AU-DELÀ DU DÉLIRE

Well if nothing else this has been a very interesting listen the past couple of weeks. Personally the vocals that everyone seems to be occupied with are not an issue at all for me. Decamps is really a performer though, as he can sing softly one minute and then be very theatrical the next. He's a pleasure to listen to. The music really impressed me, especially the darker sections as well as the aggressive guitar passages. Lots of atmosphere as well, which I like.

"Godevin Le Vilain" is a great opening track, with the violin and reserved vocals leading off, followed by a full sound (with stronger vocals). Guitar after 1 1/2 minutes is raw as mellotron comes in. Some nice bass after 2 minutes. It ends as it began. "Les Longues Nuits D'Isaac" is surprisingly heavy once it gets going. The guitar really lights it up. Synths and vocals as it setles. The vocals get passionate. It calms down again as the contrast continues. Mellotron 2 minutes in. Love the effort he puts into singing 3 1/2 minutes in. Great tune. "Si J'Etais Le Messie" features spoken words with light background sounds. It kicks in around 1 1/2 minutes with mellotron. Spoken words are back a minute later and they become emotional as a dark, haunting soundscape builds. "Ballade Pour Une Orgie" features acoustic guitars and soft vocals. I like it. "Exode" is the first song that i'm not really fond of, at least not until the tempo picks up with 2 minutes to go. Heavy drums to open with keyboard sounds. Strummed guitar arrives before 1 1/2 minutes,then vocals. The tempo picks up after 3 minutes with some terrific guitar leading the way.

"La Bataille Du Sucre" like the previous track does nothing for me until the last 2 1/2 minutes when it turns spacey with some prominant guitar. Nice. "Fils De Lumiere" is a fabulous song. I like everything about it, the vocals and guitar especially. A spacey atmosphere a minute in with some great drumming. Tasteful guitar 3 minutes in. "Au- Dela Du Delire" begins slowly with acoustic guitar as drums come in lightly then vocals. Mellotron and pulsating synths after 1 1/2 minutes. Vocals get a little excited as the same melody continues until 4 minutes in. Then we hear this calm as crickets, frogs and owls can be heard. The song kicks back in and then the guitar starts to take the lead. His guitar solo continues until 8 minutes in when the sounds of nature from earlier return to end the song.

For me this is definitely something every Prog fan should own. It's not a masterpiece in my opinion, but this really is an amazing recording.