La Tène
NEWS
- 13/09/2023
La Tène – new album ‘Ecorcha/Taillee’ + tour 2023 !
Bois, métal, savoir-faire ancestral et expérimentations sonores sont réunis dans la musique étrange de La Tène. Composé de trois membres originaires de France et de Suisse, leur nouvel album ‘Ecorcha/Taillée’ est annoncé sur le label genevois Les Disques Bongo Joe. . La Tène est un gang psychédélique annulant par la frappe toute frontière entre minimalisme (des motifs) et maximalisme (des
- 20/05/2022
La Tène et invités sont de retour en mai 2022 (FR/CH) !
La Tène et invités sont de retour, gros insecte sonore au psychédélisme mat, bourdonnant et frondeur, élastique et granuleux; à Paris (Petit Bain) avec ‘Tal Coal’ de Maud Herrera le 23, à Bruxelles (Brasserie Atlas) le 24, à Dijon le 25, à Strasbourg (Pelpass Festival) le 26, à Pully (CH – L’Octogone Théâtre de Pully)
BIO
La Tène’s long, hypnotic, wordless pieces are built from traditional instrumentation, wild percussion and blurred, subtle electronic embellishments, and feel as ancient and earthy as those millennia-old artefacts – with all the metal, wood, dedication and craftsmanship they entailed.
As on their previous release ‘Abandonnée / Maleja’, a double set running to over 80 minutes, Cyril Bondi, Alexis Degrenier and Laurent Peter expand to seven members in total. Cohorts Jacques Puech (cabrette – a small bagpipe associated with the Auvergne region of France), Louis Jacques (cabrette and a larger, 23” bagpipe), Guilhem Lacroux (12-string guitar) and Jérémie Sauvage (bass) each return to add colour, layers and intrigue.
‘Ecorcha/Taillée’ was recorded in a barn converted into a ballroom and cultural centre which exists to promote the folk music of region Auvergne. Both L’Ecorcha (eighteen and a half minutes long) and La Taillée (just under a quarter of an hour, brevity by this group’s standards) were recorded live and what you hear is a single take, with no editing after the fact.
L’Ecorcha goes into space with simple, minimal tools. Beginning with a single, doomy chord circling in perpetuity and a metallic shaker by way of rhythm, a drone of unspecified provenance is joined a little under halfway through by Alexis’ hurdy-gurdy, adding bucolic buoyancy while Laurent uses the wooden surface of his harmonium as an extra percussive source. La Taillée is spikier, danceable
Inspirations, soundalikes and kindred spirits are elusive and fleeting in the case of La Tène. There are a couple specific to Ecorcha/Taillée, both brought to the table by Alexis : a Christian song titled La Passion, collected in 1883 by French folklorist Félix Arnaudin, and a reggaeton hit single from 2022, Saoko by Spanish star Rosalía. La Taillée adapts its crunchy central riff in La Tène’s own image. It’s that link between the past and the future that also rings out in the music of La Tène.
Alexis Degrenier (hurdy-gurdy):
Alexis Degrenier is a France-based artist, composer, percussionist and hurdy gurdy player. After studying classical percussion, he turned towards contemporary, experimental and traditional music. He is a member of Tanz Mein Herz, OutreNoir, La Tène, Insub Meta Orchestra, and Ensemble Cerbere; has performed Terry Riley’s In C with members of La Novià, and will be collaborating with choregrapher Olivia Grandville on new work in 2018.
D’incise (indian harmonium, electronics):
Laurent Peter, a.k.a. D’incise (Geneva, 1983) grew up immersed in dub and experimental electronic music. A sonic explorer, he has no particular instrument, instead utilizing software, recording, objects, percussion, harmonium, etc., and building a specific set-up for each new occasion in both improvisational and compositional contexts. He is interested in radicalism, reductionism, repetition and conceptual approaches, appreciates slowness and obsessive exploration of simple processes and minute details. With Cyril Bondi, he is behind the INSUB. label, orchestra, the Diatribes duo, and many other things, including a new prototechno project called Tresque. He is also a graphic designer.
Cyril Bondi (percussion):
Cyril Bondi (b.1980) has been a drummer and percussionist since 1994. A key figure on the Swiss experimental music scene, he is a founding member of the band Plaistow and of the new duo Cyril Cyril. In the field of experimental music, he has worked with projects such as diatribes, La Tène and Komatsu. Bondi leads the Insub Meta Orchestra, a large experimental ensemble of 60 musicians, and is one of the coordinators of the label/collective INSUB.
