(10.17.03) Vincent Fibla, Spark label owner and recording artist in his own right, delivers the debut full-length for his own imprint. Lent follows an impressive series of 7 mini album and EP releases from international artists such as Mitchell Akiyama from Canada, Artificial Duck Flavour (Zorn) from Berlin, Si-Cut.db and Tennis from England, Phluidbox from Florida and Mikael Romanenko from Scotland. Lent is Fibla’s second album following Landscopes on Sub Rosa/Quartermass in 2000 and follows appearances on a range of compilations for Worm Interface, Benbecula, KlangKrieg and Couchblip! plus remix work for Lisa Carbon, Stol and Marumari and live dates in Tel Aviv and Tokyo.
Lent – the Catalan word for “slow” – immediately proves that Fibla’s excellent appearance on the Expanding Records 7″ series was not a fluke by presenting a series of mellow rhythmic tracks infused with glitchy percussion and an understated air of experimentalism. There is even a dose of humor evident in the form of “Boringly Repetitive,” a vaguely loop based track that subtly shifts styles frequently enough to prevent it being either boring or repetitive. It is however the most commercial and uptempo track on the album, which is essentially the point. This track aside, the remaining 9 tracks on Lent are a carefully considered journey through a series of precise rhythmic beats and emotive atmospheres. Occasionally, Fibla likes to add an unexpected ingredient to a track to keep you on your toes; “Suom Nineteen Seventies” ends with a field recording excerpt and “Inside” features DJ 2D2 on turntables, rapping and scratching throughout to add a completely new facet to Fibla’s musical style. The aptly named “An Incredible Shared Moment” closes the album with a slightly more uptempo melodic track with a playful uplifting air that signs off with a warm optimistic glow as the album concludes.
Lent is an accomplished album of crisp rhythmic beats contrasting with the smooth melodic texture of the emotive backdrop. The whole album sits together nicely, with the odd deviation in style from time to time to add some variation.
Lent is out now on spa.RK.
