Midi Tapant

Pierre Tanguay and Tom Walsh appeared on many Ambiances Magnétiques releases before 1998, but mainly remained in the shadows as sidemen. That was until this project, Midi Tapant (Noon Sharp), a surprising half audio art, half free improv album. Tanguay plays the drum set, various percussion instruments (mostly African), and objects. Tom Walsh provides samples and trombone. The key part of this CD resides in the samples — strange soundscapes made of orchestral cues, TV zapping, and electronic treatments — upon which trombone solos are tacked or to which a sudden drum pattern will be joined, unless ethereal percussion or even toys are added to the mix. Most of the music (the title track excepted) is atmospheric and develops slowly. It evokes childhood (toys, but also the title "Est-Ce Que Marie Peut Venir Jouer?" ["Can Mary Come Out and Play?"]) or Fred Frith's film music, especially Middle of the Moment. Midi Tapant somehow foretold Pierre Tanguay's solo CD La Musique de Mon Disque. If the album received a lukewarm reception, it did succeed in revealing another side of these two musicians too often taken for granted. The sampling work is a bit crude, but Midi Tapant still makes good music for daydreaming. ~ François Couture, Rovi