SAPIENS CHAPTER 1/3: EXORDIUM

JPL released their 9th album at the start of the year, distilling a very NEMOsian sound but also fresher, more nervous, as if it had drawn a bit from the notes of WOLSPRING. An energetic album, sailing far beyond the PROG universe with eclectic, crossover, jazzy and bluesy atmospheres in addition to those symphonic, orchestral. 3 chapters for this new album and a 1st symphonic title at will on a nervous guitar, the time to warm the ears and to acclimatize with the different climates proposed in "Mastodonts"; a progressive orchestral piece opening Erectus, thunderous. "Homo Sapiens" continues on a Zeppelian sound like "Kashmir", a little oriental title, Jean- Pierre's guiare is here recognizable among all for its specific rendering, capable of passing from a nervous air to another fluid, then to a cascade. The voice passes well not too put forward and integrating in fact; "Ecce Homo" follows with a new, more jerky orchestral, on a varied declination of synth-piano, a beautiful moment reminding me at times from afar certain notes of the bald mountain; there is linear progression as if to close in the most beautiful way this 1st triptych. "A Condition" begins Exitium on a track reminding me the most of NEMO here, the voice in the center distilling its text and the instruments scattered around as if to magnify it; the guitar is splendid in rhythm with Crichton sounds from SAGA, I love it. The solo which arrives draws more air bluesy then launches more psyche notes, to note the final with a very bright synth break; "The Hot And The Cold" continues with a sweet melody on the piano, Stéphanie lending her voice to it with air on the acoustic guitar, a little resemblance to the LAZULI group in my opinion, a group with which he has already worked; the arpeggio of the piano is beautiful and delicate, there is also the old wheel, then energy with synth and guitar riff which bring up the sauce of the title; long orchestral and symphonic break well punctuated for an air that stays in mind ; end with return of the basic piano and the last verse then resumption of the characteristic, metronomic guitar by Jean-Pierre. Exodus comes to finish this triptych with "Planet A", a simple title, intimate, then which goes up without exploding, but which is likely to give you the thrill, listen to it is better! "Alpha Centauri" ends here the album with a bluesy composition, then jazzy limit which gives in the rhyme; then a small variation of well targeted adjectives before leaving on a dithyrambic progressive final with a very oily guitar there. a great album,simply.