Clapping Music
Orval Carlos Sibelius (F,2006)****
It is difficult to place Orval’s music into a simple description. This song music has rather intelligent-colourful and varied arrangements. The vocal arrangements and complexity remind me of Sufjan Stevens. Sometimes keyboards (=clever electronica) are the fundament to build other instruments around it ; elsewhere there are stringed and plucked instruments. The vocal harmonies are very nice too, with the sweet voice of Zoé Wolf (Clouds and Stairs, The Konki Duet, O Lam : all groups related with the label) or choir like vocal arrangements by Kumi Okamoto (The Konki Duet). The release invites repeated listens. On “Finally” I can notice a very clear Robert Wyatt reference and interest in his music (voice and keyboards). This tracks is just a detail in the inspired melodic compositions. Very nice. There's even more in the music than I have described in my review...
