The foundation for this album clearly is jazz music but it wouldn't be jazz if it was just jazz. The songs on this album sound quite different from each other. There's the opener 'Offshore' which featured distorted guitars, somehow reminding me of the grunge sound. Probably because of the saxophone, this track reminds me a bit of acts like Morphine, Zu or Red Snapper. Obviously, that's a very good thing.
Second track 'Nori et Wakame' shows more traditional jazz, be it enhanced by the use of electronics while title track 'Carpe D'Or' leans towards atmospheric post-rock, as if it's a jazz version of Sigur Ros. 'Tendance Brique' brings back the pulsating heaviness of the grunge scene and adds some psychedelic stoner rock in the mix. I think this is my favorite track here but I'm not sure. Fact is, this whole album is a mesmerizing trip.
One of the strangest songs here, is 'Les eaux du gouffre aux tortues'. It seems to make no sense, musically speaking, but once you delve deep into it, it becomes narrative, adventurous and quite immersive. By the end, things even start leaning towards Godspeed You Black Emperor by using an array of drones, soundscapes and subdued melodies. By now, I want to see this live and if so, I hope they play 'Nishiki', an inspiring piece of music.
There's one more track to go, one which I've enjoyed quite often in the past few weeks. It's true, I've played this album a dozen of times, each time discovering new sounds, new atmospheres. And I'm not even consider myself a jazz fan. Then again 'La fosse des Mariannes / Pays de neige' is a brilliant piece of work, a perfect closer for this album. Perhaps here I'll finally throw in the tag "post-jazz".
Serge