François Tétaz

The Surfer

published in The Wire No.499, London, 2025

Excerpt

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The second mark of distinction is Tétaz’s rich arrangements. His background as a Pop producer (from Architecture in Helsinki to Gotye) comes through the scintillating recording and instrumentation (assisted by orchestrator Erkki Veltheim). The obvious reference would be the sumptuous studiophonics of Ennio Morricone and Armando Trovajoli. Their church-like madrigal pacing which underpins much film scoring of Italian psychological dramas surfaces here in the lighter tracks’ melodiousness.

A ‘dark’ side of Tétaz’s score equally evidences this. “Dream No.6” features Varèse-like orchestral colours accentuating woodblocks; “Welcome To The Kingdom” parlays timpani and bongos draped with strings halfway between Penderecki and a theremin squall; “Snake Jazz” slithers and sizzles like a spaghetti shoot-out; and “Dream No.9” is a mirage of Harry Partch’s mutant marimbas. Add Nicholas Cage and stir.

Text © Philip Brophy. Image © Impressed.