DELUSION SQUARED
Crossover Prog • France
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French prog trio Delusion Squared comprises of lead vocalist and guitarist, Lorraine Young, guitarist, keyboard and drummer - Steven Francis and bassist/keyboardist - Emmanuel de Saint Meen. Their debut release embraces many elements to their music which crosses a few genres. There are hints of metal & eclectic, but mainly crossover characteristics. Their first album release benefits from a slick production and carries a great sci fi theme making it an interesting conceptual work.A promising new artist worth listening to and keeping an eye on.
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II cd Delusion Squared (2012, Delusion Squared) NEW sealed Digipak 9tk France 2 |
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DELUSION SQUARED - Self-Titled (2010) - CD - Import - **BRAND NEW/STILL SEALED** |
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DELUSION SQUARED:DELUSION SQUARED 2/PROG |
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Delusion Squared-Anthropocene CD NEW |
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DELUSION SQUARED - II USED - VERY GOOD CD |
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DELUSION SQUARED - II NEW CD |
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Delusion Squared - 2 [CD |
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DELUSION SQUARED - Ii - CD - **BRAND NEW/STILL SEALED** |
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Delusion Squared - Delusion Squared 2 - Delusion Squared CD 60VG The Fast Free |
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Delusion Squared - II Prog Magenta Curved Air digipack |
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DELUSION SQUARED discography
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DELUSION SQUARED Reviews
Showing last 10 reviews only
Delusion Squared Crossover Prog
Review by mitarai_panda

Delusion Squared Crossover Prog
Review by
Windhawk
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

The fairly gentle material that dominates this album, paired off with controlled, harder-edged impact sequences and occasional compositions with a dominant hard-edged sound, is one that should invoke quite a lot of interest by those who come across this production. A certain affection for female lead vocals is required of course, and then for vocals that are characteristically careful and with a strong feeling of innocence to them. Those who enjoy the gentler sides of a band like Porcupine Tree appears for me as a key audience for this CD, and especially those amongst them with a taste for futuristic sounds and science fiction based concept albums.
Delusion Squared Crossover Prog
Review by
Matti
Prog Reviewer

The 73-minute, 13-track conceptual album is divided into four sections: Ordeal, Awareness, Deliverance and Surrender. At first the music sounds like slightly hard-edged, commercially oriented mainstream pop (up to Lorraine's voice), except that the energetic opening instrumental - distantly reminiscent of synth-era RUSH - wouldn't be completely out of place on an IQ album for instance. During the fast track 'Diaspora' my spouse came home and wondered which pop/rock radio channel I was listening to (against my habits!). That's revealing about the sound, but to my relief the sense of blunt consumer pop decreases notably on the course of the album. This is helped by bringing in some softer nuances and acoustic elements. However the overall production could be less tight and poppy, as we're speaking of a prog album after all.
Some rather annoying effects (machine beeps, spoken words, etc.) are placed between some songs. These may be carefully thought up to support the concept; too bad I actually fail to form any coherent "story" in my mind. Listeners familiar with earlier parts of the trilogy probably are better on the map in the first place. My personal musical highlights include the atmospheric 'Last Day of Sun', the calm 'By the Lake (Dying)' and the sorrowful second instrumental 'Persistence of Vision'. In other words, I prefer the more delicate side with acoustic guitars and moody synth layers, moments where e.g. PINK FLOYD and MARILLION are closer comparisons than the pop you hear in fast food restaurants. Anyway, I believe this album (or preferably the trilogy as a whole) is a grower when one gets deeper into it in various levels.
Delusion Squared Crossover Prog
Review by
Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Special Collaborator Rock Progressivo Italiano Team

