Mickael Moffet, a.k.a Angil, is the kind of musician who pushes the boundaries of his art by occasionally restricting them. On Ouliposaliva, the French songwriter has abided by a series of guidelines in order to produce a new, fresh album. It is modeled after "Oulipo" (a French abbreviation meaning "the workshop of potential literature"), a loosely-bound group of French writers committed to "create works using constrained writing techniques." The concept derives from a post-gig conversation with one of Moffet's touring saxophonists. First, the idea was to write an album using brass and woodwinds as primary melodic instruments, but it quickly snowballed into other limitations, like not using an E chord or even the letter "e" in any of the lyrics (seriously).
The lack of the second vowel isn't immediately noticeable upon listening, but what is noticeable is the unique color provided by the atypical woodwinds that highlights Moffet's poetic deliveries and off-kilter rhythms. "Narrow Minds" gets the album going with loose verses before tightening up with some brushed drums. A 104-year-old, out-of-tune piano makes its first appearance on "Took no drugs, Had no Drink." Although it may drive a person with perfect pitch crazy, the track works surprisingly well with Moffet's steady baritone rants and jazzy horn arrangements.
"Do Not Think" and "You Most" are split into three different sections, which both allows for continuity and pushes it to the brink of monotony. Meanwhile, "Trying to Fit," the most radio-friendly track, could pass for a Soul Coughing B-side, as layers of Moffet's voice contend with long, descending horn lines and a stable but lumbering back beat.
In the end, however, I must applaud Angil for attempting to create, to varying degrees of success, potential with limited ingredients. Despite the janky piano, dissonant woodwind arrangements, and Angil's sometimes abrasive vocal delivery, it all works well. You haven't heard this album before, and that is very refreshing.
1. Do Not Think (Part One)
2. Narrow Minds
3. In Purdah
4. You Most (Thirst Part)
5. Took No Drugs, Had No Drink (It Was All in Our Minds)
6. Do Not Think (Part Two)
7. Trying to fit
8. Kids
9. You Most (Part Two)
10. Lift Trip To Mars
11. Do Not Think (Part 3)
12. You Most (Third Part, As Far As I Know)
13. Sylvia Plath, Libby and Small Ghost
14. Final List