Des Pas et des Mois was Montréal turntablist Martin Tétreault's first record, and still remains his most enjoyable project. This CD contains two suites, "Des Pas" ("Footsteps") and "Des Mois" ("Months"). The first one is written and performed with guitarist
René Lussier. It follows a young couple learning to dance the tango and the cha-cha from records in order to participate in local competitions. The material used for these 15 short movements mostly comes from dance instruction and self-improvement records, all in French. Tétreault applies his techniques of cut-up records and mixed storylines from different sources.
Lussier brings in a handful of melodies that could have been found on his Le Trésor de la Langue or Le Corps de l'Ouvrage. Between the suites are two short pieces illustrating two of Tétreault's key techniques: the three-in-one (three slices from different records pasted together) and the skid. Then comes "Des Mois," written with drummer
Michel F. Côté, and also featuring
Lussier and clarinetist Robert M. Lepage. This suite relies less heavily on humor;
Côté's complex textural arrangements bring another dimension to the music, but Tétreault's incredibly cheesy record collection delivers a few more surprises (especially on "Des Mois: Juin [Il N'y a Plus Rieng]"). The first suite is similar in style (with the addition of
Lussier's touch) to Tétreault's cassette Snipettes (released after
Des Pas et des Mois), while the second one drifts closer to the first
Bruire (
Michel F. Côté's project) album Le Barman a Tort de Sourire. In any case, Des Pas et Des Mois remains one of Ambiances Magnétiques' strangest, funniest, and finest moments.