Didier François
Sjanson Patinées
Homerecords.be (www.Homerecords.be)

Belgian violinist/nyckelharpist/composer Didier François has come up with an intriguing collection of art song/chamber music that plumbs the depths and scales the heights of bowed string capabilities. He has a refined yet daring ear for harmony, exploring the outer edges of conventional tonalities, then going on to invent his own. A quartet of singers (Patrick Riguelle, Neeka and Tom Theuns, and Aurélie Dorzée, who also contributes violin on some tracks) croon smoothly over the biting string harmonies, setting up a tension-filled dichotomy.

The only true instrumental on the disc is a rhapsody on Satie's third "Gnossienne," with François and Dorzée on violins, Lode Vercampt on cello and Peter Verhaegen on bass. "Sa Démarche Chaloupée et Provocante" has the feel of improvisation, with the string lines tangling like a ball of yarn and wordless vocal moans, shrieks, and pants back in the mix. The only misstep is the campy, pseudo-operatic vocals on "De Kluiznenaar." While there's much that's discordant on the release, this is the only one that crosses the line into annoying. The bonus track, "The Travellers," (composed by Michel Biscelgia) is a cool, quiet violin solo over a subtle pizz bass. This one brings the lightness that the rest of the tracks eschew, giving a restful end to a deliciously restless disc. - Peggy Latkovich

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