The ideas behind this concept work are certainly a lot to dwell on and ponder. Mind-control, gene experimentation, torture, modern warfare and mental manipulation all feature, with frequently dreamy and surreal lyrics that move backwards and forwards through different time frames. Even with little moments of bridging interludes of conversations between and during tracks, following the story can be quite confusing, and the CD booklet only offers help in the form of some cryptic leaked (and I'm assuming mock?!) government documents. I hope I've been able to grasp the basics of the concept of the album, otherwise the guys and gal of Delusion Squared are welcome to contact me and set the record straight!
Immediate attention must go to Lorraine's shrieking gasp over a battery of storming drums that opens the first proper track `Diaspora', it instantly makes you sit up and take notice, wondering `What are we getting into here?!', as well as showing off the confidence of the band. Nice soaring chorus on that one too! Lorraine also supplies plentiful delicate acoustic guitar throughout the disc, full of warmth in even the most melancholic moments. There are nice varied electric guitar approaches and reflective piano throughout `Reason of State', beautiful use of feedback-drenched electric wailing and distorted synth on `Devil Inside'. `Finally Free' sees the acoustic and electric guitars racing alongside each other in a late Porcupine Tree manner, some hazy ambience throughout the ethereal synths of `Last Day of Sun', and the mix of lilting acoustic guitar and orchestration on `By The Lake (Dying)' is impossibly heartfelt. Thick snarling metal tears through `Oblivion for My Sin'. You also get driving instrumentals like album opener `The Same River Thrice', full of heavy riffs, constant powerful drumbeats and pulsing Neo prog influenced synths, `Persistence of Vision' instead builds atmosphere by way of Post-rock chiming guitars and thick murky bass. `Deus in Machina' closes the album with soaring orchestration, victorious guitar soloing and a rising vocal that displays defiant human spirit and true heart.
Without a doubt, thirteen tracks is probably far too many, and several of the pieces have quite a similar sound. However, once you become more familiar with the whole album, it has a great flow and you won't notice the lengthy running time so much. Some will find Lorraine's thick accent difficult, but I think she has real character and great spirit. Fans of the later Porcupine Tree albums and modern female fronted prog bands should look into Delusion Squared right away, and in some ways, the group are a much deeper and more complex version of acts such as Touchstone and The Reasoning, maybe even a gutsier, less vintage based Magenta. `The Final Delusion' is a triumph for melodic vocal driven modern prog that places emotion, melody and subtlety over flashy extended bloated soloing, and the trio should be immensely proud of their efforts here.
Four stars.
Delusion Squared Crossover Prog
Review by ventilo35

Here we have the third installment of the "Delusion Squared" story, and its somber conclusion. Warning spoilers ahead! The first two albums get a new dimension when we understand that the heroine is actually subjected to evil military science experiments, much in the way of the movie Minority Report. (If my understanding is correct) both albums depict such experiments, where the girl endures prescience visions of surreal futures. In the third one, things go faster, as the tormentors get her to have a reliable flash of the future, even though she will lose her mind in the process (hence the whole "Delusion Squared" ?)
Musically this is a delight, Delusion Squared have a very distinct sound (for instance acoustic guitar riffs are very recognizable, as are the synth pads and some bass lines) and it is a pleasure to be immersed back in these rich, complex compositions. They are highly melodic, even though some complex rythmic patterns can be spotted here and there ? "Finally Free" is a great example, with the bass, drums and guitars playing seemingly desynchronized tracks, resulting in a strange groove. The albums alternates between high on energy tracks ("The Same River Thrice", instrumental opening tracks sporting a lenghty guitar solo, "Diaspora" dominated by brassy synths, "Finally Free" which sports a very nice electro bridge, "Oblivion for my Sin" very powerful, with some arabic accents), evocative ballads ("Reason of State" with poignant lyrics and a beautiful guitar solo, "Last Day Of Sun" a down tempo piece reminiscent of some Porcupine Tree tracks, "Prisoner's Dilemma" which is a somber ballad, "Black Waters" probably the best moment of the album, "Deus in Machina" has lyrics which connect nicely to the beginning of the first album ! The whole thing is looped I think... clever), and complex, multifaceted progressive tracks ("Patient Zero" which is a slow progression from accoustic+intimate voice to an epic, metal ending ; "Devil Inside" with a classical prog overture followed by a tense but restrained period, then some cinematic sounds and finally a quasi-medieval instrumental interlude!)
The production is very good, better than the first album, on par with the second one, with a mellower sound, very well balanced. The digipack offers a 12 pages leaflet with lyrics and a nicely done "Top Secret" military document excerpt where some words have been censored... I wish they do a tee with that ^^
This is definitely a grower, as were the previous opus, highly recommended!
Delusion Squared Crossover Prog
Review by
apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

