D.D.A.A. ‘Concert Plasmatique’
May 13, 2008 by continuo
‘Concert Plasmatique’ (41:51)
Live recording, Paris, Maison des Métallos, April 26th, 2008
Sophie Fée: table top guitar & synth
Jean-Philippe Fée: guitar, mbira, loops & drum machine
Jean-Luc André: vocals, keyboard & sampler
The cat supposedly has 7 lives and D.D.A.A. obviously enjoys a similar fate. It seems there have been several periods in the band’s nearly 30 years history. It would be great to be able to point a blue, pink and yellow period, like with Picasso – their last CD is called just like that ‘Blue, Green, Red and Yellow’, IP 045, and contains archival recordings from 1979-1997, including sessions with Craig Burk, Pierre Bastien and Bernard C. Regarding historical periods in D.D.A.A.’s output, I can only conjecture the following:
- Exotic period (1979-1983: Aventures En Afrique, Live in Acapulco, Action and Japanese Demonstration)
- Troubadour period (1984-1990: Ambulants, Saltimbanques, Ronsard)
- Maracayace period (1991-2006: Bruit-Son-Petit Son, Nouveaux Bouinages Sonores, Conference Maracayace)
- Plasmatique period (2007-2008: live Toulouse XI-2007, live Paris IV-2008)
I’m aware this draft lacks a pseudo Deuleuzian, gray period, sort of, when theoretical writings threatened to out-run the band’s music, around 1989-1992. So, 2007 saw the launch of a ‘plasmatic’ era, supposedly based on Willelm Reich’s theories. From what I understand, the ‘concert plasmatique’ is a live show where the band find its way within a pre-set structure and written material, a few samples, specific instruments and Jean-Luc André’s theoretical speech and lyrics. I assume D.D.A.A. disregard improvisation in this context. Anyway, the music was dense and rather wild, despite some technical flaws here and there. Some of JP Fée’s loops were beautiful, some JL André’s readings were hilarious, and Sophie’s accompanyment on guitar and choir was perfect.
Hey, thanks a lot. i wish to be present at the concert, but too far from my house, so it’s a pleasure to listen to. I can’t understand, you made the live recording by yourself or this is a new live cd?
As you probably can tell from the ’special’ sound quality, this is a personal live recording on my magical mini Disc. All live recordings on Continuo are actually bootlegs, to make things clear. Thanks for visiting, Carlo.
Thanks for the visit!, I’m just checking your site and see you have an incredible blog here.
Greetings from Chile.
Hey there Continuo!
Just thought I’d swing by and say hello. I’ve been terribly busy as of late. Getting shoulder surgery later this month for a torn rotator cuff and generally just overwhelmed by prosaic life details.
To P. Somniferum: thanks for dropping by. I was wondering about you, lately. Hope everything gets well for you and you start another blog soon.
To CapaNostra: glad you enjoy the site. Cheers from Paris.