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Club d'Elf: You Never Know

By Chris M. Slawecki
October 19, 2022
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You Never Know is the

Club d'Elf

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Club d'Elf studio album that captures the whirling, overlapping orbits of acoustic, electric and exotic sounds of the floating improvisational collective, which has recorded and performed together for more than two decades, with crisp studio clarity.

But more importantly, You Never Know celebrates light born from darkness. Bassist and bandleader

Mike Rivard

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Rivard, the sole constant in the collective's 24-year run, suffered a near-death experience from a pulmonary embolism which struck him while he was exploring remote jungles near the Peruvian Amazon. Seeking peace and comfort, and to assist his physical, emotional and spiritual recovery, Rivard returned to the composers and musical styles of his roots: North African trance music known as gnawa, which Rivard began exploring on sintir (a three-stinged bass lute) decades ago, plus the music of

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis, the Moroccan band Nass el-Ghiwane,

Frank Zappa

guitar, electric
1940 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Zappa and

Joe Zawinul

keyboards
1932 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Zawinul.

It's surprising that these sonic shape-shifters didn't record their own interpretation of the Prince of Darkness' protean "In A Silent Way / It's About That Time" until this, the band's twelfth release. Its opening hovers in space like a sweet, luscious cloud of cotton candy, then electric guitar slices through with the haunting blue melody, and their two sounds together resonantly float and dance. By "That Time," the music twirls like a gyroscope on pinwheeling circles of snare drum and cymbal, and then this famous electric meditation ends with guitar roaring into what sounds like madness.

Frank Zappa

guitar, electric
1940 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Zappa's episodic "King Kong" starts out like

Richard "Groove" Holmes

organ, Hammond B3
1931 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Richard "Groove" Holmes warming up on some sticky Hammond B-3 chords, brings in drums and bass, and builds into a never-ending stream that helps the guitar solo flow. Everything drops out to allow a thunderstorm of tribal percussion to rumble through, then that Hammond B-3 returns, this time like a booster rocket that electrifies this multi-part monster into movement. "King Kong" was the tour de force of Zappa's 1969 release Uncle Meat and it's a fitting climax to this set, too.

You Never Know revisits "Zeed Al Maal," traditional gnawa trance which Rivard has been exploring onstage (at least) since 2015's Live at Club Helsinki.

Brahim Fribgane

oud
- 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Brahim Fribgane's throaty vocal burns through the repeating trance music as guitars and keyboards, oud and samples weave a thick, hypnotic sound, and rises like a smoking incantation into a deep spiritual intensity.

"Boney Oscar Stomp" is like listening to The Staples Singers warm up a funk groove on their instruments while they're waiting for their acid to kick in...and then their acid kicks in. Like just about everything else on You Never Know, you might call this opening tune Buzz Lightyear music: It takes the listener to infinity, and beyond.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Boney Oscar Stomp; Zeed Al Maal; Now Open Yours Eyes; Golden Hour; In A Silent Way / It's About That Time; Dark Fish; Dervish Dance; Lalla Aisha In Jhaptal; Allah Ya Moulana; King Kong.

Personnel

Club d'Elf

band / ensemble / orchestra

Brahim Fribgane

oud

Mike Rivard

bass, acoustic

Dean Johnston

drums

Duke Levine

guitar

Kevin Barry

guitar

Paul Schultheis

keyboards

John Medeski

organ, Hammond B3

David Fiuczynski

guitar

Mister Rourke

turntable

Amit Kavthekar

tablas

Andrew Rogliani

saxophone

Phil Grenadier

trumpet

Thorlleifur Gaukur Davidsson

harmonica

Additional Instrumentation

Brahim Fribgane: oud, bendir, karakab, vocal, cajon, frame drum; dumbek; Mike Rivard: acoustic bass, sinter, electric bass, tamboura, chorus vocal; Dean Johnston: drums, chorus vocal; Duke Levine: guitar, electric mandcello, six string bass (1-4); Kevin Barry: lap steel (1-4); Paul Schultheis: Rhodes, Wurlitzer, organ, Moog, clavinet, ARP Omni (1-4); John Medeski: Rhodes, Wurlitzer, organ, Mellotron, clavinet, chorus vocal (5-10); David Fiuczynski: fretted and fretless guitars (5-10); Mister Rourke: turntables (2, 4, 6-8, 10); Amit Kavthekar: tabla (6, 8); Andrew Rogliani: tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute (1, 8); Phil Grenadier: trumpet (1, 6, 8); Thorlleifur Gaukur Davidsson: harmonica (3).

Album information

Title: You Never Know | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Face Pelt Records

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