SHELTER

Neige continues his musical trip in uncharted waters... After the magnificent and colorful "Les Voyages de l Ames", he takes a trip to Iceland and mesmerized by the landscape (call me Sigur Ros) creates his new album. Or should I say a new prog post subgenre...

If you want to labelize his music nowadays forget the "black" word. No "black" riffs here, not metal but rock, less epic feeling, this is a strickly personal and emotional album. Forget the streams and the woods, just put it on your headphones, take your seat by the fire and close your eyes, this will only take 40 minutes (his preferable duration).

After an Intro the album kicks in with "Opale" and the first thing you feel is happiness. Alcest is back but in an uplifting, majore way. Less feedback on the more acoustic guitars, less lo-fi production, vocals more in front with his angelic voice, still the subtle but essential and wonderful drumming of Winterhalter, this is more organic and warm. Their idea of creating music is still here, aetherial and poetic. but somewhat different. Still sad and melancholic but only if you search beneath the surface. All the tracks are on the top quality of Alcest, everyone a different trip, I will just mention the title track that will stick to your mind and the last 10-minutes- long track "Deliverance" with its strings and the mindblowing melody. This track just destroys me and paints me back again.

You can call it alternative, post rock, (still) shoegaze, etc. I will just call it amazingly prog, cause you get his music you love, you recognise the latest influences but this is something new. 2014 starts with an excellent release, don't miss this one, especially these cold days of winter.