Cheval De Frise / Cheval De Frise / Cassette
A Cheval De Frise is a defensive structure, and under this name, Thomas Bonvalet and Vincent Beysselance formed a duo to craft anxious, agitated music with perpetually shifting, almost baroque patterns. Urgent and emotional yet meticulously structured, their sound drew from 1990s American post-hardcore while asserting its own singular identity.
In 1998, Thomas, a former bassist for noise rock band Amble, met Vincent, drummer for Tomy, in Bordeaux. Replacing bass with amplified classical guitar, the pair developed a distinct instrumental style. In a French scene where rock was waning, Cheval De Frise stood out with tense, fiery performances that captivated audiences.
After a series of demos, the band recorded their debut album in June 2000, released later that year by Bordeaux label Sonore. Widely praised, the record led to European tours and a 2004 U.S. reissue by Sickroom Records to coincide with their only American tour. Emerging alongside other complex, fast, instrumental “math-rock” acts, Cheval de frise retained a unique, romantic intensity, defined by explosive dynamics, kaleidoscopic patterns, and precise gestures.
Now, this groundbreaking debut returns in Computer Students’ Expanded Reissues series, remastered by Carl Saff in 2021, with lacquers cut by Ruy Mariné. This edition marks its first availability on vinyl, cassette, and digital formats.
A Cheval De Frise is a defensive structure, and under this name, Thomas Bonvalet and Vincent Beysselance formed a duo to craft anxious, agitated music with perpetually shifting, almost baroque patterns. Urgent and emotional yet meticulously structured, their sound drew from 1990s American post-hardcore while asserting its own singular identity.
In 1998, Thomas, a former bassist for noise rock band Amble, met Vincent, drummer for Tomy, in Bordeaux. Replacing bass with amplified classical guitar, the pair developed a distinct instrumental style. In a French scene where rock was waning, Cheval De Frise stood out with tense, fiery performances that captivated audiences.
After a series of demos, the band recorded their debut album in June 2000, released later that year by Bordeaux label Sonore. Widely praised, the record led to European tours and a 2004 U.S. reissue by Sickroom Records to coincide with their only American tour. Emerging alongside other complex, fast, instrumental “math-rock” acts, Cheval de frise retained a unique, romantic intensity, defined by explosive dynamics, kaleidoscopic patterns, and precise gestures.
Now, this groundbreaking debut returns in Computer Students’ Expanded Reissues series, remastered by Carl Saff in 2021, with lacquers cut by Ruy Mariné. This edition marks its first availability on vinyl, cassette, and digital formats.
A Cheval De Frise is a defensive structure, and under this name, Thomas Bonvalet and Vincent Beysselance formed a duo to craft anxious, agitated music with perpetually shifting, almost baroque patterns. Urgent and emotional yet meticulously structured, their sound drew from 1990s American post-hardcore while asserting its own singular identity.
In 1998, Thomas, a former bassist for noise rock band Amble, met Vincent, drummer for Tomy, in Bordeaux. Replacing bass with amplified classical guitar, the pair developed a distinct instrumental style. In a French scene where rock was waning, Cheval De Frise stood out with tense, fiery performances that captivated audiences.
After a series of demos, the band recorded their debut album in June 2000, released later that year by Bordeaux label Sonore. Widely praised, the record led to European tours and a 2004 U.S. reissue by Sickroom Records to coincide with their only American tour. Emerging alongside other complex, fast, instrumental “math-rock” acts, Cheval de frise retained a unique, romantic intensity, defined by explosive dynamics, kaleidoscopic patterns, and precise gestures.
Now, this groundbreaking debut returns in Computer Students’ Expanded Reissues series, remastered by Carl Saff in 2021, with lacquers cut by Ruy Mariné. This edition marks its first availability on vinyl, cassette, and digital formats.
