Detailed Reviews [Jack Dupon - 2024 - "Toucan"]

Prolusion. French band Jack Dupon have been a going concern for two decades and a bit at this point, releasing studio albums at a regular pace as well as finding space and room for a couple of live albums to boot. This year they released their eight studio production, "Toucan", a self-released album. This is also the first album with the band as a trio rather than a quartet.

Analysis. Jack Dupon have been among those bands that thrive exploring the more challenging landscapes of the progressive rock universe from the onset, and twenty odd years on they are still creating their material in a manner that demands attentive listening. Avantgarde and experimental are words that fit the bill very well indeed, also on this occasion. There's a whimsical glee to the songs here that is a part of a landscape that isn't really light toned or vibrantly positive. This is fun and uplifting for sure, but fun with a street wise attitude if you like. There's grime and dirt and realism inside of all the playful antics we are provided with. A band that explore their playful tendencies between the light and the dark rather than staying put to the idealism of the light and pure if you like. Quirky instrument details in general and by the guitar in particular is a staple. Heavy set sections and delicate light toned escapades ebb and flow on a constant basis. This time around perhaps with parts that are a bit more elongated at times and with perhaps a little bit less of the constant flux of changes. Possibly. We also get more songs that take a left turn into landscapes with more of a minimalist nature. Circulating and captivating groove-oriented arrangements in circulating patterns is a bit of a mainstay, distinct and compelling bass lines are perhaps a little bit more in the limelight than on previous occasions, but those who have come across this band on any previous occasion will still feel right at home. Staccato firm licks with a dissonant tinge and at times a little bit of a punk attitude coexist with quirky and off kilter movements here, with careful, delicate light toned harmony notes rarely being all that far away. Harmony and disharmony join hands for a lively, spirited, fiery but also a happy marriage. And the vocals follow the cues from the guitar in being whimsical, off kilter and quirky of course. This is, as tends to be the case with this band, an unpredictable but strikingly alluring journey into the realm of chaos and law intertwined. Where the dissonant elements come together to form harmonies, with noise details and melody details creating unusual melody patterns and at times hypnotic melody experiences. Playful but with grit, delicate and frail but also hard and firm. With a strong feeling of this music being French, even when not listening to the vocals. Oh, and the title track 'Toucan' is, in my view, one of the most if not the most compelling song I have come across by this band so far. The perfect choice of song to kick off this album with.

Conclusion. Jack Dupon, in their first incarnation as a trio, continue on to explore their very own whimsical type of musical endeavors. A gritty and playful affair that combine haunting moods of darkness and gleeful whimsical attitudes into a joyfilled brew of chaotic unpredictability of the alluring kind. An album that should be on the to listen list for those who prefer their progressive rock to be unconventional and challenging with a liberal avantgarde spirit always being present.

Progmessor: October 2024
The Rating Room