Paskinel - 2023 - Maraude Automnale

(50:01; Vallis Lupi)






















Paskinel is in some ways an offshoot of Alco Frisbass given it is the project of  Patrick "Paskinel" Dufour (synthesizer and keyboard, drum programming and composition) and Frédéric "Tourneriff" Chaput (electric guitar, bass guitar, mixing), with the former being a founder of that band and the latter joining in time for the second album. This is brought home even more given that the other member of that outfit, Fabrice Chouette, guests on the first track providing organ. There are a few guests on that opening track, which arguably is the most Canterbury sounding of them all, while throughout the album RPI is also present, plus some RIO. Dufour composed all eight tracks, and the result is something which feels very heavily entrenched in the Seventies, with Camel and Andy Latimer definitely providing some of the influences, which given Dufour is a keyboard player is somewhat surprising. He uses some wonderful old sounds to provide a basis for others to often take the lead, with Dag-Z’s transverse flute on the second track being a delight.

This never feels like a modern release but instead is rooted in old Hammonds and feels warm and inviting due to that. The guitar can be blustering or meandering, while I must confess the drumming is so good on this that I was surprised to realise it is was programmed as it actually sounds like a proper drummer. It is an album that repays repeated listenings as it is only then that the layers become fully apparent and the inherent joy becomes audible. This is very definitely a grower, and if someone has told me this was a long lost delight from 50 years ago I would have believed them, as it this certainly never sounds as if it is coming to us from 2023. It is an instrumental album where one never feels the need for vocals as the songs have plenty going on within them, yet it never feels crowded or rushed but instead has been well-constructed and arranged. It may take us back in time but also feels very much for today.

Kev Rowland, June 2025

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/paskinel1
https://vallislupi.fr/

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