SI, PARTIE II - L'HOMME IDÉAL

In 2003 I received French progrock formation Nemo their second album entitled Présages as a promo while working for the Dutch progrock paper Background Magazine. I didn't know Nemo but it was 'love at first hearing', I was blown away by their dynamic and often exciting prog! Meanwhile they have produced a live CD (Immersion Publique - Live 2005) and this is already their fifth studio effort. I have to admit that I was a bit shocked while listening to their new album for the first time: to me it sounded as if the music was going into too many directions and that I needed at least a 'third ear'. But how often good prog needs a few turns and indeed, during my third listening session I got into their album. I even conclude that this new album is another captivating step into the development of the very distinctive 'Nemo progrock sound'.

You can experience this on the 10 compositions, every song is a musical adventure but you have to be up to huge variety (scouting the borders between jazz, symphonic, metal and classical), lots of complex structures and a slightly theatrical undertone in the French vocals. From the first track Nemo succeeds to make impression delivering awesome work on guitar (fiery runs, propulsive riffs) and keyboards (from fluent piano play and spectacular synthesizer flights to wonderful violin-Mellotron waves). The interplay between all musicians is amazing and the rhythm-section sounds very dynamic and adventurous. In fact all tracks flow into each other but the climates are different: a captivating blend of funky bass, jazzy Fender Rhodes electric piano and heavy guitar with a howling solo in L'homme Idéal (1), a compelling contrast between the orchestral keyboards and the wah-wah drenched guitar work in Reflets, spectacular guitar and keyboards and suddenly a Fender Rhodes piano intermezzo like Riders On The Storm (The Doors) in Décadanse, a wonderful blend of psychedelic organ (Farfisa-like sound) and fiery guitar in the propulsive Une Question De Temps, a flashy synthesizer solo and swinging piano in the fluent L'homme Idéal (2) and stunning interplay in the strongly build-up Les Visages Du Monde.

If you are up to adventurous prog in the true meaning of the word 'progressive', this new Nemo album will delight you!

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir? Said Lady Marmelade to the « Ideal Man », the second act of the Si (If) concept dealing with the greedy human condition. As this CD kicks off, we are witnesses to a spirited discussion in a bar between two guys in French, who argue about the benefits and consequences of a cloned DNA future where the grass is green, eyes are blue and hair is blond. Punch in some data and presto: perfectly ordered and expertly manufactured babies. Obviously, if you don't speak the language, you kind of miss the point of the concept which decries the surreal world of scientific sex. Pity, really, because the opening chapter, Si Partie 1 was a smoking monument of highly intricate, multi-mood progressive pyrotechnics with devastating guitars, rippling piano, sweeping keys, buzzing bass and deft drumming. Again, the menu has not been changed, as guitarist extraordinaire JP Louveton displays unusual mastery both of technique, feeling and tone, laying down some blistering runs on his fret board, certainly more aggressive and biting than the usual Hackettists that populated the genre, while relying on the always inventive interplay between the various keys, swinging from jazz to symphonic, forcefully bolstered by a creative rhythm section that understands fully its role as a most solid foundation. From the first spin through, the line-up plays way beyond expectations, delivering some eyebrow raising lush progressive that can only elicit a smile and a definite thumbs up. The contrasts between the softer passages and the sudden explosions are really what make this band so devastatingly interesting. While all the tracks represent a totality that needs no analytical division, there are some standout cuts such as the anti-racist lumbering steamroller "Même Peau, Même Destin", the bass funky, e-piano jazzy "L'Homme Idéal", the languid epic 10 minute Floydian romp "Reflets", to name a few. My fellow reviewers agree that Nemo should be considered from now on as a solid and reliable representative of the new prog movement. Along with Taal, Maldoror, Seven Reizh and a few others, Nemo seems to regularly and consistently provide some first rate intricate offerings that deserve not only praise but even reverence. Now where is this musical submarine going next? Only the Capitaine knows . 5 submarines

After the biggest discovery of the year for me - Barbares by Nemo, I began to explore this magnificent french band from Haute Loire and I find out, that the newest album is the best one in my opinion. The other thing I discover is almost every next album is better than the previous one, which means constant significant progress for the band.

What about Si Partie II - L'Homme Idéal? Probably the second best after the masterpiece one - Barbares! Of course, there aren't weak moment and the album is so pleasant for listening. It begins with rocking pieces like the first two songs - Introduction a la difference and Les enfants rois. The first one begins from the end of the last song of Si Partie I. Very originally... Même peau, même destin comes down the album with ballad feeling. It's time for jazz-oriented lovers after that with L'homme idéal (1) - probably one of the best songs on the album. The longest track on the album is melancholy piece of work, which characterize Nemo very well as a band. The slow temo continues with Décadanse and Une question de prix.

Here is the moment to share with the listeners, that this album is not full of tempo shifts like the next one. I say this exactly when we reach the most progressive song of the album with so tempo shifts. This is Une question de temps. The previous motif is coming back at the end of the song and at the beginning of L'homme idéal (2). The right choice is that the main motif is extract of, I repeat, the best song of the album - L'homme idéal (perfect moment with greef and mysteriousness)! The album ends again in this way with Les visages du monde!

If you are wondering, whether to begin the trip of Nemo, I have to say don't, if you don't like the variety of subgenres and some mixtures between jazz-oriented music with funk elements and heavy prog/prog metal harder pieces; but for all serious, complex, passionate or devoted prog fans I say: you need it! Si Partie II - L'Homme Idéal has no problems with 4 stars. I would say surely full 4 stars.

After I reviewed "Si Partie I" I started listening to this album right away with the intention of reviewing it, but after a couple of listens I ended up putting it aside because I was having trouble getting into it. Nothing has changed after 6 more listens.They've toned things down on this one, not as much of that metal edge as on the last two, and the music just seems more straight forward to me. It's still good but in my opinion not great like the last two studio albums.

"Introduction A La Differnce" builds quickly then settles. Suddenly it's like we're at this party, I guess this is all part of the concept.The song kicks back in heavier than before then settles again with piano.Vocals for the first time after 4 1/2 minutes. Some nice guitar too. "Les Enfants Rois" is an uptempo track with vocals. Lots of synths too. Not a fan though. "Meme Peau, Meme Destin" has some great atmosphere to open, this is more like it. Guitar and cymbals come in. It kicks in around 2 minutes. I like the tone of the guitar here. It settles when vocals arrive. Drums, guitar and synths lead the way before 7 minutes. A fuller sound late as it blends into "L'homme Ideal I", nice bass and piano early, in fact lots of intricate sounds seem to come and go here. Vocals before 2 minutes. A very enjoyable track and one of my favs.

It blends into "Reflects" where it calms down quickly. It's darker as well and the vocals are almost spoken a minute in. Some guest female vocals join in. A nice heavy sound 4 1/2 minutes in. The guitar is outstanding after 6 minutes. "Decadanse" is heavy early but then we get lots of piano melodies the rest of the way. "Une Question De Prix" is led by piano and drums early, very laid back. Vocals come in. A calm 3 minutes in as reserved vocals and piano take over. A fuller sound late. "Une Question De tempes" is better, I like when the drums and organ come in. They sound great as it builds. Clapping 4 minutes in with guitar. "L'homme Ideal II" has that very enjoyable melody like part I. These two parts are a delight to say the least. "Les Visages Du Monde" opens with synths as vocals and drums come in. Guitar and piano follow. Some nice guitar late.

Good album but not nearly as dynamic as the last two.