Review: Darrifourcq Hermia Ceccaldi – Kaiju Eats Cheeseburgers (2020)

Kaiju Eats Cheeseburgers is the second studio album by French-Belgian trio Darrifourcq Hermia Ceccaldi.

The trio consists of two French musicians, drummer Sylvain Darrifourcq and cellist Valentin Ceccaldi, and Belgian saxophonist Manuel Hermia. Darrifourcq and Ceccaldi are both involved in many different projects, the best known of which is probably the avant-prog trio In Love With, led by Darrifourcq, in which they play together with Valentin’s brother Théo. In 2020 year, Ceccaldi also released a wonderful album called Constantine, which mixes many different musical styles, together with his brother Théon, who is a violinist, as well as an album of improvised solo cello music (Ossos). Hermia, who plays the tenor saxophone, is less familiar to me, but a quick internet search reveals that he too has been involved in numerous projects, particularly in the avant-garde jazz scene.

Darrifourcq Hermia Ceccaldi’s 2016 debut, God At The Casino, was already promising, but Kaiju Eats Cheeseburgers takes the trio’s music to a whole new level.

Somewhat surprisingly, Kaiju Eats Cheeseburgers is perhaps even more reminiscent of Darrifourcq and Ceccaldi’s other band, In Love With, than the trio’s own previous album. This is surprising because, whereas the music of In Love Within, which combines modern art music and avant-garde jazz, was composed entirely by Darrifourcq, he plays only a minor role in the compositions of Kaiju. Darrifourcq composed only one of the tracks on the album. Three of the tracks were written by Ceccaldi and one by saxophonist Hermia. The main difference between In Love Within and this trio is the instrumentation. In In Love With, the main solo instrument is Théo Ceccaldi’s violin, which is replaced by Hermia’s tenor saxophone in the Darrifourcq Hermia Ceccald trio. There is also a bit of a difference in that, whereas In Love With is very precisely notated music, Kaiju Eats Cheeseburgers has a slightly looser feel and allows more room for improvisation. However, this is not free jazz by any means, as Kaiju’s music is also mainly quite controlled and composed. Of course, with master musicians of this caliber, it is sometimes difficult to know what they are really capable of when improvising, but I would guess that most of the music is quite carefully planned in advance. This is hinted at by the individual composition credits. Usually, songs that rely heavily on improvisation are credited to the entire group.

The music on Kaiju Eats Cheeseburgers is at times creeping and threatening, lingering in the same patterns for long periods of time, slowly building tension before exploding into an orgasmic, virtuosic and raucous ensemble performance. Darrifourcq’s drumming throughout the album is particularly dazzling, but the whole trio delivers stunning performances.

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The album begins with Ceccaldi’s ten-minute title track, ”Kaiju Eats The Cheeseburger,” which, despite its name (kaiju refers to Japanese monster movies. Godzilla is probably the most famous kaiju) but is not a humorous piece, but rather a rather intense composition. Ceccaldi’s cello strikes oppressive, slow patterns, Hermion’s saxophone flies wildly here and there, and Darrifourcq rattles spider-like on his drum kit. After four minutes, the mood calms down to something minimalist. Ceccaldi plucks his cello slowly, Hermia blows his horn eerily, and Darrifourcq generates a strange metallic chirping from his cymbals. Then the mood changes when Ceccaldi begins to play an almost playful walking bass pattern on his cello, with Hermio soloing energetically but more softly than before, while Darrifourcq drives the whole thing forward with his truly magnificent and dynamic drumming. Then the whole thing explodes into chaos, varying the mood of the opening section. ”Kaiju Eats The Cheeseburger” is a delightfully paradoxical combination of chaos and extreme control. The song leaves no doubt that the trio are true master musicians.

The next piece, rhythmically named ”Ma-rie Anto-nette”, is also composed by Ceccaldi. The piece begins with an eerie rustling and hissing sound, apparently created by a combination of cello strings rubbing against the strings and Darrifourcq cymbals being rolled against the drumheads. The tempo and volume increase subtly, and Hermia alternates between fast atonal saxophone figures and slower melodic themes. At the five-minute mark, the tension is released and all hell breaks loose as the entire trio begins to play with a truly violent and angular energy. Ceccaldi pounds his cello, producing massive, demonic-sounding riffs. Hermian solos wildly on his tenor saxophone and Darrifourcq drums with a really intense approach. His playing has an amazing frenetic determination that is combined with an open spontaneity. The seven-minute ”Ma-rie Anto-nette” is the absolute elite of energetic avant-garde jazz.

Hermionin sävellys ”Disruption” on hitaasti ja pidätellysti suriseva kappale joka hylkää kaikin tavoin perinteisen melodisuuden tai kaavamaiset rakenteet ja kuulostaa lähinnä joltain erittäin kokeelliselta modernilta taidemusiikilta. Kiehtovaa kuultavaa, mutta 12 minuuttisena kappale on kaikessa hillityssä minimalistisuudessan aavistuksen ylipitkä.

Ceccaldi’s third composition, ”Bye Bye Charbon,” successfully awakens the listener after the minimalist ”Disruption” and is a truly delicious song driven by a jerky groove, in which Hermia gets to really let loose on his saxophone. Ceccaldi fiercely strums his cello, mainly rhythmically pizzicato, but also producing some truly violent sounds with his bow between the pizzicatos. Darrifourcq’s intermittently crackling drums are once again astonishing to hear.

The album’s closing track, ”Collapse In Sportswear,” is composed by Darrifourcq and once again represents the album’s more minimalist, modern art music side.

Kaiju Eats Cheeseburgers offers a balanced mix of light and shadow. There are a few moments of slight stagnation in the more tranquil parts of the album, but overall the music is truly exciting and fascinating to listen to. Kaiju Eats Cheeseburgers elevates the Darrifourcq Hermia Ceccald trio to one of the most interesting bands in modern avant-garde jazz.

Best track: ”Kaiju Eats Cheeseburgers”, ”Ma-rie Anto-nette”, ”Bye Bye Charbon” 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Author: JANNE YLIRUUSI

Tracks

  1. Kaiju Eats Cheeseburgers 10:23
  2. Ma-rie Antoi-nette 07:47
  3. Disruption 12:51
  4. Bye Bye Charbon 05:10
  5. Collapse in Sportswear 05:48

Musicians

Valentin Ceccaldi: cello Sylvain Darrifourcq: drums Manuel Hermia: tenor saxophone

Producer: Darrifourcq, Ceccaldi, Hermia
Label: Hector / Full Rhizome

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