Close your eyes and float away in a blissful auditory dream courtesy of Paris-based guitarist, Eric Chenaux. He provides us with a sweet Sunday morning glimpse into Canada’s contemporary music milieu.
In his own music, melodies are teased out, textures repeat and the tempo often remains a leisurely stroll as he muses over motifs—love, moonlight, longing, intimacy, interdependence.
Eric Chenaux’s selection
Martin Arnold – Stain Ballad
Eric Chenaux: ” Martin Arnold makes some the best music of the 20th and 21st century and I could have chosen any number of his pieces but the memory of hearing the premier of Stain Ballad in London, played by Apartment House Ensemble, was one of the latest reverous epiphanies I have had listening to Martin’s music. “
Allison Cameron – Tree Ferns (Live Performance by Wiek Hijmans)
Eric Chenaux: ” Allison Cameron musics for ensembles are uncanny, wild and beautiful but I am choosing this strange bird for solo guitar as she has a singular knack for writing for solo instruments. “
Linda Catlin Smith – Moi Qui Tremblais
Eric Chenaux: ” I have been listening to Linda’s music all winter, especially two recent CDs published by Another Timbre. Moi Qui Tremblais plays (maybe trembles) so strangely in the margins between the waking and dreaming world. Sweet listening. “
MailTape’s selection
Eric Chenaux – There’s Our Love
Sanjay: ” ‘Slowly Paradise’ is Eric Chenaux’s new solo record—a collection of songs filled with soothing, honeyed singing and bent, frazzled fretwork. On this track, the melody dissolves into improvisation, leaving a haze of wah pedals, loose strums and electronics that float on the surface like glints of sunlight on a dewy morning. “
Tashi Dorji – Karma Lata
Sanjay: ” Tashi Dorji’s music is at once frenetic and tranquil. But it’s tranquility I’m concerned about this morning with this track from the 2015 split LP alongside Marisa Anderson. It’s a rolling and meditative five minutes that cycles its way around an abstract melody with clipped harmonics and stuttering fret work. “
Marisa Anderson – Into The Light
Sanjay: ” Marisa Anderson’s fourth album sounds like one long ride into the sunset. Otherworldy landscapes and deft playing aside, this title track is a dark reverie that sounds both foreboding and delicate, like wind rustling through leaves under a full moon. “
Cara Stacey & Shh..Art Ensemble – Come Near Me
Sanjay: ” Founded as a string quartet in 2014 in Cape Town, Shh..Art Ensemble is now a flexible configuration of players including strings, vocals, electronics and a range of Southern African instruments. Originally recorded by Massive Attack and Ghostpoet, this composition—arranged by previous MailTape guest Cara Stacey—sounds so relaxed yet casually surreal, as if lying awake beneath the stars. ”
That’s it for this morning. As always, thanks for listening and much love and gratitude to Eric Chenaux for being our guest today, and to Pierre-Julien Fieux for this episode’s cool illustration!
