Bruit ≤ – Apologie du Temps Perdu, Vol. 1 (EP)

Back in 2021 I wrote about Bruit ≤ ’s debut album “The machine is burning and now everyone knows it could happen again” (which you can read here), calling it one of the best debut albums. Shortly after, they signed with Pelagic Records and their album was released on vinyl; the 3000 copies were sold out in less than a year. By the end of 2021 the album found its way in many “Best of the Year” lists, The Progspace included. Specifically, not only their album, but also the music video for ‘The Machine is Burning’, a livestream event and their cellist Luc Blanchot were all found their way in the top 12 of their respective categories (to refresh your memory check here).

In March 2022 they started their European tour, which even though it was mostly around France and some nearby locations, it was a huge step for the band, and it continued till the end of that year. Finally, this January they released their EP “Apologie du Temps Perdu, Vol. 1” which they describe as “a comma between our first album and the next one”. Things have been going pretty good for the band so far and while this is not a full length release, I was very interested in checking up with them and seeing what they have to offer.

I think that it is evident that I’m quite interested in the band and its evolution. So this EP was quite a shock. It’s an enchanting journey through different eras of recording techniques, an homage to sound in a way. It is not uncommon for bands who had a successful release to deliver an EP between the albums to keep the momentum going, and usually it includes B-Sides, covers and such, and however interesting they might be it is evident this is not a “main course”. But Apologie du Temps Perdu, Vol. 1 is a complete artistic proposal.

‘La sagesse de nos aïeux’ (‘The wisdom of our ancestors’) is a composition done “100% on paper”, to honor the style of classical western music. It was then recorded and mixed on an old tape record, and then slowed down. This way, it’s like listening to an old recording of a composition by Claude Debussy. The name is not random, as I can hear several influences and maybe a touch of Gabriel Fauré. And while it sure is not as complex in the chord progressions and arrangement, it is definitely as if it was created by an impressionist composer.

A narration and harmonics played on the strings lead us to ‘Rêveur lucide’ (‘Lucid Dream’) on which the main theme sounds as if it emanates from the previous track, but in reality it’s the seamless way this EP is produced and thought of. While this is a designed middle point, carefully dividing the tracks, and leading from the opening track to the final one, it is a great track on its own merits. It started as an improvisation on guitar and bass that was done on a portastudio, which then was processed with more contemporary measures and injected into the track. When the drums start in the middle of the track it reminded me a bit of Explosions in the Sky and similar post rock bands in their early ‘00 period. And though on paper it sounds very unconnected with french impressionism, I never noticed up until I decided to write about it, the transition from one style to the other is very organic.

‘Les Temps Perdu’ (‘The Lost Times’) is the final track, which is a synthesis of the writing process of the previous two. Scores were created for the synth and strings, the guitars, bass and drums are improvising, while textures are created with old equipment. It doesn’t have the grandiose nature of “The Machine is Burning”, rather it has a feeling of sweet release and calmness. For the most part the arrangement is very minimalistic, then the drums start playing and enter the scene in a way that you think they were always there. A very singable melody is played on the strings, leading it to its final moments. There’s no overdramatic crescendo with distorted guitars and such, as someone would expect, something that is staple to the post rock/metal sound, and the band has shown that they are incredibly good on it.

“Apologie du Temps Perdu, Vol. 1”, was created during moments of relaxing and meditating amidst the intensity of their live shows, and the stress of touring for the first time. A “music refuge”, as the band describes it. It’s amazing that these people are creating such calm and thoughtful music while traveling around Europe and playing show after show, night after night. The EP seems to be governed by the Thesis – Antithesis – Synthesis model, and makes it even more evident that Bruit ≤ is a band influenced by both past and present of music in general (or at least western music), using both methods as tools and not demonizing one or the other in the name of some kind of arbitrary purity. And with these tools they create a very unique soundscape, a synthesis of different elements with a very thought-provoking sound design, thus creating something new that is neither clinging to the past nor blinded by the present.

But I still can’t give them 10/10, even though their debut deserved it. While it expands our understanding of what Bruit ≤ is and where they are looking to get influenced and how, I wouldn’t call it that memorable, even if it’s an amazing journey overall and I’m going to revisit it. Also it’s not a full album and I am excited to see what they’re going to do on their second canonical release. So I hope this grade is acceptable enough, for one of the best, most complete EPs I have heard. You can get the LP and CD from Pelagic Records, or go to their Bandcamp page and name your price!

Track List:

1. La sagesse de nos aïeux 06:50
2. Rêveur lucide 07:57
3. Les temps perdus 09:37