CARILLIONS

For a second album Jean-Pascal Boffo expanded the line-up to a four-piece one and also split the responsibilities between the members with keyboardist Denis Batis arranging some of the album's tracks.Boffo and Batis were now surrounded by bassist Carlos Pavicich and drummer Herve Rouyer, a future member of Christian Décamps' band, who later made it to Ange's line-up.The new work of Boffo was entitled ''Carillons'', released on vinyl by Musea in 1987 and re-released on CD by the French label in 1993, featuring again a beautiful, fairytale cover.

The addition of the new members forced apparently a switch in music style and ''Carillons'' abandons the somehat folky sound of Boffo's debut for a much more electric enviroment, which now comes even closer to MINIMUM VITAL's sound or even better to STEVE HACKETT's works from late-70's/early-80's.The sound had become more dynamic and grandiose, but the atmosphere remained dreamy and ethereal in an awkward way, characterized by the impressive guitar plays of Boffo and the quirky synths of Batis.The style is basically a light Symphonic-Fusion with a deep sense for striking melodies but also evident tendencies towards technical efficiency, but Boffo's music journey is, as expected, memorable and delicate, despite the tremendous instrumental accuracy of his group.Most of the tracks are fast-paced with constantly changing solos and leads in the guitar department and a great dose of symphonic and jazzy keyboards.The acoustic lines are extremely limited in specific pieces, so are the folky leanings, and the new proposal is full of cinematic textures, fairytale melodies and elegant atmospheres, sometimes reminiscent of CAMEL.Great music, which is interrupted only a couple of times by laid-back numbers with a slight New Age/orchestral feeling, mostly based on keyboards, acoustic guitars and sampled effects.

Yet another very good album by the man, who dominated the French Prog scene during the 80's.Melodic Symphonic/Fusion in the vein of STEVE HACKETT.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.