LINE-UP
Alexis Degrenier : hurdy-gurdy
Cyril Bondi : drums, percussions
Laurent Peter / D’incise : Indian harmonium, electronics
GUESTS
Guilhem Lacroux : guitar
Jérémie Sauvage : bass
Louis Jacques : cabrette, bagpipes
Jacques Puech : cabrette
With the financial support of Pro Helvetia, la Fondation Suisa, la Fondation SIS, la République and Canton de Genève
LINKS
PRESS
The Quietus
“La Tène’s music isn’t fundamentally about improvisation – rather the focus is on incremental change within a strict framework (for La Tène, a single album equals one track to a side). That starts as a wheezy waltz, like a dusty clockwork mechanism springing to life, draped with ribbons of drone and with Lacroux’s 12-string picking out an endlessly cycling eight-note motif and cabrettes (bagpipes) start to lead the dance.” Rockfort – David McKenna
The Wire
“Though La Tène’s music is based on finding inspiration in past melodies, Ecorcha/ Taillée feels decidedly of the moment. It’s music meant to be felt intrinsically, to be guided through the present with. In its ever-looping movements and chaotic detours, there’s a feeling of careless abandon, a call to let loose and surrender to now.” – Vanessa Ague
Bandcamp Big Ups
“La Tène is another example of this cyclic, repetitive trance music, but it’s mainly acoustic instrumentation which I think is really interesting. You don’t often hear that as new music” – Stephen O’Malley
CONTACT
Booking : Julien Bitaudeau
Press : Marc Chonier
Promo : Bongo Joe
TAGS
'Ecorcha / Taillée' (Teaser, 2023)
'L'Abandonnée' feat. J.Puech & L.Jacques (2018)
'La Maléja' feat. G.Lacroux & J.Sauvage (2018)
'Danse de l'Ortha' feat G.Lacroux & J.Sauvage (2018)
'Pa di issime' (2017)
'La Tardive' (2017)
'La Thouraz di Sopra' (2016)
DISCOGRAPHIE
Ecorcha/Taillée
Bongo Joe2023
LP / CD / Digital
Abandonnée/Maleja
three:four records & Les Disques Bongo Joe2018
LP / CD / Digital
La Tardive/Issime
three:four tecords & Les Disques Bongo Joe2017
LP / CD / Digital
Vouerca/Fahy
three:four records2016
LP
Past shows
- DateCountryCityVenuewith
- 24/02/2024FranceRennes (35)Antipode (ANNULÉ)Lankum, CRAZEinfos event
- 01/12/2023France Brest (29)Festival NoBorder, La CarèneMeral Polat trio, Toudonnerinfos event
- 13/11/2023BelgiqueBruxelles (BE)Goûte Mes Disques 15th birthday, La Source Beer CoActe Bontéinfos event
- 04/10/2023HongrieBudapest (HU)UH FestRien Virgule, Her()man's Pussyinfos event
- 03/10/2023République SlovaqueBratislava (SK)A4 infos event
- 24/02/2023FranceLyon (69)Le Périscopeinfos event
- 23/02/2023FranceGrenoble (38)La BobinePerrine Bourelinfos event
- 22/02/2023SuisseGenève (CH)Festival Antigel, Cave 12 (co-orga Bongo Joe)Société Étrangeinfos event
- 04/02/2023FranceNantes (44)Pôle Étudiant (orgas. Pannonica, Pôle Étudiant / Nantes Université et la Soufflerie)Ava Mendozainfos event
- 29/09/2022FranceStrasbourg (67)Musica, Sonic Temple à l'Église St-Paul (soirée co-programmée avec le Sonic Protest)Ellen Fulmann, Tristan Perich, György Ligeti par Shin-Young Leeinfos event
- 27/05/2022SuissePully (CH)L'Octogone (orgas. l'association du salopard & Plateforme10)infos event
- 26/05/2022FranceStrasbourg (67)Pelpass Festivalinfos event
- 25/05/2022FranceDijon (21)Quartier Libre des LentillèresLynhood
- 24/05/2022BelgiqueBruxelles (BE)Brasserie AtlasVica Pacheco, Ladr.ache event
- 23/05/2022FranceParis (75)Petit Bain'Tal Coal' de Maud Herrerainfos event
- 21/05/2021AllemagneMoers (DE)La Tène & guests - Moers Festival (STREAMING ARTE)infos event
- 06/12/2018FranceParisCENTRE CULTUREL SUISSEinfos event
- 22/07/2018PortugalSines (PT)FMM / Porto Covo - Largo Marquês de Pombal (ANNULÉ)Meridian Brothersinfos event
- 20/07/2018FranceCarhaixLes Vieilles Charrues (ANNULÉ)infos event
- 01/06/2018SuisseDudingenFestival KilbiGuest !infos event
