Alchimie is part of empreintes DIGITALes’s series of electroacoustic recordings for introduction or exploration of the genre. The CDs, each under forty minutes, come packed in a slimline case and are half-price. Here are five piece recorded by Rodrigue from 1986 to 1993. This includes Tilt, which earned him the 1st Prize in the electroacoustic category and the Grand Prize in 7th CBC National Competition for Young Composers (1986). Tape recordings of varied playback speed make up three of the five pieces on this disc, Tilt, Qu’est-ce concert? and Fiano porte. Using this technique, Rodrigue put together sounds usually encountered discretely (bells, rolling marbles, etc.) into “chords.” The effect is visually evocative because each sound brings to mind a tangible shape and texture. Also, these audio collages suggest weightless floating and a fantasy setting. The unexpected sonic replication and ‘harmonization’ suggests the effects of surreal distances and perceptions as encountered in dreams. (4.5/5)