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Fleau
from the Nashville-based duo Fleau (pronounced
"flow"). For a town known for its country roots, you
wouldn't expect to find much in the way of smooth sample-heavy bass
music there. But that's not the case apparently. Fleau's music is best
described as "trip hop." This European-originated sound is
an exotic, down tempo hybrid of hip hop beats and keyboards, layered
with ethereal sound effects and frequently laced with breathy,
jazz-inflected vocal. Artists such as Massive Attack, Tricky,
Portisthead, and Hooverphonic have perfected this brand of music into
a full-fledged tradition. Fleau fits right along side these landmark
bands in this tradition.
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Album Reviews
Fleau is
comprised of former Reality Check member Rod Shuler, who programs the
loops, mixes the rhythms, and occasionally raps, and newcomer Marisol
Laboy, who adds breathy, sublime vocals and acoustic guitar skills. The
two come from very different ends of the musical spectrum, but found an
uncommon melting pot in the world of jazz, which somehow brings their
disparate worlds together. The songs on Fleau are primarily love
songs, and there's even a funky cover of Stevie Wonder's "My Cherie
Amour." There's something for almost everyone here, as the finished
product adds up to something more than the sum of its parts -- pop,
hip-hop, urban, jazz, and much more.
Laboy's vocals
and Shuler's DJ skills added up to create a dreamy sketch work, an
understated marriage of hip-hop and jazz. It's something truly original,
which comes all-too-infrequently in Christian Music. Fleau has a sound
that's destined to turn heads and perk up ears, and I strongly suggest
yours being among them.
~
Robin Parrish
Following its
1999 launch, the band's embryonic efforts quickly began creating an
underground murmur, and Fleau found itself topping the charts for six
months at the taste-making musical web site Beatmart.com. An impressive
presence at mp3.com and 1231records.com has also yielded both airplay
and sales for the young band. Live performances at trendy Nashville
nightspots such as Wolfy's, 3rd and Lindsley and 12th and Porter.
The folks in
Fleau are no strangers to the music industry. As an undergrad at Liberty
University in Virginia, bandleader Rod Shuler helped form the band
Reality Check. Constant touring over several years along with first
place in a southeast regional talent contest secured them a contract
with StarSong Records. The band sold an impressive 75,000 copies of
their debut cd. After they split, citing artistic differences, Shuler
pursued DJ work, touring with bands such as Silage and Parkway, as well
as contributing his talents to the recent best-selling Freedom
album by Michael W. Smith.
The other half
of Fleau is the silky voice of Marisol Laboy. Marisol spent the last few
years as a backing vocalist for various Nashville-area artists.
"When we write," she explains, "we are writing songs to
reach people, not to promote an agenda, to share an experience or
emotion with them. Music brings people such joy; I love seeing that.
It's about touching an audience and making a connection. The audience
gives as much back to us as we give to them." As a live act, Fleau
is Shuler and Laboy, along with a three-piece backing band of drums,
bass and keys. Rod confesses, "We savor the opportunity to express
ourselves through our music."
~
Seth Woods
Fleau(homepage)
Videos
amazon.com
Interviews
christrock.com
shotgunreviews.com
t4jmusic.com
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