Bernard Falaise

Using no overdubs but minimal looping and timbral effects, the seven selections on Montreal’s Bernard Falaise’s solo guitar tour de force are completely improvised, while pivoting to other instrument-reflecting sounds for greater variety. Part of local bands such as Quartetski, the attraction of G(o) sol(o) is how Falaise uses all parts of his instrument to suggest wider textures while creating miniature sonic tales.

Prime instance of this is the extended “320003”, where string shakes and slurred fingering means the staccato introduction on flattened strings is succeeded by bell-pealing shakes, double bass-like low-pitched resonations and organ-like tremolo pulses. These sway the exposition forward into a single line and a buzzing conclusion. “Slogan”, the slightly longer first track, sets the scene, as bobbing fuzztones and high-voltage shakes rumble along before splitting into pressurized sound loops on the bottom and single-string stings on the top. Both tones are audible as they intersect and slide into one another for a percussive climax.

With pointed stops and starts, Falaise uses varied motifs to define the tunes, including string rubs that drone across the sound field for warmer expositions, or pointillist below-the-bridge scratches for tougher interface. “Galop” does just that as well, with knob-twisting and effects pedal pressure launching tones every which way until all subside into a connective drone.

Sol – G in English – is the fifth note of the scale. Yet G(o) Sol(o) cannily treats all of the scale’s notes in a unique fashion.

-for The Whole Note May-June 2022