LA CLEF DES SONGES

They don't have a five star guitarist, they don't have a five star drummer, they don't have a five star bass player, nor is their keyboard player among the world's top virtuosos, but all the same the French band PENTACLE have succeeded in producing a five star album. All on "La Clef De Songes" is pointed at making beautiful symphonic rock. Their unselfish way of only serving the band's need to create beautiful music has been the true key to reach a five star album.

The music is never pushed forward, the arrangements are well taken care of. Every song, no matter if it's short or long, is supplied with the necessary guitar and keyboard solos, to emphasize the lyrics' needs.

Right away title song "La Clef Des Songes" has a beautiful and well executed Moog solo, while the following solo, played on a Gibson SG fits in with the song perfectly. The song starts with a majestic symphonic rock theme by the complete band, soon joined by the excellent vocals by Gerard Ruez.

Contrary to most French bands from this period who all have very theatrical vocals, the vocals in the songs of Pentacle are more restrained and have a more dreamy and poetical character. The lyrics are all well written and fit to the music perfectly. It's hard to believe that this album was produced by Ange front man Christian Decamps, hysterical and theatrical singer par excellence. "Les Pauvres" is the shortest, but it's also one of the most poetic and beautiful songs.

Again in a song like "L'âme Du Guerrier" the interplay between synthesizers and guitars is well chosen. Despite its compactness (the song is only a bit longer than six minutes) the song contains many beautiful themes. The added acoustic guitar parts contribute to the subtlety of the song, which is well supported by the drums and bass.

Highlight on the album is undoubtedly the over ten minutes lasting "The Raconteur", another very melodic song full of warm harmonies. There is a huge number of beautiful themes, full of tempo and character changes, to be enjoyed between the several vocal segments. The song ends with beautiful solos on the Gibson SG of Ruez, alternated by the subtle and very melodious Moog parts supplied by Claude Menetrier. This chain of solos is ended by a beautiful acoustic guitar solo in a fade out, putting a worthy conclusion to a very beautiful album.

The early seventies showed an outburst of creativity in the French progressive music scene with bands like Ange, Mona Lisa, Atoll & Metabolisme and Pentacle have added their bit with their alas only album.

"La Clef Des Songes" is a must for everyone who likes French symphonic rock from the seventies and I think it's one of the best albums in the genre. It's obvious that I can honour this album only with five stars !

Erik de Beer