CLAUDE MONET - VOLUME 2, 1889-1904

This is the second leg of the work dedicated to Monet (a French impressionist painter). There are no main differences between Volume and this one. One gets the same mix of classical music dominated by piano and jazzy elements ("Meules - Soleils Dans La Brume", "Vétheuil"). Same narrative "vocals" as well. Business as usual should I say.

This means that my perception for this (very long) CD is also the same: quite mixed actually. I have to say that it was quite a challenge to listen to these seventy-three minutes of music. There are very scarce passages of pure symphonic prog to discover in this album; but the band never showed too many so far to be honest (this is their fourth album). Some bucolic moments though are available ("Ce Que Disent Les Arbres").

The church oriented «Tout Change, Quoique Pierre» is also not very much of my liking. But to tell the truth, there are very few tracks that can blow me away ("Visite A Giverny" maybe). Most of this album leans on the symphonic jazz genre ("Au Pays De L'Hiver") but there again; "XII Alfonso" is familiar with this. A light touch of classical music is also noticeable ("Les Archipels Illusoires").

This type of music is obviously not for everyone. As I have said previously, their style is difficult to depict and this band is rather confidential.

Two stars for this second "Monet" work (just as the first one).