ASYLUM

Hare Krishna !!! GOD BLESS ALPHA CENTAURII ! i was hopeless ! Fully acclaimed by the international press during 1997 and 98, LONGSHOT is back ! Without coming pessimistic, I was thinking that Longshot was one of these bands destined to remain in the darkness while I see it at the top of the poster . Despite my adventure in the team PROGJET, I can say nevertheless that I awaited it this LONGSHOT to the detour, even if my fears did not reveal themselves about musical view !!! To my big surprise the disc did not released on CYCLOPS taht early wanted this second cd but on a unknown label (Progressive) in a person of Wake the DEAD ! Magestic 12 pages full color booklet coming as proof we do not have there a SELF-PRODUCT confirming in entry that the label seems to have put the money on ! Impatient after a 3 years expectation, cos' I discovered the first one a long time after his 98 release . I take just the time to put to the plastic film in the thrash and throws the alphan u.f.o in my cd reader cd ! WHOAAAHH . . . Tibetan return or what ? Intro gliding to the magnificent waves from HIMALAYA adding in introduction a must (o how much shorty ) to the overall LONGSHOT sound .. . The PRODUCTION hits strong while offering a masterly cleaning leaving to think that the first album was left twenty years ago. This LONGSHOT takes therefore a sacred one jouvence cleans in a sonorous bath largely typed IQ, ARENA ( VISITOR ) or a Proggier SAGA ! ! ! As early as the first minutes the screaming guitars leaves us to dream of waht could have been the first album, a pure NEW POWER PROG item ! Always these long typical developments and final pieces to the very symphonic ends marking without any doubt a style widely embellished by 3 new members of an almost fearsome efficience . . Despite therefore the birth of a true group, of which it is a matter 1st album don't forget it, one will already note a good cohesion of the whole . Luckily Michael Reese seems to have sent out his hat , the ideal Line up that does not leave to feel the absence of the giant TROLL "Michel ALTMAYER". His substitute, BEN LARSON, without having his statute, replacing him feet and hands of master by a playing most direct rather typed MOSLEY (MARILLION) or Paul COOK (IQ). . . Not any guitars parts Guitares, (or Low) played there by Michael Reese , unless his very different approach in the playing would have added a more on doubles guitars arpeggio like other of the HACKETT/GENESIS harmonies on the nevertheless fearsome Solos of the Sieur Phil Wake, bringing in place and places a good personality and a big quoted SAGA / QUEEN on a number of melodies and Chorus. The BASS of FREDDY LYNN are not in remains and snore such a JOHN JOWITT of the most effective ones leaving widely places it has many lines to the abode more YES-like or played Fretless yet . . . For finish the review , REESE offers there some an of more beautiful more flown ones away KEYBOARDS* in solo on Peter Blackfrog overhanging Rhythmic keyboards and Tablecloths a lot more present and NEO than on the preceding one, well preserving the big side Tony Banks / Geoff Downes that characterizes him . . . The over voice" ROCK " of REESE sounding like a mix of RAY Wilson and Peter Gabriel claims by its harmonies his eternel devotion to GENESIS. . . This new LONGSHOT grown 2002 unquestionably pulled the teachings of its numerous fears and errors for not some to preserve apparently that the essential one. . . Remain to the group to obtain a vocal wealth "Multitimbral"so what was positive in THE COSMIC BACTERIA is sublimated by a excellent producing . A cd widely above the and average without any doubt quality superior has his predecessor that this be in production or in compositions. . . A very good beginning for the group on this label of the" PERIGORD NOIR " to the pig sense of smell to stuff !!! I already saw to the top of the poster. .

NIKO RINARDT.

I don't know the first part of this sci-fi trlogy by french band LONGSHOT I've never heard before and actually I'm not very curious about it. Okay let me try to describe what is presented here. I would say a kind of Art Rock or NeoProg with some symphonic elements and a touch of Prog Metal. Closest comparison maybe bands like IT BITES or SAGA. Apart of the fact that I don't favor those bands, I'll explain what else are the reasons why this record fails to hit my attraction. First thing are the really awful vocals, but this would be tolerable if the music would be good at least. But instead the compositions are just longish lacking any diversity and complexity at all. Just terribly boring without any interesting moments and any rhythm changes. Really just a type of symphonic hard rock, nothing else. I'd love to be able to tell at least one hightlight or a better track, but I can't find any. I've got to say this is one of the worst symphonic Prog albums and probably the worst by a french band (apart of some 80's ANGE ones) I've listened so far!

I'd like to recommend this album only to fans of the mentioned bands or late GENESIS. Very poor for being classified as Symphonic Prog!

Longshot was in fact a shot in the dark for me when I bought it. I'm checking out quite a few neo bands lately and this is one of them. All I knew was they are from France and sound somewhat like Genesis and Marillion. Well this is said of a lot of neobands so what's it worth exactly ? Not much to me.

Check out for yourself is always the best solution and that's what I decided to do. First song is the Asylum Overture, the least you can say after only a few minutes this is no subtle band by any means. It could even be categorized as heavy prog if the album goes on like this. The vocalist does it in the same style. It's obviously a Frenchman singing English; to be honest I don't understand much of what he is singing, it doesn't really bother me but it's at least something I notice. Instrumentally the song goes a few times in different directions, so variation is certainly there. All in all I like what I hear in this overture very much. My rating for this would be 4,5* or something near that score.

The Deleted File starts off even heavier than the opener at least where the guitar is concerned. The keyboards setting in a bit later are more sophisticated. The guitar sounds a bit out of tune all the time but I think it's either meant that way or deceptive because I can't imagine they did this deliberately. It does sound original in a way, I never heard a guitar sounding like this, that's for sure. After several minutes listening I must conclude that despite the heaviness it is certainly neoprog after all, just a rougher kind of it. This second track is slightly less compositionwise than first track but it's the second very long track that's more than acceptable. I like their style of songwriting. This would get some 3,5* in my book.

Third track is one of the two shorter ones on this album and it's not a very impressive one I have to say. Miracle Man is a bit of a sloppy song without significant moments. It's probably the least of the album (2,75*).

Next, The Ballad of Peter Blackfrog is the second longest track of the album and where style is concerned sounding like the first two. After two or three listens this was my favourite song of the album. But listening to it more intense I must admit the instrumental part towards the end is too repetitive, dragging on too long so to speak. Still a very good track deserving some 4 stars all in all.

Endless is a middle length track and not quite the best of them all. It has the same kind of sloppiness as third track but has more substance as a song (3*). So far I haven't heard any similarity with Genesis or Marillion. This band sounds more like Magic Pie or Cryptic Vision, a sort of rougher edged symphonic prog is what I'm hearing.

Welcome to the Mind Surgery Clinic is the longest song of the album. Again in the same vein as first two and forth track. You have to like the style if you want to like this album. If you don't it's useless, this album is much of the same. Personally I don't mind but I'm sure this is not everybody's cup of tea. (3,75*)

Last in line is Armageddon, another shorter one and also one I don't like personally (2,75*). It's an accessible song but not in a pleasant way to me.

This is another mindbreaker for the decision of the rating. I think I will decide for the four stars because I really like the 3 longest tracks and they measure about 60% of the total albumtime. But beware, this is a very personal thing. The ratingdiscription excellent addition to ANY prog music collection is certainly not the right one for this album. Check it out in the store before buying. An advantage is that if you check out the first song, you have a pretty good idea for the entire album.