OPALIO - Il Suono Venuto Dallo Spazio (Victo 101; Canada) Enregistre 'live' au 23 Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville, le 20 mai 2006. "Each album or performance by My Cat Is an Alien is an invitation to leave on a cosmic journey, without resorting to the numerous cliches of the space music genre. Think instead of a synth-less Ash Ra Tempel coming across the quiet improvisation current. Think of stripped-down music made of looped droning guitars, caressed percussion, toy instruments and toy microphones being used while boldly disregarding all printed warnings. Think of a cosmos glorifying its vacuous interstellar space, the silence that amplifies the smallest particles of sound. Or don't think at all and just let yourself be swept away." - Francois Couture
CD Sale $10

PAUL PLIMLEY TRIO with LISLE ELLIS / SCOTT AMENDOLA - Safe-Crackers (Victo 066; Canada) Another outstanding set from the Victo fest this year was by this superb avant/jazz piano trio. Paul Plimley resides in Vancouver and is an old & dear friend of mine that I have known for about a decade. Lisle Ellis is the dazzling contrabassist and longtime partner of Paul's, and now resides in the Bay area, along with the great drummer Scott Amendola (from TJ Kirk-funky/jazz unit). The trio begins with a lovely, restrained and uplifting piece of modern jazz purity, never pushing things too much, too soon. The energy level starts to erupt by the time we get to "Cookie's Coffee," the trio plays together as one unified source, strong & effervescent. Pianist Plimley used to utilize much of that Cecil Taylor-like explosive energy, but here is more successful at being a bit more sparse, letting each piece take its time to unfold and blossom into a less dense landscape. There is also a playful, not overwhelming vibe found here, like sunshine bursting out of dark clouds. Bassist Lisle Ellis & drummer Scott Amendola are a wonderful rhythm team, consistently on their toes, always pushing this perfect trio to new heights. Lisle has kept quite busy since moving to the Bay area a few years back, he was sparkling with Larry Ochs' What We Live Trio at the Knit Jazz Fest just a couple of weeks ago. Another complete delight from our friends at Victo - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD Sale $10

KAZUE SAWAI / MICHEL DONEDA / KAZUO IMAI / LE QUAN NINH / TETSU SAITOH - Une Chance Pour L'ombre (A Chance For Shade) (Victo 094; Canada) This is another of those immensely magical improv sets that the Victoriaville New Music Festival seems to specialize in. Featuring a well selected international cast of Kazue Sawai on koto, Michel Doneda on soprano & sopranino saxes, Kazuo Imai on acoustic guitar, Le Quan Ninh on percussion and Tetsu Saitoh on contrabass. Each year at the great Victo fest, there are few sets which stand out of the 24 or so diverse array of varied, multi-genre explorations. This was one of the special sets from May of 2003. All five of these players come from diverse backgrounds, each a master of improv. Koto master Kazue Sawai is a legend and has been playing modern classical and traditional koto for a few decades, it was a rare opportunity to hear her work her wonders. Both French-based players, Doneda and Le Quan Ninh, are also consistently amazing and have been coming to the US more often over the last few years. Michel Doneda played here at DMG last year with Jack Wright and will return on February 6th with Ricardo Arias. Quan Ninh is certainly one of the most unique and astonishing percussionists I've heard/seen and caught him at an Erstwhile Fest a couple of years back. Bassist Tetsu Saitoh and acoustic guitarist Kazuo Imai, were both players with whom I was unfamiliar before this set. Tetsu also played fine with an historic bass quartet (Joelle Leandre, William Parker & Barre Phillips), also at Victo that year and Kazuo has a superb solo offering out on IMJ from recently that sounds somewhat like Derek Bailey on acoustic guitar. Even though I attended this set, it is difficult to figure out who is doing what, since all of these players deal with some extended techniques. Who is rubbing or plucking those strings, who making those high pitched squeaks and which one is doing those percussive sounds?!? As with all Victo releases, the sound is perfect, well balanced and rich in detail. For those that appreciate intense and highly focused improvisations, this is indeed a treasure. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD Sale $10

MARTIN TETREAULT / KID KOALA - Phon-O-Victo (Victo 107; Canada) Featuring Martin Tetreault and Kid Koala on turntables. This has been out for a month or so, but the promo just arrived this week and listening to it, I am glad that it did. This was recorded at the 2005 Victo Festival, which I did attend as I do every year and I did witness this show. Considering that this was three Victo Fests ago, I do remember enjoying it, but not exactly what went down. Both turntablists are Canadian and at least a generation apart. I've heard/see Martin Tetreault on a number of occasions, but had only heard of that young whippersnapper, Kid Koala. Martin is known to play his turntable itself and often without using records. For this set, both DJ's decided to use records and selected certain albums since they were playing on stage in a cinema. Teteault decided on records by artists that had played at Victo previously like Anthony Braxton, Eye, Univers Zero, Otomo and Fred Frith. The results are/were most surprising and often quite fascinating. Each piece is a spicy blend of diverse samples. A jazz drum solo, a spoken word demonstration record, static sounds sped up and slowed down, layers of crackling record sounds, odd electronic snippets and assorted sections of music. Themes rarely last very long and both DJ's work quite well together twisting their sounds into a strong mix. Both are restless improvisers who match wits with striking results. My favorite section is when they work with some old blues records and get into a great earthy groove and still turn things inside out. Word is that some Canadian distributor has already sold some 500 copies, which is even more surprising for a CD of so-called "new music." Much better that anyone could have anticipated. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD Sale $10

VICTORIAVILLE MATIERE SONORE With FRANCISCO LOPEZ/CHANTAL DUMAS et al - Victoriaville Matiere Sonore (Victo 113; Canada) "In the spring of 2006, Spanish sound artist Francisco Lopez led a composition workshop in Montreal. A master of the field recording and its use in acousmatic composition, Lopez asked the participants to share their urban field recordings. From their work came a compact disc, Montreal Sound Matter on Pogus, and an exhibition presented at the Fonderie Darling in Montreal. The Victoriaville Matiere Sonore project continues the work started in the metropolis. For this occasion, the original seven participants have agreed to get together again, under Lopez's direction, and create a new collective work from scratch. First, they came to Victoriaville to make field recordings in various public and private spaces, recordings that have been once again shared with the group. Then, they each produced a new piece using this common soundbank. However, this time around Lopez did add one extra rule: a sequential order has been set, so that composers had to use, as the starting point for their own composition, the piece of the composer coming before them. As a result, we have a long acousmatic work in eight sections, each section picking up where the previous one has left." Artists include a_dontigny, Chantal Dumas, Steve Heimbecker, Louis Dufort, Mathieu Levesque, Helene Prevost, Tomas Phillips and Francisco Lopez.
CD Sale $10