Flexūs

This album was apparently inspired by labyrinths, whether ‘imagined… astronomical… constructed… danced [or] natural …. and especially the mineral labyrinth of Roca Viva’ – a ‘magic labyrinth of paths [and] worked rocks’ that can be found between Cerdanya and Alt Urgell, on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees. All of which offers some indication of the ideas behind this latest set by La Viu-viu, an engaging and experimental acoustic band from Catalonia. The four members play a remarkable variety of instruments, including accordion, clarinet, hurdy-gurdy, whistle, bagpipes, violin, guitar and the double bass that holds many of their ever-changing compositions together. There are folk influences here, along with melodies that could be cartoon themes, jaunty passages that veer towards jazz, and brooding pieces that suddenly turn into a dance workout. The music indeed twists and turns like a labyrinth but always sounds totally controlled, as different instruments suddenly emerge to take the lead. Most of the album is instrumental, but there are vocal passages, as on ‘Sorginak Infernuko Hauspotik Irtetzen’, which is like a furious folk dance. Elsewhere on Flexūs they offer a thoughtful lament for the Minotaur (who was imprisoned in a labyrinth) in ‘La Solitud del Minotaure’. A charmingly quirky set.