L'ARAIGNÉE-MAL

Top notch symphonic prog from France with amazing production, composition, power, and melody.

1. "Le Photographe Exorciste" (9:10) theatric three-part suite with very theatric opening section, prog-rich mid-section and then brilliant electric guitar exhibition in the finale section. (18.333/20)

2. "Cazotte N°1" (6:00) speedy jazz-rock fusion-infused prog with violin and tight jazz-rock rhythm corps fully featured. Overall, this song feels like a highly-competent and wholly-original blend of 1975 Fusion III-era MICHAL URBANIAK, No Mystery RETURN TO FOREVER, and second-incarnation MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA's Apocalypse. I find Michel Taillet's clavinet and bassist Jean Luc Thillot's work to be very impressive throughout this excellent piece. (9.75/10)

3. "Le Voleur d'extase" (7:30) electric violin with pastoral electronic prog instrumentation in support open this before André Balzer steps in to start singing (with a heavily-treated but still-recognizable and admirable display of emotion). After only one introductory verse the band shifts into high gear to take us into a very theatric section in which a choir of vocalists add their "ho, ho, ho" punctuation points to the band's music. Kind of PFM "L'isola di niente" like. Cool! several other different and separate instrumental motifs are explored over the next couple of minutes before there is a little break in which Michel Taillet's or Bruno Géhin's keyboard bridges the band into a new more ALLMAN BROTHERS-like motif in which guitarist Christian Beya solos impressively in a Southern Rock style over the clavinet, Fender Rhodes, thick jazz bass, and fiery drums of Alain Gozzo. Impressive and by no means a weak song, just not as good as the others on the album. (13.375/15)

4. "L'Araignée-Mal" (21:20) since I first heard this song, I've considered it one "classic era" progressive rock's pinnacle/mountaintop prog epics. (38.5/40): - a. Imaginez Le Temps (6:40) Impossibly gorgeous! Prog perfection in every way possible! I love the synths and violin. (10/10) - b. L'Araignée-Mal (5:05) starts off rather dully but builds with amazing emotion coming from the vocals, drums, bass and panning synths. (10/10) - c. Les Robots Débiles (3:35) great bass, guitars, and keys in this dynamic and diverse (mostly) instrumental section. And I love the clavinet as a foundational piece. The vocals, while continuing to be full of power and emotion, might be a bit over the top here. (9.5/10) - d. Le Cimetière De Plastique (6:00) (9/10) I also love how the four sections aren't stop and go, the music shifts and blends from one movement to the next.

Total time 44:00

A/five stars; a certifiable masterpiece of progressive rock music of the very highest order and caliber. L'araignée-mal deserves to be in the conversation with all of the very best albums of the Big Six, best RPI, and best Jazz-Rock Fusion albums of the 1970s.

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