Houle, Francois

Au Coeur du Litige [2 CDs]

Label: Spool Country: Canada

"Au Coeur du Litige is a radiophonic work consisting at its core of a series of solo clarinet improvisations. Subsequently stripped of their innocence and simplicity through digital manipulations these solos become a dense web within which there is a multiplicity of threads to explore. The project, inspired by the ice storm that ravaged large parts of Quebec and Ontario, makes use of an innovative live interactive electroacoustic set-up inspired by current works in the field of audio research. Technically speaking, the work aims to free the instrumentalist from the electroacoustic domain's usual constraints, and to generate a sound world more akin to improvisation-based environment, in which the performer plays a decision making role." -Excerpt from François Houle's liner notes

"Au coeur du litige is a masterpiece, a bomb and a revelation. ... With this work, Houle delivers one of his most important and meaningful accomplishments. There is no doubt in my mind that this album will be one of the most significant ones in 2000. This is worth my strongest recommendation." -François Couture, Unheard