ÎLE DE FIÈVRE

I always regretted that Shylock preferred, in their second effort, to name the pieces rather than number them. I loved this stripping shrouded in mystery which contributed to the strangeness of their music. That said, "Île de Fièvre" is my favorite track from the band. It is a frenzied composition of incredible richness. The tempo changes are frequent, the intricacies complex and very successful. With its final repetitive sequence embellished with percussions and sound effects, "Locksetal" offers us a return to the style of the first album (a nod to King Crimson's Devil's Triangle). "Choral" is a little mellotron interlude taken from an initial material that we will never know. The rest of the tracks seem to come straight from King Crimson's "Starles & Bible Black" album! They were recorded in the same state of mind, in jam session and present experimental music tinged with jazz-rock. The reissue of Muséa (1996) includes a bonus-track: the last piece composed by the group and recorded in 1979. The music is more accessible but the sound of mediocre quality. That year, after demanding more commercial music, featuring shorter and sung titles, CBS broke the contract with the band. Indeed, if André and Serge thought that Shylock should move towards a lighter and more accessible music mixing funk and jazz-rock, Frédéric and Didier wanted as for them, to remain in a progressive and authentic lineage. Note, a reformation in 2012 (after 33 years of silence) for a concert tour and the recording of a best of in 2014.

"Île de Fièvre" is a great addition to any progressive rock collection.