Cheval de frise
Self Titled

 

Description

A Cheval de frise is a defensive structure. Under this name, Thomas Bonvalet proposed to Vincent Beysselance to form a duo, creating an anxious, agitated music with perpetually changing, almost baroque, patterns.

Urgent, emotional and paradoxically structured and thought out in the finest detail, it drew much of its influences from the many forms of American post-hardcore of the 90s, while manifesting its own undeniable singularity from the start.

In the fall of 1998, freshly arrived in Bordeaux, Thomas, former bass player in an obscure noise rock band called Amble, meets Vincent, drummer for the band Tomy. Their formation would be instrumental, amplified classical guitar replacing the bass, giving them their signature sound.

The group works avidly, learning and discovering the possibilities of its instruments. In a French musical landscape where rock and guitar music do not enthuse much anymore, Cheval de frise comes as a surprise. Their stage performances, tense, feverish, fiery and on the edge of the abyss, are striking.

After a few demos, the group enters the studio and records their first album in June 2000. The record would be released a few months later, on CD, by Bordeaux label Sonore. It is received with enthusiasm, allowing Cheval de frise to tour all over Europe. The album would then be reissued in 2004 by Sickroom Records (Chicago) for the band’s only American tour.

Around the world, many instrumental, energetic, fast and complex bands would emerge during this same period and in the following years, oftentimes described as “math-rock”. But the unique color of Cheval de frise remained, borrowed from a certain anachronistic romanticism. A music made of shadows, explosive nuances, precise gestures, kaleidoscopic patterns and spasms.

This outstanding and one of a kind recording has not been available on vinyl, cassette or digital formats until now.

The release is classified in our Expanded Reissues series with the original track list remastered, and contains uncovered artwork supplements.

Cheval de frise was remastered by Carl Saff in July and August 2021 in Chicago.

— Lacquers were cut by Ruy Mariné at Dubplates Berlin in September 2021.

 
 
CS006 —— 2LP aluminum pack
 
 
CS006T —— Cassette
 
 
 
CS006 —— Native and aluminum covers

Purchase


Notes —— Please read carefully before placing your order.

I 2LP and cassette orders come with immediate download in MP3 (320kbps) or Lossless M4A format packaged in a ZIP file — Both folders include alternate digital covers. Just check the box in the shopping cart to receive your download link after purchase.


— 2LP + Digital


$33.99



— Cassette + Digital


$12.99


— Lossless M4A


$9.99


— MP3 (320kbps)


$8.99


 
 
CS006 —— 2LP cover
 
 
CS006T —— Cassette

Attributes


Cheval de frise is offered in 3 forms:


— 2LP with 3 sides running at 45rpm, inside a matte, 6mm spine gatefold cover together with a 3-by-3 feet poster. The entire package is housed in a unique heat-sealed aluminum Type-2 foil bag.

— Cassette tape with standard J-card cover, C42 White C-0 flat shell and clear liberty case.

— MP3 (320kbps) and Lossless M4A digital files for download.

— The art has been reworked from the start, with all native images being rescanned and readapted to all new formats with the great help of Thomas Bonvalet and Samuel Cochetel.

— Illustrations “Effet de Lune” and “Principe d’incertitude #2” courtesy of Frederic Bordes.

— Photographs: “Les champs de bataille de la Marne”

CS006 —— Inner gatefold
CS006 —— 3-by-3 feet Poster

Data


Release Type

Expanded Reissue


Formats

2LP — Cassette — M4A — MP3

Catalog Number

CS006 — CS006T

Barcodes

2LP — 3700604739661
Cassette — 3700604739678

Packaging

2LP — Type-2
Cassette — Standard

Release Date

November 18, 2022


2LP Tracklisting


Side A — 13:16:44

Connexion monstrueuse entre un objet et son image
Noblesse de l’échec (1)
Construction d’écorces d’arbres
Langue hastée


Side B — 12:03:26

Lundi deux mars
Un pont et des eaux noires limoneuses
Incliné et chenu
Le feu, le lin et la bougie


Side C — 13:50:46

Les canaux sont ouverts, les moustiques meurent, le monstre disparait
Mille courbettes
Douche froide, harmonium
Le vestibule de lâches
Noblesse de l’échec (2)


Total Time

39:10:13


2LP Timegraph


Vinyl Image


Cassette Tracklisting


Side A — 18:43:61

Connexion monstrueuse entre un objet et son image
Noblesse de l’échec (1)
Construction d’écorces d’arbres
Langue hastée
Lundi deux mars
Un pont et des eaux noires limoneuses


Side B — 20:26:56

Incliné et chenu
Le feu, le lin et la bougie
Les canaux sont ouverts, les moustiques meurent, le monstre disparait
Mille courbettes
Douche froide, harmonium
Le vestibule de lâches
Noblesse de l’échec (2)


Total Time

39:10:13


Cassette Timegraph


Cassette Image


Structural Notes


— Recorded by Guillaume Largillier at Studio du Hurlement, Bordeaux, France in June 2000. Mixed by Guillaume Largillier with the assistance of Pascal Joguet.


— The 2LP version contains the original track list split up on sides A, B and C, while side D is silent. Reissued on Computer Students™ by arrangement with Frank Stofer/Sonore.

CS006 —— Side A
CS006 —— Side B
CS006 —— Side C
CS006 —— Side D
CS006T —— Side A
CS006T —— Side B

Audio —— [Vinyl partition]


— Side A



— Side B



— Side C


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