René Aubry
Invités Sur La Terre

René Aubry is a delightful minstrel of our times. His compositions are "songs without words," little sonic frescoes painted with arpeggios and plucked acoustic guitar and a few strokes of wind instruments. The French guitarist knows how to mix colors and musical nuances from all over the world, creating a multifaceted and lively melting pot. From France to Spain, all the way to Italy where he met dancer Carolyn Carlson, becoming her musical alter ego. Thanks to this artistic partnership, Aubry has developed a visual and corporeal musicality, absolutely innovative and original: notes and chords to imagine as a choreography.

"Invites Sur La Terre" is definitely the crown jewel of his prolific discography. Released in 2001, it is a summary of works for solo guitar, rearranged and enriched by a precious acoustic ensemble. The album is a destabilizing and therapeutic flight of fancy. A break from everyday boredom, to dive into a timeless and spaceless dreamlike dimension. Listening to it has an instant, engaging, and hypnotic effect. No pauses, no dead moments, every single note is meticulously cared for and the overall sound effect becomes estranging. There are bursts of impetuous joy as in "Soleis" and "Brimades Legere", achieved through dynamic and lively arpeggios. But also more intimate and gathered situations like "Matera" and "Solitaire". There are also ironic and playful moments like "Pauvre Juliette!" and "Settebello" whose arpeggio reminds me, curiously, of the intro of "In Particular" by Blonde Redhead (forgive the bold comparison…).

"Invites Sur La Terre" is a fresh and lively recording project, a combination of refined sounds reminiscent of the style of Penguin Café Orchestra and the soundtracks of Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota. Despite his aversion to the limelight, Monsieur Aubry has been elected by critics and media as one of the most original and interesting composers of contemporary avant-garde, inheriting the legacy of his fellow compatriots Yann Tiersen and Pascal Comelade.