All the qualities that made Group Du Jour's 1990 recording Down to the Wire so intriguing are
present on their latest recording: the Tull-like
flute by Daniel Crommie, the pop/rock sound
that opens itself to varied ethnic influences and
the mesmerizing guitar work by Paul Parker.
What makes this album different from the
earlier release is the inclusion of several
instrumental tunes that work more as mood
pieces than pop tunes. "Mystery Play" uses
Middle Eastern influences with Gary Haggerty's
lovely violin to create a fascinating jazz-like improvisation. "Shooting Stars at Midheaven"
resembles an Eno ambient piece that languidly
drifts along permitting you to pay attention to the musical form or use it as background sound.
"Animosity Killed the Cat" interweaves some
interesting percussion with synth backdrops.
Bo Parker's voice is more in evidence on this
release, allowing her to explore the realms of
pop, jazz and even ethnic vocal styles. Daniel Crommie's vocals and dynamic flute playing
never fail to perfectly complement Paul
Parker's intense guitar work.
— James Morman,
Dirty Linen
Imbibe Shadowfax with vocals, add a dose or two of Hector Zazou and Green Isac and you might come up with the intoxicating brews of electro-worldbeat
troupe Group du Jour. With electronic icing, this inventive trio utilize a plethora of finger instruments (xylimbas, hand drums, chimes, gongs, etc.) linked
to guitars, dulcimers, recorders and 'cheap' digital samplers to yield smooth, world-fusion songs that
are anything but cloying. The myriad of textures
include buzzing guitars offset by electronics and
whistling flutes on the evocative "Where Rivers Meet", while the guitars on "Mercenary Man" sport a decidedly Floydian bent. After
years of stimulating cassette releases, Group
du Jour's worldly exploits are certainly a quite
welcome in the digital domain
— and better suited to them.
— Darren Bergstein, i/e magazine
For a band that lists "cheap digital sampler" as one
of their instruments, I was expecting something a
little less like Spandau Ballet. Uh. Group Du Jour create some interesting sounds with their array of digital whizbangers. It's all expertly recorded, clinically composed and
consumately performed. Too bad the results
are miserably soporific.
— Patrick Barber, The Rocket
