Artist: Non Credo
Label: Self-released
Release: 1995
Rating: 4.6/5
Non Credo is a duo made up of two multi-instrumentalists, the lovely Kira Vollman and Joseph Berardi. They first showed up on the scene in 1988 with Reluctant Hosts. So the band has been around for a long time, and this album is their second.
It took them a full seven years to put out Happy Wretched Family (which isn’t surprising, considering they’re not professionals), but it was worth the wait. Vollman and Berardi didn’t just record an album that’s a worthy follow-up to the debut, they made something that in many respects even tops it.
This duo’s music is really hard to pin down. They can do absolutely anything. Sometimes we hear them playing sophisticated chamber rock in the style of the genre’s giants, Univers Zero, and sometimes there are heavier bits too, like the metal parts on Piano Urine. Like with a lot of avant-garde bands, plenty of the music rests on dissonance, but these two clearly have an ear for melody as well, and they mix the more listenable parts with the experimental ones, and the whole thing comes out incredibly well. You never get the feeling that something’s forced or doesn’t fit. Another important element is Kira Vollman’s voice, which could put Non Credo in the zeuhl category, if you really wanted to complicate things. Vollman uses a lot of different vocal techniques, much like Vander in Magma, so all sorts of varied and ambitious sounds come out of her mouth, sometimes sounding outstanding, sometimes a little less so, but always interesting. She sings in an operatic style, which again is similar to zeuhl. But however you look at it, the music speaks for itself. And it’s still fresh, original and sounds just as wonderful as it did fifteen years ago. If you’re a fan of challenging music and a bit of vocal craziness doesn’t bother you, I’d definitely recommend this album.
The duo gets help on a couple of tracks from Bernard Sauser-Hall on keyboards. His contribution is especially noticeable on the brilliant Piano Urine, which is a true showcase of every element of the avant-garde. But the duo doesn’t really need the help, since the two of them are more than capable of making an insanely good album on their own. Berardi is mainly an outstanding drummer, but he’s also responsible for keyboards, guitar and bass. Kira Vollman has a similar job, playing keyboards, bass, guitar and clarinet, and singing as well. Her voice is exceptional. She puts her operatic abilities to good use and gives the music a little zeuhl flavor. They really are a talented pair, though sadly they’re not as well known as they could be.
Non Credo play risky music, but the risks mostly pay off. That’s what separates good experimenters from bad ones – knowing when to stop, especially when they land on a sound or melody that works. This album isn’t for fans of “safe”, “play-it-safe” music written within established musical norms. It’s not music with that classic beauty so many people strive for. Like most of the best experimental bands, Non Credo shape their own aesthetic values, and if you give them a chance, they’ll open up a whole new musical world for you!
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Non Credo is a duet consisting of two multi-instrumentalist, the beautiful Kira Vollman and Joseph Berardi. They first burst on the scene with the 1988 release Reluctant Hosts. So, the band has been around for some time and this album is their second release.
It took them seven years to release this effort after the great Reluctant Hosts, but it was definitely worth the wait. Vollman and Berardi not only managed to do an album that was a worthy successor to the debut, but actually created something that in many ways surpasses it.
It is extremely difficult to define exactly what kind of music this pair plays. Anything goes, basically. Sometimes we hear them doing some sophisticated chamber rock in the style of the masters of the genre, Univers Zero, sometimes we hear them doing heavier stuff, like the metal parts in “Piano Urine”. A lot of their music is indeed, like most avant-garde, based on dissonance, but it is obvious that they have an ear for a good melody as well. So they combine these sometimes very catchy tunes with experiments. And it all works amazingly well. You never get a feeling like anything is forced or out of place. An important element is the voice of Kira Vollman, which could put Non Credo in the category of zeuhl music, especially if I were being nitpicky. Vollman uses a lot of different vocal techniques, just like Vander in Magma, so that so many different and ambitious sounds emanate from her. It is truly amazing. She also sings in a very operatic way, which is another zeuhl characteristic. But anyway you look at it, the music speaks for itself. And the music is still as fresh, original and sounds as wonderful now as it did 15 years ago. If you are a fan of challenging music and do not mind a bit of vocal havoc, then I urge you to buy this record.
The duo are helped on a couple of tracks by Bernard Sauser-Hall on keyboards. His contribution is most noticeable on the brilliant “Piano Urine”, a true portrayal of all the aspects of the avant-garde. Not that the duo needs any help really. They manage just fine on their own. Berardi is mostly an excellent drummer, but he put down some keyboards and guitar parts as well. Kira Vollman is a superb vocalist, using the operatic qualities of her voice to her advantage and giving the music a zeuhl edge. She also plays keyboards, guitars, basses and the clarinet. They truly are a talented pair, but unfortunately they do not get the recognition they deserve.
This music takes a lot of risks and most of them pay off. That’s what distinguishes the good experimenters from the bad. Non Credo know when to draw the line, especially when they find a sound or melody they like. This is not for fans of safe, middle of the road music, or music written in the established musical forms that are deemed “pretty”. Non Credo, like most of the best experimental bands, create their own aesthetic values and if you give them a chance, they will blow your mind!
Lineup
Joseph Berardi – drums/percussion, keyboards, guitar, bass
Kira Vollman – vocals, bass, guitar, clarinet, keyboards
Guest: Bernard Sauser-Hall – keyboards
Production
Non Credo
Tracklist
1. Sporco Mutande
2. Curious Couplings
3. Slips Through Fingers
4. Piano Urine
5. Ambrosia And Arsenic Tango
6. We Can Build You
7. Entzauberung
8. Snake Oil
9. Hacked
10. Big Teeth
11. Pay & Learn
12. Tokyorama
13. Miliza Three Flights Down
14. Arms Trodden Off By The Cows
15. Joyeria
16. Looking For Eddie
17. Happy Wretched Family
