JUPITER 9 - JUPITER 9

JUPITER 9 - JUPITER 9

Disk 1 . . . . . . .55.43
1. Jupiter
2. Suite No. 1 in G/BWV1007/Prelude
3. Cartoon
4. Smog
5. Krepuscule
6. A-Tonal
7. Joystick...
8. ...outro
9. 9A

Jupiter 9's official website at:
http://www.jupiter9.net/

Line-up
- Richard Lehoux: guitars
- Stéphane Desbiens: guitars
- Danny Robertson: drums
- Sylvain Laberge: flutes
- Mathieu Gosselin: bass guitars, Chapman Stick
keyboards, bass pedal

format: Single CD • Ipso Facto
release date: October 8, 2005

Jupiter 9 is a solo project from the highly skilled bass player of Quebec-based band Sense, Mathieu Gosselin, an all-instrumental album clocking at 56 minutes, that one could only describe as avant/RIO that's totally refereshing, something wildly different, exploring unusual tones and rhythms that goes from arythmic RIO to bluegrass, sometimes venturing into some highly dynamic prog fusion, and with a selection of unusual musical instruments like the piccolo bass, the e-bow, the Chapman Stick, even the good old mellotron. Along with the help of Danny Robertson on drums, Richard Lehoux on guitars and Sylvain Laberge on flute, Mathieu embarks on a wild musical journey across vastly different styles and rhythms.

The album begins with Jupiter, an elaborate epic divided into five parts that begins with a classical piano intro over a funky lounge beat, the suite goes through many time signatures and tempo changes, and features great guitar passages throughout and powerful bass lines, jazzy at times, with a bluegrass twang at others. Suite No 1 in G/BWV1007/Prelude is a 6-string bass-only interpretation of the legendary J.S. Bach composition, a great transciption for bass. Cartoon is an enthusiastic, upbeat, jazzy number with some cool keyboards, a catchy melody and great jazzy guitar work from Mr. Desbiens, It concludes with some delicious mellotron passages. Smog has a dark scandinavian beat reminiscent of White Willow or Paatos, a melancholic, smoky, quiet theme with brushed drums and smooth passages played on the Chapman Stick. Krepuscule is a captivating track, building from a groovy bass line over some drum loops, adding more drums with some ethereal flute, a fun composition with a great beat. A-Tonal is an odd, slightly sinister composition, of several fretless bass tracks played with an e-bow, a contraption that resonates bass or guitar strings, giving an eerie, sustained sound, resulting in a very theatrical, dramatic, quiet number. Joystick is a dynamic composition, with great drum work by Danny, brilliant work from Mathieu on the Chapman Stick, one of the most captivating tracks of the album. Outro is a great bass solo à la Victor Wooten, a short track with a great funky beat. The album concludes with the track 9A, a slightly melancholic track played on the rather exotic piccolo bass.

Jupiter 9 is a sensational album from one of the best musicians in the Quebec City area, Mathieu shows not only his skill and dexterity, but also his talent as a composer with this exceptional debut album. Highly recommended for so many reasons, starting with the impeccable musicianship of the artists, the originality of the compositions and musical arrangements, the sheer variery of rhythms and styles, and the list goes on. Get this one, it's a keeper!

My rating for Jupiter 9 : 8.6/10(album reviewed by Robert Dansereau - 06/06/2006)