FLEURETY / Last Minute Lies (1999)

A short four track E.P. from the Norwegian weirdsters that offered a taste of what was to come on the following year's full length release, Department of Apocalyptic Affairs. The willingness to experiment with different genres, particularly electronic and jazz, mean there's very little left of the Black Metal sound that they became known for, but the song structures and the confidence to let the instruments tell a story of their own remains. The addition of female vocals and saxophone lend support when needed and don't seem at all out of place.

Songs of Note: Facets; Vortex

5 perverse angles out of 5

FLEURETY / Min Tid Skal Komme (1995)

Avant-gardé Norwegian Black Metal that's a lot more enchanting than it probably has any right to be. It punctuates the typically fast guitars with multi-layered moments of atonal beauty and lush female vocals. The drumming keeps the whole crazy ensemble from flying off into the realms of excessive weirdness. I would cite Min Tid Skal Komme as the best example of creativity given form that the entire sub-genre ever produced.
It was reissued in 2003 with a different cover and extra tracks. The extra tracks are good but they ruin the symmetry of the original release.

Songs of Note: Fragmenter Av En Fortid; Englers Piler Har Ingen Brodd

5 perfect fragments out of 5

FLEURETY / Department of Apocalyptic Affairs (2000)

Avant garde black metal from Norway! Sounds grim, doesn't it? Fleurety are different. They developed an atonal jazzy sound beneath the surface that often peeks through when least expected, or takes over completely; initially it sounds wrong but on repeated listens begins to make sense. Most songs go through a number of changes musically that may frustrate a listener, especially when they don't stick to the bit you like most. Ironically, for me that's part of the charm.
With guest musicians from the likes of Mayhem, Ulver, Arcturus, Beyond Dawn, Ved Buens Ende and more, it's a smorgasbord of genre greats making challenging music that's definitely not for the unadventurous ear.

Songs of Note: Exterminators; Barb Wire Smile (Snap Ant Version)

4 omnivorous appetites out of 5