Jean Derome composed the music for the dance company Ô Vertigo's production
La Bête: The Beast Within, on a choreography by Ginette Laurin. More convincing than his
3 Musiques Pour UBU,
La Bête: The Beast Within is a dark 70-minute suite.
Derome chose a wide instrumentation that includes flutes, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, synthesizers, samplers, accordion, piano, voice, and various percussion. Each piece is scored for a limited number of these instruments, thus varying the sound palette -- without any cost on cohesion.
Joane Hétu delivers haunting wordless vocal improvisations -- she is one of the main reasons for the album's bleak mood.
Derome's music is freed from the dance production. It retains movement and stands very well on its own. The "Prologue" makes a strong opening statement of melodic theme, rhythm and movement (translated by
Hétu's panting). "La Lutine Mutine/Carrousel," "Madeleine," and "Crépuscule" are other highlights inhabited by the vocalist's presence.
La Bête: The Beast Within is very serious compared to
Derome's best-known projects (
Les Granules and
Jean Derome et les Dangereux Zhoms), but as far as his film/theater/dance work his concerned, this CD remains his strongest achievement. ~ François Couture