TOC - 2018 - Will Never Play These Songs Again

(40:15; Circum-Disc)

Track list:
1. The Last Hit 16:39
2. Ultimate Earworm 17:51
3. Lichen 5:45

Line-up:
Jeremie Ternoy - Fender Rhodes, bass, piano
Ivann Cruz - guitars
Peter Irins - drums


Prolusion.
French band TOC has been a part of the French music since 2008, and have released a steady stream of albums over the years in addition to being an active unit in the live circuit. The album "Will Never Play These Songs Again" dates back to 2018, and was released by the French label Circum-Disc.

Analysis.
This is one of those albums where those with a passionate interest regarding musical styles and traditions probably could have a long debate about which of the round holes this square peg should be forced into. With topics such as the difference between experimental and progressive might be one of many talking points. But a key detail is that, at least as I perceive the landscapes explored here, that this is an album consisting of improvised material.

Opening cut 'The Last Hit' strikes me as a creation that follows a bit of a free form jazz inspired approach and execution, but with the band adding borderline ambient features as well as a bit of a post-punk expression and noise rock features to this landscape. With a bit of the quirky attitudes and elements of Krautrock finding their way into this escapade to boot.

The second track 'Ultimate Earworm' is a rather different beast entirely, revolving around an initial motif that sounds like it was plucked from a Magna song and slowly and gradually tweaking this keyboard dominated motif into becoming a guitar driven creation that following another gradual development concludes in a bit of a gentle but chaotic state of noise.

The much shorter bonus song 'Lichen' takes careful and delicate cosmic effects as a starting point, allows drums and later bass guitar to gradually grow into this landscape and then adds some nervous post-rock type of light toned guitar details at the very end.

Three songs with vastly different style details and developments and with a stark difference in arrangements and core functionality to boot. All of them does come with an improvised feel to them, and the album name rather indicates that this is the case too, at least in my opinion. Personally I do find these landscapes to be rather intriguing and interesting too, but having said that I can also hear that this is an album that probably will have a bit more of a niche appeal.

Conclusion.
Those who enjoy experimental music with a bit of a free form goes improvised approach and execution should feel right at home with this instrumental album I suspect, and then especially those in that crowd that do love a little bit of Krautrock just as much as jazz and jazzrock of the more expressive kind. These are challenging soundscapes too of course, and music that does demand a bit of extra focus and attention from the listener. If improvised sounding music with an experimental edge and arguably also a progressive orientation sounds like your kind of music, this is an album that probably will go down well with you.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, September 2024

Links:
http://toc-music.com/
https://www.circum-disc.com/