Jean-Pascal Boffo is sometimes described as the French Pat Metheny and he is compared to Steve Hackett as well. I’m afraid I know the man’s earlier work only from soundclips on his website, but as far as I can tell, this comparison is pretty accurate. On his eighth album, “∞” (Infini), Boffo takes the word “solo album” very seriously. Compositions, production and all instruments: Boffo has done everything himself.

In this case this means there’s a lot of electronica involved: sequencers, samples, loops,… Not something I’m usually very fond of, but I have to admit Boffo produces a lot of variation and is able to keep me interested right to the end. The jazzy parts blend surprisingly well with all this electronica. The guitar technique still refers to Hackett in particular here; it often sounds like the more experimental songs on Hackett’s recent albums. Other guitarists that come to mind are Robert Fripp and Mike Oldfield.

Some songs are a touch too experimental for these ears, and I would have liked to have a bit less of the electronica and some more “real” instruments. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that Jean-Pascal Boffo has produced an excellent -at times even enchanting- album. Definitely an artist whose work I’ll be having a closer look at.