Guitarist Guilhem Lacroux usually hangs around within the French drone network which has the label (and group) La Nòvia as its hub, but released a new solo album for a change. Libellule Ebouli consists of two longer tracks with two versions each of 33 and 45 rpm.
Lacroux’s stretched out and dissonant lap steel guitar accompanies calm strumming on the acoustic guitar. It reminds one of his roots in a group as Toad with whom he moved moved more and more from Auvergnat folk music in the direction of acoustic drone, together with key player Yann Gourdon on the hurdy gurdy.
The homely guitar provides serenity within the menacing atmosphere on “Ebouli” when Lacroux mixes multiple lap steels to a cacophonous climax. In terms of build-up and tone it almost feels like post-rock.
But the loose improvisations stay rather bland, especially on the slower 33 rpm versions. Within the remarkable French drone scene Libellule Ebouli therefore doesn’t add as much as for instance La Nòvia’s formidable Maintes fois (2020).
Rating: Approach With Caution