L'ARAIGNÉE-MAL

Overrated, or just simply masterpiece ? Opener Le Photographe Exorciste is a good track, except first two minutes (where singing/talking irritates me) and last two minutes (which is simply too crazy for previous symphonic performance. And something like jazz/RPI variations in Cazotte No.1 is nice, but maybe little bit too crazy and Le Voleur d'Extase closing first side (at least I suppose it's first side by length of tracks, I know just CD release) would be by far my most favourite, short, but with great ambitions. Symphonic, melodic, dreamy landscape of guitar, keyboards and strings and splendid guitar solo in the end.

But then we get to second side with its respective epic L'Araignée-Mal, where over first two minutes is again some strange talking (but better, than in first track and something that I'll best describe with words: "kitchen dishes, pots and, um, cutlery playing together", but it soon turns around to even better guitar solo and great composition that lasts a long minutes across four parts. It seems a lot that at times, these musicians are just playing for fun, like in some jazz/rock session (which taste carefully), together with not so pleasing vocals (believe me, Peter Hammill's voice is pleasant for me), I'm obliged to give

4(-), because of failure to attract my attention, despite undisputed qualities of music itself. Live version doesn't save it much. I ask myself, where's that spark I need to wake my feelings, not just appreciate musical technicality, but also ENJOY it.

EDIT: OK, after more and more listening of this record, I've decided to ascend it a little bit. If just because of guitar solos, it deserves better rating.