Label: Cuneiform Records

Tracks:

1. Le lanceur de couteaux (The Knife Thrower). 3:34
2. Bal con (Bloody Party). 5:52
3. Grenaille (Crumb). 0:10
4. Poupees russes (Babouchka). 1:38
5. Funambule (Tightrope Walker). 4:26
6. En bazou dans l'bayou (Three Clowns). 3:10
7. Feve de Lima (Lima Bean). 1:24
8. La dresseur de chenilles (The Caterpillar Tamer). 5:44
9. 34+9 (43). 4:40
10. Igor, l'ours a moto (Igor, the Motorbike Bear). 6:49
11. Le terrible naufrage du petit navire (The Little Ship's Terrible Wreck).
12. 03
13. Maree noire (Black Tide). 1:47
14. Thomas l'imposteur (Thomas the Impostor). 0:37
15. Etes-vous costaud? (Strong Men Ring a Bell!). 2:50
16. Telephage (Wire Eater). 5:42
17. Mata Hari. 2:47
18. Mme X (Mrs X). 7:10
19. Argentine contre Bresil (Argentina vs Brazil). 0:45

Musicians:

• Pascal Globensky - piano synthesizers
• Rémi Leclerc - drums, percussions, octapad, synthesizers
• Bernard Falaise - guitars, bass, mandolin, synthesizers, percussions
• Sabin Hudon. - saxophones, accordion

Guest musicians:

• Claude St-Jean - trombone
• Stéphanie Simard - violin
• James Darling - cello
• Jean-Denis Levasseur - flute
• Ivanhoe Jolicoeur - trumpet
• Stefka Iordanova - vocal

This is the fourth album, the previous one to Mekano (2001), of these men from Quebec, and it seems to me that is even better than Mekano.

This "Jongleries Elastiques" is a totally Rock In Opposition album, influenced principally by Samla Mammas Manna, Univers Zero, Henry Cow, Gentle Giant, and Happy the Man. Complex in structures and with an incredible variety of sounds, but at the same time with a certain taste to the more conventional prog-rock, that turns it, in my opinion, into one of the ideal RIO albums to enter this complex style.

A wonderful record from the start to the end. A classic RIO one, full of details and multitude of different sounds, constant rhythm changes, a continuous bombing of emotions and feelings perfectly executed by these first class instrumentalists. It is absurd to emphasize tracks: the whole disc is just one piece divided in 18 parts, with melodies and rhythms for every taste.

It's not necessary to add anymore, it is totally essential for my taste.

Rating: 9.5/10

Ferran Lizana