- 19/05/2018FranceJoué-les-ToursLe Temps Machine (ANNULÉ)Sourdureinfos event
- 09/03/2018FranceGrenobleLa Bobine (ANNULÉ)Phoenician Driveinfos event
- 24/02/2018FranceAgenLE FLORIDASourdure, François Dumeauxinfos event
- 28/11/2017SuisseDüdingenBad BonnRazeninfos event
- 27/11/2017SuisseLausanneLe BourgRazeninfos event
- 24/10/2017SuisseGenèveCave 12guestinfos
- 15/10/2017BelgiqueBruxellesLa Compilothèque event
- 14/10/2017Pays-BasLa HayeMondriaan Jazz Festival event
- 29/09/2017FranceBordeauxUppercut festivalinfos event
- 22/09/2017FrancePlateau de MillevachesFête de la montagne
- 14/07/2017SuisseMontreuxJazz Festival Montreux, Château de Chilloninfos event
- 29/06/2017FrancePoitiersFestival Bruisme #7, Petit Cabaretinfos event
- 26/05/2017FranceChabeuil (26)Festival Rencontre entre les mondes, Centre Culturelinfos event
- 21/04/2017FranceMetzLa BAM / Les Trinitaires / EPCC Metz en ScènesAquasergeinfos event
- 31/03/2017FranceNantesFestival Variations, le lieu uniqueinfos
- 24/03/2017FranceMontreuilFestival Sonic Protest, La MarbrerieOrgue Agnès, Golden Orioleinfos event
- 23/03/2017FranceCherbourgLe Point du Jour
- 18/03/2017FranceNiortFestival Nouvelle(s) Scène(s)infos
- 29/01/2017SuisseBienne
- 27/01/2017SuisseLausanneThéâtre 2.21infos
- 26/01/2017SuisseBaselPlattfoninfos event
- 25/01/2017SuisseDüdingenBad Bonn event
- 10/11/2016FranceBourgesFestival Bandits Mages, Théâtre Jacques Coeurinfos event
- 06/11/2016FranceParisLe Point Éphémère - Festival WorldStock #4, Fête SouterraineArlt et le duo Puech/Gourdoninfos event
- 20/10/2016BelgiqueBruxellesAteliers Clausinfos
- 19/10/2016FranceReimsHall de la Cartonnerieinfos event
- 18/10/2016FranceLilleLa Malterieinfos
- 17/10/2016FranceToursLe Grilloninfos event
- 16/10/2016FranceBrestLe P'tit Minouinfos event
- 03/09/2016FranceRivières (81)Festival Baignade Interdite, Piscine d'Aiguelèzeinfos event
- 28/08/2016FranceLe MansLes siestes Teriaki (Parc)
- 26/08/2016SuisseGenèveLes Bains des Pâquisinfos
-
'Ecorcha / Taillée' (Teaser, 2023)
-
'L'Abandonnée' feat. J.Puech & L.Jacques (2018)
-
'La Maléja' feat. G.Lacroux & J.Sauvage (2018)
-
'Danse de l'Ortha' feat G.Lacroux & J.Sauvage (2018)
-
'Pa di issime' (2017)
-
'La Tardive' (2017)
-
'La Thouraz di Sopra' (2016)
NEWS
- 13/09/2023
La Tène – new album ‘Ecorcha/Taillee’ + tour 2023 !
Bois, métal, savoir-faire ancestral et expérimentations sonores sont réunis dans la musique étrange de La Tène. Composé de trois membres originaires de France et de Suisse, leur nouvel album ‘Ecorcha/Taillée’ est annoncé sur le label genevois Les Disques Bongo Joe. . La Tène est un gang psychédélique annulant par la frappe toute frontière entre minimalisme (des motifs) et maximalisme (des
- 20/05/2022
La Tène et invités sont de retour en mai 2022 (FR/CH) !
La Tène et invités sont de retour, gros insecte sonore au psychédélisme mat, bourdonnant et frondeur, élastique et granuleux; à Paris (Petit Bain) avec ‘Tal Coal’ de Maud Herrera le 23, à Bruxelles (Brasserie Atlas) le 24, à Dijon le 25, à Strasbourg (Pelpass Festival) le 26, à Pully (CH – L’Octogone Théâtre de Pully)
BIO
La Tène’s long, hypnotic, wordless pieces are built from traditional instrumentation, wild percussion and blurred, subtle electronic embellishments, and feel as ancient and earthy as those millennia-old artefacts – with all the metal, wood, dedication and craftsmanship they entailed.
As on their previous release ‘Abandonnée / Maleja’, a double set running to over 80 minutes, Cyril Bondi, Alexis Degrenier and Laurent Peter expand to seven members in total. Cohorts Jacques Puech (cabrette – a small bagpipe associated with the Auvergne region of France), Louis Jacques (cabrette and a larger, 23” bagpipe), Guilhem Lacroux (12-string guitar) and Jérémie Sauvage (bass) each return to add colour, layers and intrigue.
