I was so pleased I was able to get to Swiss accordionist Anatole Muster’s ‘hopecore’ album launch last night.
Charlie Rees has done the heavy lifting here. Charlie interviewed him and done a brilliant and detailed feature which explains his story, gets him to underline his musical motivations and talk about the web of connections he is already building (*) …and that mainly leaves me just one task, to explain why I like this music. And I can express quite simply: the mark which every minute of it leaves on me is a smile. Anatole Muster knows how to communicate joy, but also has a never failing-instinct for interesting and unexpected lines as an improviser, combined with an astonishing melodic gift.
The album – released on streaming services this morning – is thirteen short tracks, with only one of them stretching over the three-minute mark. There are some quick and fun funk tracks, there are some poppier songs in which I think I can hear the vibe of John_Flansburgh and John Linnell of They Might Be Giants. But whatever he is doing, Muster has such an ease of melodic invention and expression, and a feel of balance while always landing something unexpected. These little melodic vignettes which leave the listener wanting more. And tracks (try “Layers” which make you ask “Where did that come from?”
In the live context, with his trio he and his colleagues can and do stretch out, with fine drummer King Ike-Elechi more than capable of filling the shoes of Louis Cole who is on the album, and ditto bassist Hugo Piper (on the album we hear Hadrien Féraud). We also had an impressive and strong guest appearance from M Field, the lead singer of the South African band M Field. Some network…
Muster played three instruments last night: accordion, a “breathalyzer” developed with Elio Fistarol, and an adapted laptop. They are good talking points, particularly the fact that the “breathalyzer” is so well adapted to Muster’s Allan Holdsworth project in conjunction with guitarist Tom Ford.
Anatole Muster is in his last few weeks as a student at Royal Academy of Music, he said that last night was his last gig before he returns to Switzerland. He is bound to be back, and I am genuinely excited about what the future holds for him. And I’m smiling.
