TANT QUE L'HERBE EST GRASSE

With a lantern I am searching for new fine prog rock and in France i found this "Lazuli" record. With a cover formed like an old photograph of a gentleman but with a cow skeleton head it faces me. It is a special cover even if I don't like it very much.

The band "Lazuli" is French and they have released five records since 2004, in ten years. "Tant que L'Herbe est grasse" from 2014 is their fifth one. I liked the French Nemo's record from last year and this one is a bit similar. The line up on the record is Claude Leonetti on léode and choirs, Gédéric Byar on guitar, Dominique Leonetti on vocal, guitar and mandolin, Romain Thorel on keyboards, french horn and choirs and Vincent Barnavol on drums and percussion.

I feel that this band is their best moments here could give us very emotional and living music that is so special you are happy to hear it. The powerful ending of the record for example "Les Courants Ascendants"(8/10) is a grandiose song and "L'Essence des Odyssées" is a great example of the bands instrumentation and the beautiful melody they bring us(8/10). The two first songs "Déraille" and "Une Pente qu'on Dévale"(8/10) are symphonic and very special. Thery are mixing fine and specific atmospheres with more powerful rock.

One great ingredient is Dominique Leonetti's light and strong vocals that in the first place could be a bit annoying but after hearing it a while it's absolutely impressing. The record as a whole is a fine experience. The former Marillion singer "Fish" contributes with English vocals on "Jái Trové ta Faille" and the result of this both English and French song is interesting. Thus should this record be heard also by Fish's fans. I hope people will hear this and make their own judgements. I'll rate this to four stars, it would have been seven on a ten number scale.