by Alissa Ordabai
– Senior Columnist —
After a 3-year break guitar virtuoso Christophe Godin returns to the helm of this leading-edge French trio to take it on another mind-boggling adventure. With 20 years of music-making under its belt, the band remains the quirkiest rock act Europe has ever produced. Bending Metal, Rock, and Jazz into phantasmagoric shapes with such bite and so much humor surely takes balls and smarts. And Mörglbl has both going on: flashy chops ignite the note-perfect solos, space-rocking riffs propel each track, and the kaleidoscopic flow of ideas, themes, genres, and moods turns the album into a tour de force — unpredictable and virtuosic.
Mörglbl’s schtick of juxtaposing different styles continues since the time the band first formed back in 1997. But the offering in hand goes beyond playing up the contrasts between earth-shattering heavy metal with high-brow jazz. Here Godin and Co. go deeper to explore the relationship between the two genres to show how jazz can be bombastic, and how rock can be thoughtful. At privileged moments the two mix so organically, the result is flawless, effortless fusion — elegantly balanced, self-assured but still preserving the edge that keeps you on your toes.
Standout “God Shaved the Queen” is the quintessence of the band’s newly found equilibrium. Starting with laconic, punchy riffing, it grows into a multicolored, constantly evolving discovery expedition. Sparkling solos run against the tide of the dreamy, fairy-tale streak at the heart of this piece, making it churn with energy. At times it sounds almost too hooky and too raunchy for jazz fusion, but that’s the spirit of Godin’s talent — making complex things not only accessible, but memorable. A bit of horseplay with meter — instead of becoming a roadblock — gives this cut more fuel to run on.
Where before Godin often used humor as compensation for musical complexity, here he presents his inner reality with total candor and calm self-assurance. Knowing who he is and what he wants to say turns his confidence into downright swagger. That is not to say that Godin is abandoning his trademark penchant for goofy fun. Highlight “Mariachi’s Burger” mocks Lemmy Kilmister’s vocal mannerisms with precision only the Gallic spirit is capable of and only Godin can carry through.
Speaking of which — the more you get into Mörglbl, the more you realize that this sort of act could only happen in France. Technically and compositionally they are accomplished to perfection yet remain suave enough to give their virtuosity the gracious touch of self-irony. If anything will save rock music for today’s sneering, wry, aloof audiences, it’s precisely that. After all, comedy is a funny way of being serious, as an English humorist once said. And Godin has been leading this band for long enough to know how to use comedy and how not to — both to astounding effect.
Genre: Metal, Jazz Fusion, Progressive Rock, Experimental
Personnel:
Christophe Godin – guitars
Ivan Rougny – bass
Aurel – drums
Track Listing;
1. Banjovi
2. Rood
3. Tea Time for Pünks
4. Chinese Buffet
5. Mariachi’s Burger
6. Untoon That Guitar
7. Far Tea Time
8. Tree Ball
9. God Shaved the Queen
10. Atomic Tom Mohawk
Label: Self-released
Online: www.morglbl.com/en; www.christophegodin.com
Hardrock Have rating: 9/10