Musically the album is divided into four sections, strictly connected to the concept story, where the modern approach of Delusion Squared changes between smoother and heavier moments, depending on the needed mood and flirting with the likes of PORCUPINE TREE, IOEARTH or FREQUENCY DRIFT.The first two sections of the album seem to be the more balanced and pleasant.The tracks have a great atmosphere, based on Lorraine Young sensitive vocals and the compositions are well-crafted with very good rhythmic electric guitars, a fair dose of acoustic passages, while the slight guitar distortions and the use of electronics and synthesizers make the sound richer and even more attractive.The closing two sections are significantly softer, obviously inspired by the storyline of the concept, but get dangerously calm compated to the first half of the album.These tracks recall the most mellow moments of KARNATAKA or PAATOS, sounding more melodic, but lacking the great energy of the opening ones.Too much acoustic material and too much piano with very limited electric moments, but they still sound pleasant with some fantastic instrumental parts contained.
Delusion Squared's debut leaves great promises for the future.A talented modern Prog trio with interesting ideas, both regarding their music and their concept stories, in need of finding a slightly more balanced sound.Warmly recommended.
Delusion Squared Crossover Prog
Review by
Windhawk
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

With "II" Delusion Squared concludes the story cycle they started to explore on their debut album in a fine manner, the story and music both maintaining the high quality of their first CD. Existing fans should be satisfied quite nicely with this production, and to those not familiar with this band, I'd recommend lending an ear or two to it if you tend to like bands like Porcupine Tree or tend to find artists described as modern art rock to be to your liking.
Delusion Squared Crossover Prog
Review by Salignac

Delusion Squared Crossover Prog
Review by bernfoot

Delusion Squared Crossover Prog
Review by
Conor Fynes
Prog Reviewer

Though I cannot say I was one of the lucky few to discover DELUSION SQUARED upon the release of their debut in 2010, I was at least made aware of the band through a healthy buzz about this French act's promising sound. Although female-fronted prog and metal bands seem to come wholesale nowadays, DELUSION SQUARED offers listeners an exciting and distinctly modern take on prog that builds upon the success of their first. Blending the strange with the accessible, 'Delusion Squared II' has left me wanting more from the trio.
DELUSION SQUARED does not innovate an entirely 'new' sound in prog rock, but they are eclectic and distinct enough to make them difficult to concisely describe. The songwriting is dominated by Lorraine Young's highly melodic vocals, yet- in opposition to the majority of prog rock-related bands who go down that route- there is no sense of them pursuing an AOR, or 'tame rock' sound with their music. Young's vocals have a pretty sound to them that might not sound out of place on an indie pop LP, but the music is constantly morphing into new exciting shapes. With that in mind, I may describe DELUSION SQUARED as a band defined by an uneasy balance; a balance between catchy vocal hooks and schizoid songwriting, between its electro-ambient soundscaping and quasi-metal riffing, its frightening sonic density and stunning melodies.
The highlight of 'II' is certainly Lorraine's voice; it sounds angelic, and above all, distinctive. Far too often, I find that female voices in prog rock and metal tend to fall into a generic category. Aided in small part due to her cute French accent, Lorraine Young carries a charm with her powerful vocal delivery. The instrumentation by comparison is quite challenging, and- as previously mentioned- is constantly changing up its pace, even transcending the boundaries of style. Within a single song, listeners may expect to hear everything from metal, to ambient, to pop and vintage-inspired prog rock. With musical ideas being tossed around wildly, it becomes difficult to pinpoint particular songs as 'highlights', although the mini-epic 'Necrogenesis' and the tender 'Naked Solipsism' stand out for their stirring melodies. For all of their ambition however, DELUSION SQUARED's production feels the strain of so much activity. Although it may simply be that Lorraine's vocals are mixed a touch too highly, the instruments occasionally feel drowned out by one another, although in a sense this only serves to emphasize how textured the band's sound can get. Suffice, DELUSION SQUARED are one of my favourite discoveries so far of the year. They are are wonderful demonstration of what prog rock can do even almost half a century after its birth.