BARBARES

For the most part, this album is an excellent one, but it is a difficult album for me to rate because the first five tracks are all at least four star songs; it's the twenty-five minute title track that makes me point my thumb to the floor. Essentially what is here is extremely creative electric guitar work alongside some brilliant synthetic textures creating compelling arrangements. While I realize the singing is in French and I don't understand a word of it, it's pretty good! I would recommend this to people who like Echolyn and Kansas, but don't mind the situation of the lengthiest track being the worst.

"L.D.I." With an electronic riff repeated by electric guitar, this French band is off. The bass under the guitar solo almost steals the spotlight in the beginning. The main theme is simple but adds intrigue to this hard-rocking yet restrained opener. There's a wicked synthesizer solo, followed by a more laid back guitar solo, all over a series of amazing riffs.

"19:59" After a quick drum spot, a heavy guitar riff jumps in, giving way to quiet acoustic guitar, piano, and softer vocals. This is a pleasingly tight arrangement with several noteworthy aspects that should satisfy many symphonic rock lovers. The choir-like vocals near the end are a nice touch, just before that ripping guitar ends it.

"Le Film De Ma Vie" Things slow down with a just slightly gritty electric guitar and gentle singing. This song in particular reminds me of early Echolyn (the vocalist even sounds like the singer on the first few Echolyn albums). There's a lovely vocal section over spare piano toward the end that just adds to the majesty of the piece. The concluding guitar solo is expertly crafted.

"L'armée Des Ombres" Guitar fed into a wah pedal and electronic noises dominate the beginning of this track. Electric piano coats the verses, as it evolves into something thicker and more menacing. An atmospheric interlude occurs in the middle, ushering in piano that builds to a long and varied phenomenal guitar solo.

"Faux Semblants" This song is the softer side of Nemo, with a very conventional vocal melody that would appeal to many music lovers even outside of progressive rock. And as usual, the music is varied and original. However, one riff in the middle is almost the same as that of "Mellotron Scratch" by Porcupine Tree, but the gradual build takes things in a completely different direction. Also as usual, the ending contains some very excellent music, particularly with respect to the guitar.

"Barbares" I'm afraid this is where things suddenly go downhill. It begins with a simple yet promising motif played only on the electric guitar before other instruments join in. An acoustic guitar takes over alongside a delicate synthesizer pad. A whistle plays the main theme just before the music stops and a heavy electric guitar riff ensues. In case the listener has forgotten it, the main theme is played several times, adding to the boredom of such a long and drawn out piece. A solo acoustic guitar part adds variety in the middle, though. The synthesizer solos are not exactly solos, in that they replicate the same melodies over and over, unlike the amazingly creative bits in all the other songs. Essentially, this is a track laden with repetition, which is rarely a good thing for an extended symphonic piece. Unlike all the other songs, nothing on the title track seems to flow- it's riddled with stop-start transitions that almost always sound like a band is just purposely trying to make an "epic" without any good reason for doing so.