Album Review: Merveilles by Greg Davis & Sébastien Roux
If you’re into sounds that make your brain go “huh?” in the best way possible, Merveilles is worth a spin. Released back in 2008 on the German label Ahornfelder, this electronic gem dives deep into Musique Concrète and Experimental territory. It’s not background music—it’s more like an auditory puzzle you’ll want to solve over and over again.
The album takes its name from French for "wonders," which fits because it feels like every track is exploring some new sonic wonderland. The whole thing was cooked up by Greg Davis and Sébastien Roux, two guys who clearly weren’t afraid to mess around with weird textures and unexpected rhythms. And props to Alexander Schubert and Christiane Hanff for the artwork—simple but striking, just like the music inside.
Let me zoom in on two tracks that stuck with me. First off, there’s “Geneva.” This one starts out kinda dreamy, almost floaty, but then BAM—it shifts gears so suddenly it’s like stepping off a curb when you didn’t expect it. There are these strange little clicks and hums layered under what sounds like distant church bells melting into static. It’s disorienting, sure, but also super satisfying once you let yourself get lost in it.
Then there’s “San Francisco,” which I think might be my favorite. At first listen, it’s all glitchy chaos, like someone dropped a box of screws onto a keyboard (in a good way). But if you stick with it, patterns start to emerge—little blips of melody peeking through the noise. It reminds me of walking through a busy city while zoning out, where random noises blend together until they almost feel intentional. Weirdly calming, honestly.
One thing I love about Merveilles is how unapologetically experimental it is. None of the tracks have lyrics, but they don’t need ‘em. Each one tells its own story using nothing but sound. You can tell Davis and Roux weren’t trying to please anyone—they were just making stuff they thought was cool. And honestly? That’s refreshing as hell.
So yeah, give Merveilles a shot if you’re tired of hearing the same old beats and hooks. Just don’t expect instant gratification; this album asks for patience and curiosity. Oh, and here’s a random thought: listening to this record feels kind of like eating sushi for the first time—if you approach it expecting chicken nuggets, you’re gonna be confused. But if you lean into the unfamiliarity, you might walk away thinking, “Wow, that was actually pretty amazing.”
