ARDEUR

ESKATON have slimmed down from an 8 piece band to a 6 piece band for this recording. There are guest musicians adding violin, piano and guitar although the piano and guitar were both played on the final two tracks that weren't originally on this album, but were the "a" and "b" sides of a single the band released.

The first song "Ardeur" is an uptempo track with steady drums and vocal melodies right off the bat. We get some guest violin melodies as well. The song calms right down with some organ before reverting back to the original melody. Good song. "Couvert De Gloire" features keys and vocals that sound especially good 1 1/2 minutes in. These two ladies can sing ! The song ends in dramatic fashion with a collage of sounds. This is my least favourite song here, but it's still well done. "Pierre Et L'Ange" is another uptempo song with drums, vocals and piano leading the way. Synths are prominant late but check out the melody 2 minutes in. "Attente" was also on the "4 Visions" album and is catchy with a great sound. The drums, synths, vocals and piano shine. The vocal lines late in the song are fantastic. "Dagon" has a spacey intro with pulsating keys, vocals and light drums eventually taking over. The vocals and keys join each other in a beautiful arrangment. The song breaks out before 5 1/2 minutes as a good beat with great drumming leads the way. It's hard not to move to this song at this point. Originally this was the final song on the album and I can understand why.

"Un Certain Passage" is mellow to begin with as violin, vocals and keys create the soundscape. Eventually the vocals, light drums and violin make such a beautiful melody, so uplifting. The song then starts to intensify before settling back down to end it. "Eskaton" is the other song that was on "4 Visions". This is my favourite with the ANEKDOTEN-like guitar melodies that come and go. This song has a great sound to it and it's also heavier. I also love the way the two vocalsists are singing different parts at the same time. Just an amazing song. The first bonus track is a definite let down after hearing "Eskaton". Good bass lines though and the keys and drums are certainly active. "If" opens with the sound of wind blowing as organ comes in and the beat becomes relentless.The vocals come and go, mostly they just go. This is a very good song from the band, it must have been the "a" side single.

Yukorin the Zeuhl expert, when comparing this album to "4 Visions" said "I prefer the rougher, younger sister "Ardeur". And it's hard for me not to agree. They both are "must haves" as far as i'm concerned. And how can you pick one sister over the other ? Pick them both up.