New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Based in the French cities of Nancy and Avignon, PILES is comprised of Guigou Chevenier (Etron Fou Leloublan, Volapük), Anthony Laguerre (Filiamotsa, Club Cactus, Myotis), and Michel Deltruc (Isle-Adam 95, NAJA Nancy Jazz Action). In 2016, Chevenier had the idea for PILES to continue his musical work with experimental trio 'Les Batteries' between 1985 and 2000. This drum trio also involved British drummer Charles Hayward and American drummer Rick Brown. PILES' three drummers have long and rich careers.
'Una Volta' is a knock-out record of eight drum sound compositions, revealing secrets of the universe that are written in light. Abstract instrumental, this collection of tracks was created by three friends who teamed up especially for this recording.
PILES' sound is a free fall into the universe of energetic beats, rhythm, dynamics, repetition of the unexpected. It is an adventure that reveals the hidden depths of their sound spectrum of acoustic drums.
PILES' drumming is shaped by their individual musical roads by life, architecture, landscapes, nature, politics, film, art, dance and theater. By seeing and hearing the rhythm in all that surrounds us. Taking inspiration from kraut rock, free jazz and improv, they are also influenced by Can, Dave Grohl, Arvo Part, Drumbo (of
Captain Beefheart), Robert Wyatt, Abe Cunningham, Jimmy Chamberlain, Jon Theodore, Joe Baron and many others.
PILES 'Una Volta' CD is accompanied by a 32-page booklet based on the graphic stop-motion video 'Drones and Piles', created by graphic artist Bas Mantel. The visuals were created to the music in the same way the scenes of Eisenstein's1938 film 'Alexandre Nevski' was directed totally based on the rhythm of the music of Sergei Prokofiev.
The rhythmic and fragmentary style of the black and white images exposes the art of dance with Lettraset, dots-dots-dots, molecules transmitting life and death, cells constructing shapes and graphic radiowaves translated into frequencies and velocity, repetition in electro magnetic patterns, and the isolation of getting lost in outer space.
Like PILES' drum-based sound, these graphic designs are frightening, direct, loud/quiet, raw, layered, fragmentary, abstract and experimental. REV. Lab founder Bas Mantel felt PILES would be a perfect fit for the REV. Lab. series, released jointly with Aagoo Records.
REV. Lab is a small independent music label, whose sound and tone is rooted in electronic, ambient, experimental, cinematic and abstract soundscapes. This series investigates the relation between the graphic translation of the music and its physical output.
Aagoo Records is home to vinyl releases by Xiu Xiu, Phillip Petit, Eraldo Bernocchi & Chihei Hatakeyama, Lucky Dragons, Darto, CUP, connect_icut, and The Use.
'Una Volta' is a limited release of 300 copies, including a CD with book carefully packed in a semi-transparent glassine bag. It is available via online stores and streaming platforms, and can be ordered from Aagoo Records' website and digitally via Bandcamp.
"At just 3:44, 'Drones and Piles' weaves a path drawing the listener in and out in the most intriguing way, building to a climax that leaves you wanting more by the time the pinnacle finally comes, the song ending exactly at that point. An impressive, high energy introduction to a band of very capable musicians" - Big Takeover Magazine
"PILES' sound and their musical approach are intriguing, leaving you perked to see what comes next at every turn. No song here is like another and the genres on this album even tastefully vary, despite being entirely instrumental" - Louder Than War
French experimental outfit PILES presents their first 'Una Volta' album, co-released by U.S. label Aagoo Records and Amsterdam label REV. Lab Records. This record will be released as a CD with accompanying art book. Ahead of that release, PILES previewed the lead track 'Drones and Piles'.
'Drones and Piles' emerged as a reinterpreted live version #13 of a composition from 'Drones and Drolls', with 12 previous versions first appearing on the concept album 'Le Batteur Est Le Meilleur Ami Du Musicien' by PILES drummer Guigou Chevenier.
TRACK LIST
1. Drones and Piles 03:21
2. Decay 03:14
3. Ulrik 01:49
4. Mort aux cons 02:31
5. Kraut and Piles 09:04
6. Materials in US 09:08
7. Chambre d'echo 03:58
8. Marie 09:17
Anthony Laguerre [drums + keys + guitar] + Guigou Chenevier [drums] + Michel Deltruc [drums]
Produced by Anthony Laguerre at the Shadyn Studio (Nancy, France)
Recorded at Les Hauts Plateaux | Mix at the Shadyn Studio with the assistance of Emmanuel Gilot
Mastered by Jean Francois Hustin at Organic Studio in Liege
Concept & graphic art/design by Bas Mantel [revlaboratories.com]
'Drones and Piles message text' by
Morgan Enos
