FIREWORKING AT ST.CROIX

GAZPACHO is the group founded in 1996 similar to Marillion at the start, quickly sensitized by Radiohead and having acquaintances with Coldplay; an eclectic band with the soulful voice of Jan; an intimate whimsical rock art concept. They give us here a studio set in their space in Ste Croix following an unprecedented streaming in 2020 in the midst of a pandemic; Gazpacho always asks itself its questions of the struggle of man with his vital force.

'Space Cowboy' is the 1st of the five titles of 'Fireworker' starting this unique live with the reverberating voice à la Lana Del Rey, the electric violin and the majestic choirs coming to give an overwhelming musical sensation, the grip of the hovering departure, the finish on an Oldfield tinged with 'Carmina Burana'. 'Hourglass' recalls the bewitchment of Michael's violin and his plaintive tune, 'Fireworker' on Jon's idyllic voice, depressed, melancholy and beautiful; Robert with his pads bringing a tribal atmosphere on his acoustic drums, magnified on 'Antique' where the electronics come forward with hypnotic loops. 'Sapien' concludes this set with an intense gothic title, filled with musical waves; the live becomes indecent we have the impression that they play only for us; that spatial voice-over sequence still gives me chills; the piano à la Japan adds to it, the slide guitar settles on an arid, icy tempo. 'Substitute for Murder' for the beginning of the encore, title of 'When Earth Lets Go' to warm up a little before attacking the two 'The Walk Part I and II' with the oriental break and 'Winter Is Never' from the album 'Tick Tock' for a final hymn to their unique sound.

Gazpacho therefore staged itself in the raw state giving itself without correction, the expanded stream is remixed in 5.1, CD, Blu-Ray, LP and DVD available with more than 2 hours of bonuses, videos, an interview and a 2019 concert; a concert film from a rehearsal, raw formwork; a stunning rehearsal, a unique pandemic studio concert, an intense, dreamlike and simply majestic album. Gazpacho has done well by revisiting its latest album and adding a few reminder titles to allow us to immerse ourselves in their inimitable sound space.