‘Ecorcha/Taillée’ was recorded in a barn converted into a ballroom and cultural centre which exists to promote the folk music of region Auvergne. Both L’Ecorcha (eighteen and a half minutes long) and La Taillée (just under a quarter of an hour, brevity by this group’s standards) were recorded live and what you hear is a single take, with no editing after the fact.
L’Ecorcha goes into space with simple, minimal tools. Beginning with a single, doomy chord circling in perpetuity and a metallic shaker by way of rhythm, a drone of unspecified provenance is joined a little under halfway through by Alexis’ hurdy-gurdy, adding bucolic buoyancy while Laurent uses the wooden surface of his harmonium as an extra percussive source. La Taillée is spikier, danceable
Inspirations, soundalikes and kindred spirits are elusive and fleeting in the case of La Tène. There are a couple specific to Ecorcha/Taillée, both brought to the table by Alexis : a Christian song titled La Passion, collected in 1883 by French folklorist Félix Arnaudin, and a reggaeton hit single from 2022, Saoko by Spanish star Rosalía. La Taillée adapts its crunchy central riff in La Tène’s own image. It’s that link between the past and the future that also rings out in the music of La Tène.
Alexis Degrenier (hurdy-gurdy):
Alexis Degrenier is a France-based artist, composer, percussionist and hurdy gurdy player. After studying classical percussion, he turned towards contemporary, experimental and traditional music. He is a member of Tanz Mein Herz, OutreNoir, La Tène, Insub Meta Orchestra, and Ensemble Cerbere; has performed Terry Riley’s In C with members of La Novià, and will be collaborating with choregrapher Olivia Grandville on new work in 2018.
D’incise (indian harmonium, electronics):
Laurent Peter, a.k.a. D’incise (Geneva, 1983) grew up immersed in dub and experimental electronic music. A sonic explorer, he has no particular instrument, instead utilizing software, recording, objects, percussion, harmonium, etc., and building a specific set-up for each new occasion in both improvisational and compositional contexts. He is interested in radicalism, reductionism, repetition and conceptual approaches, appreciates slowness and obsessive exploration of simple processes and minute details. With Cyril Bondi, he is behind the INSUB. label, orchestra, the Diatribes duo, and many other things, including a new prototechno project called Tresque. He is also a graphic designer.
Cyril Bondi (percussion):
Cyril Bondi (b.1980) has been a drummer and percussionist since 1994. A key figure on the Swiss experimental music scene, he is a founding member of the band Plaistow and of the new duo Cyril Cyril. In the field of experimental music, he has worked with projects such as diatribes, La Tène and Komatsu. Bondi leads the Insub Meta Orchestra, a large experimental ensemble of 60 musicians, and is one of the coordinators of the label/collective INSUB.
LINE-UP
Alexis Degrenier : hurdy-gurdy
Cyril Bondi : drums, percussions
Laurent Peter / D’incise : Indian harmonium, electronics
GUESTS
Guilhem Lacroux : guitar
Jérémie Sauvage : bass
Louis Jacques : cabrette, bagpipes
Jacques Puech : cabrette
With the financial support of Pro Helvetia, la Fondation Suisa, la Fondation SIS, la République and Canton de Genève
LINKS
PRESS
The Quietus
“La Tène’s music isn’t fundamentally about improvisation – rather the focus is on incremental change within a strict framework (for La Tène, a single album equals one track to a side). That starts as a wheezy waltz, like a dusty clockwork mechanism springing to life, draped with ribbons of drone and with Lacroux’s 12-string picking out an endlessly cycling eight-note motif and cabrettes (bagpipes) start to lead the dance.” Rockfort – David McKenna
The Wire
“Though La Tène’s music is based on finding inspiration in past melodies, Ecorcha/ Taillée feels decidedly of the moment. It’s music meant to be felt intrinsically, to be guided through the present with. In its ever-looping movements and chaotic detours, there’s a feeling of careless abandon, a call to let loose and surrender to now.” – Vanessa Ague
Bandcamp Big Ups
“La Tène is another example of this cyclic, repetitive trance music, but it’s mainly acoustic instrumentation which I think is really interesting. You don’t often hear that as new music” – Stephen O’Malley
DISCOGRAPHIE
Ecorcha/Taillée
Bongo Joe2023
LP / CD / Digital
Abandonnée/Maleja
three:four records & Les Disques Bongo Joe2018
LP / CD / Digital
La Tardive/Issime
three:four tecords & Les Disques Bongo Joe2017
LP / CD / Digital
Vouerca/Fahy
three:four records2016
LP
CONTACT
Booking : Julien Bitaudeau
Press : Marc Chonier
Promo : Bongo Joe