Exposure, USA 1994 “Quelques Pièces Detachées » The core of L’ensemble Rayé is Cedric Vuille (guitars. bass, clarinet, keys. ukelele. bandurria. percussi on), Jean-20-Huguenin guitars, mandolin) and Pierre Kaufmann saxes. clarinets. piano. percussion). augmented by other musicians on guitars. drums. violin saxes, bass and SO on, with different groups of musicians featured on different tracks. Both Vuille and Huguenin were once members of the eccentric Swiss band Debile Menthol, who have several albums to their credit; Kaufmann once played with them as well. This is the second album by this group (the first was wa s Même En Hiver / comme u n Pinson d a n s L’eau from 1990). The sound is primarily acoustic based. tending to focus on short. Quirky instrumental pieces with the guitar being by far the dominant instrument on many of t h e songs. with clarinet second in command. The music here is very unique . A pleasant mix of jazzy and classical styles of uncertain origin played with impeccable precision. often with idiosyncratic melodies and odd meter - thus easy comparisons are difficult, but the spirit of Albert Marcoeur. ZNR Joel Dugrenot and others are alive and well within the writing style. The tracks are nearly split between ‘solo’ pieces like the positrvely amazing ‘Rag’n’rale’ and “Phare EST (both solos by Huguenin). and those involving the entire ensemble. like Migrareurs,” “Les Dons De Castor’ and “Chèval Vapeur.’ Fourteen tracks in all. More than anything, though. This is a guitar album, a must-have for fans of the insrrument. Like Fred Frith, Larry Coryell. Chet Atkins and many others. Huguenin and Vuille take the guitar to new heights while transcending many of the convenient classifications along the way stretching it’s capabilities and illustrating it’s potential. T h a t alone makes this one of the best new albums I’ve h e a r d yet this year and will earn it a place next to other great great guitar albums in my collection. Peter Thelen, Exposé