ESCAPING FROM THE HANDS OF GOD

At first, Saens' Escaping From the Hands of God seems like a fairly typical Genesis-influenced neo-prog album - perhaps reminiscent of Arena from somewhere between Songs From the Lion's Cage and The Visitor. However, repeated and careful listens reveal hidden depths in the music, such as jazzy keyboard playing which at points becomes reminiscent of Canterbury classics of the past, along with a theatrical vocal style that puts me in mind of the work of Ange. Far from your typical Genesis/Marillion-influenced neo-prog, Escaping From the Hands of God presents a distinctly Gallic take on the subgenre which sinks or swims based on how much patience you have for the particular vocal style used.