L'ARBRE-CIMETIÈRE

Last Wednesday night was a moving battle between my two passions: music and soccer. In the morning I received a parcel with many progrock CD's. Due to a very busy daily schedule I had to postpone my wish to a first listening session until the early evening. My first choice was the debut CD "L'Arbre-Cimetière" from the very promising French progrock band MALDOROR, mainly because of two very positive descriptions from fellow reviewers on the Prog Archives site. I had to do it quickly, soon the European Champions League Soccer Finale between my favorite team Liverpool and the shrew Italian AC Milan squad should start. I was very impressed by MALDOROR's wonderful and moving 24-carat symphonic rock sound but the finale had just begun. After 45 very disappointing minutes Liverpool was 3-0 down and I decided to switch off the televison and re-start my 'MALDOROR-CD-session'. I was halfway and got every song more excited but then a friend send an e-mail that Liverpool had fought back to 3-3! This stunning information urged me to put on the television. I witnessed a very tense soccer game with eventually Liverpool as the Champions League winners after extra time and a captivating serie of penalties. For me it was "Tears in my eyes" from URIAH HEEP and the stadium speaker start "We Are The Champions" from QUEEN and "You Never Walk Alone" from Gary And The Pacemakers, the Liverpool anthem that can be heard on the PINK LOYD album "Meddle". After the game I rushed to my CD-player and listened to the rest of the album. My conclusion: MALDOROR is one of the most promising progrock bands I've heard in the last five years: the 12 compositions sound wonderful, alternating, elaborated and compelling and features lots of shifting moods, impressive keyboards (Mellotron, organ piano, and synthesizers) and great harder-edged guitarwork. I hear elements from ANGLAGARD, KING CRIMSON, GENESIS, MARILLION and KANSAS but MALDOROR doesn't sound as a deravitive, they manage to blend their tribute to the Seventies progrock sound with the typical French theatrical approach and lots of original musical ideas. Prog Archives allows a lot of space for the symphonic rock dinosaurs (to me this is OK!) but I would like to say: THIS CD IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!