Subtlety can be a powerful tool if used correctly. A soft look at a potential mate can easily convey the breadth of one’s feelings. An insightful comment can more than elucidate one’s feelings. However, if said user does not understand the balance between being overt and being too subtle, meanings can be misconstrued, feelings can be hurt, and one’s intentions whittled to a toothpick. I have enumerated this sentiment before (see my review of The Bird Ensemble), but I feel like the amount of post-rock bands attempting to walk this thin line is few and far between.
Christophe Bailleau & Won are one of those rare groups that are not afraid to attempt the more subtle regions of the genre.Free Bees Full of Light is a minimalist foray into a sparse and quiet field, rich with ambiance and tranquility. The tonal shifts and musical drones mimic a gentle breeze that slowly sways the overgrown vegetation while the interspersed acoustic guitar lines recall a swooping fowl letting off an echoing caw. The result is in an enveloping state of peace that Bailleau & Won deftly draw in the patient listener.
Perhaps the weakness of the album lies in their over subtlety. Their purpose is never quite clear. Rather than slowly meandering through the aforementioned field with a consciousness of a greater journey, CB&W are content to just stay put and enjoy the scenery. The sixth track “Une Pierre, Animal” exemplifies this rational; the ambiance slowly gives way to a gorgeous guitar melody, yet quietly dissolves back into a drone just when the piece begins to make progress. The penultimate track, “Another Trap in the Sand,” aptly falls into the same cavern. Melodies intersperse waves of sound, yet never linger long enough to provide meaning to the piece.
Despite the lack of intent, Free Bees Full of Light still comes off as ambitious. In a genre convoluted with blunt overreaching climaxes, it is always refreshing to listen to a band appreciative of delicate subtlety. In a world constantly moving and bent of time efficacy, this album utilizes the moments in life where one is content on standing still.
-Thomas Lloyd