[i:Vibes] Avia - I See That Now [Nutone Music]

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Avia - I See That Now [Nutone Music]

15:25 - August 10, 2003

by Kevin C

A combination of chillout, jazz, blues and house come through with this album from French producer Pierre Avia on a diverse and composed album.

A rather different offering came my way a few days ago from one of Nettwerk Recordings offshoot labels Nutone Music.

The CD, by an artist known as Avia on the album, but infact is highly acclaimed Frenchman Pierre Avia; gave the impression as being a contemporary collection of chillout jazz tracks, but instead I found it to be somewhat different to that and coming near the turn point of the summer period, we're offered a dose of some funky downtempo house

Tracklist:

1. Miles Golden Sands
2. The Persuader
3. Why Should I Cry
4. Love & Rise
5. Tigerbird
6. Warm
7. Jetlag
8. Waterfalls
9. Westernize
10. Kim Scorpio Tropical
11. American Photo

Taking off with a somewhat odd introMiles Golden Sands would fare well on a Danny Tenaglia set with its groovy melodic rhythms and what I consider as psueudo-Latin influences. The tempo is slowed to the level of tracks such as Fused - Terror and similar tracks making this a subtle yet fine tuned intro.

The distorted synth sequence seems to continue into The Persuader but bringing more of the so-called Asian influence out and more of a melodic backing reminiscent of something from a Chris Coco set.

Crossing into Why Should I Cry, a retro jazz like track accompanied by some scratching and male vocals gives us a flavour of something a bit more upbeat and less of the usual housey music we come across. Some of you might find the male vox somewhat distasteful, but it seems to me like a needed suplement to this track which times in at just under 4 minutes before giving us yet another side of Avia in the form of Love & Rise.

More mellow with its padded guitars, but with a more rock tainted vocal sequence; this is definitely suplementary to the current retro rock genre but I still have not concluded as to what genre I would so far place Avia under....

Tigerbird on the other hand is a different story. A cross between Michael Bolton, some samba and airpads added throughout make this one an interesting affair. You may already think of skipping this one, but it's actually not so bad. A very "early morning" type of track, acceptable within the shores of Ibiza no doubt.

Next up comes my pick of the track of the album so far in the form of Warm. A chilled melodic affair with elements from the jazz world and beautifully arranged for top points. The early half of the track comes in as a subtle buildup but the latter half is where all the gems are.. A track which would appeal to all in my opinion.

Following on is Jetlag, a short transitional track which has little to be said about it.

And transition it is. Waterfalls coming in as the 8th track is downright gothic and dark with its melodramatic melody and vocal backing which reminded me of something from Bjork... Not really my thing, but would be suitable for those looking for something of the darker sort, this one is for you. Coming in at just over 9 minutes, I made my move to Westernize at just over the half way point.

Westernize was something different altogether. A beautiful and transposed sequence of melodies, flutes and bass make this one of the finer tracks of this album. This is the kind of music which makes the world go around.. and coming in at 4 minutes flat, everything about this track was on form before melding into yet another short track in the shape of Kim Scorpio Tropical which would've done superbly as a full track.

Closing off is American Photo, a Blues and Jazz infused piano production which is almost just too perfect as an ending. Mellow, subtle and fine, just like a '94 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve from Napa Valley...

Conclusion:
Overall, the album is good. There are moments which I felt bored, but the good tracks such as Westernize and Warm, really pulled things up for me and this is definitely one for my collection for those summer weekends on the beach.