As their name suggests, this dozen-strong troupe is part global music big band, part European art project – the “almighty orchestra” honouring west African outfits, allied with the mischievous, radical spirit of Duchamp. Founded in 2006 by Geneva double bassist Vincent Bertholet, with roots in the city’s squat scene, Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp has retained its fluid international character over five previous albums, along with a commitment to joyous performance. Ventre unique finds them in characteristically playful spirit, though often singing politically in French and English.
Opener Tout Cassé typifies the group’s taste for a brass-driven marching beat with a massed, declamatory chorus, after which they wind through a gamut of styles. Tout Haut and Ils Disent highlight their twin marimbas, against which quirky brass parts play. Coagule offers a droll perspective on “the extinction of the species”, calling for unified resistance: “a bit cheesy but an important idea,” remarks Bertholet. There are chattering guitars on Speak By the E and a moody vocal from newcomer Mara Krastina on Smiling Like a Flower. Though artfully played, there is nothing complex about the music; rather, the ideas are simple, says Bertholet, “so that, whoever the musician is, it doesn’t change the band’s sound”. An uplifting tribute to collective spirit.
