Maëla Raoult – Avalon (2022)
If you are looking for an instrumental EP that is packed with beautiful music, passion, personality and dramatic flair, you are definitely in the right place. This is some of what Maëla Raoult has to offer with her EP Avalon. Across the six instrumental tracks, she brings a flair of Parisian jazz to classical tones, with a relaxed sprinkling of acoustic, yet cinematic, vibes.
Drawing on her own curiosity about all musical worlds, she throws a study of improvisation into a sound that is packed full of personality. Using skills she has honed since obtaining her Musical School Diploma at the Music Academy of Brest, she merges contemporary arrangements with the timelessness of the classics. She is not only curious about all types of music, but she is also passionate about chamber music and has perfected it at many events and festivals, showcasing her skills.
The EP opens with ‘Beautiful Love’ which takes you on a gentle meander through Parisian streets. The richness of the instrumentation has the lightest touch of rain on cobblestones that fills your senses with a wealth of possibilities for the day. The music starts to trill and run, bringing a bright flair of light to your soul, before taking your hand again to lead you down the small streets of the city. It is a perfect introduction to the EP and the jazzy sound that it has to offer. The two instruments that form the melody are like two people sharing the same space and exalting in the mere presence of the other.
The title track ‘Avalon’ is the shortest on the EP at just under 1 minute. There is a traditional edge to the low level of the music that makes you think of fairs and open meadows. The music has a lightness to it that is almost playful as it runs across the deep lower levels. It is a slightly cheeky sound that puts a smile on your face and makes you want to giggle. The interplay between the instrumentation is wonderful as the higher tones have fun, while the lower tones are almost indulgent in their acceptance of their playful nature.
‘Sing Sing Sing’ has a really groovy feeling that gets your feet tapping to the music. It is almost impossible to stay still while you listen to this track. Woven into the melody is something that tickles the back of your brain with its familiarity. This gives way to a flair of improvised flute that is wonderful to listen to. As with the other tracks, the layering of the music is stunning as the two distinct musical lines converge and twirl together, only to separate again to bolster the movement of each other in a different way. The fun vibes of this track will leave you sad that it is so short.
The meandering tones of the opening track make a slight comeback in the opening of ‘Have You Met Miss Jones’. The two instrument lines are relaxed as they seem to ask you the title question while pointing out Miss Jones to you. It is a very companionable piece that makes you feel like you are talking to a good friend while having a coffee. After the initial questioning, there is a bounce to the music that comes in like the sun breaking through clouds. It is a wonderful composition that moves through the different tempos and flows with ease. The bounce gives way to that meandering tone again like you are once again sinking into a chair to spend some time with a friend.
‘Oleo’ has a brighter feeling from the first note that shines through the soundscape. The interplay between the instruments is playful and light. The top line gives the lower levels a playful nudge before dancing out of their reach. There is an affection between the instrumentation that is a lot of fun to listen to. This has been woven into a rather dynamic arrangement that keeps you on your toes as you never quite know where that top line is going to dance to next. Through all of this, there is something in the music that has you lightly moving as you listen.
The EP comes to a close with ‘The Blue Room’ which seems to beckon you close through the top instrument line. The lower line of instrumentation has a steady pace to it that keeps you moving forward through the melody, while the top line turns your head to what it wants you to focus on. It is an interesting track because the lower line is so steady, while the top line brings a flair of improvisation that carries the potential to take you anywhere. Together, they form a rather chilled listening experience that you can easily fall into regardless of what you are doing.
Maëla Raoult has you meandering down the streets of Paris, before filling you with playful energy through the tracks of Avalon. Each track on the EP has a different musical flair while bringing the masterful layering of instrumentation to life. There are some dynamic arrangements that bring improvisation to steady movements that will have you sinking into the music.
Find out more about Maëla Raoult on her website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
