PRÉSAGES (2018)

Given the notable buzz and acclaim herein (and I would presume elsewhere) for Nemo's 2006 studio album Si, Partie 1, I had begun there not too long ago. Then, given it's me we're talking about, I wanted to go chronologically. Glad I figured the releases out before reviewing the likely "incorrect" version of this, their second album. This is the 2018 re-recorded version of their 2003 sophomore album. "Présages" is French for "Omens". And with that... I'm ready! [Been far too long since I've given myself enough time or felt myself readied enough to even review an album. My Queue, as I call it, is far too long. Pray for me haha. Please.]

Our album begins with the open, if not lightly symphonic "La derniere vague". Definitely plenty to hear in this, from Neo-Proggy synth-padding to the very modern rolling bass. The guitar is in stark contrast to the light string pads underneath (at times, it's even a tad muddy, unfortunately). Some very cool rhythmic tension happens as the general intensity increases here. Feels like music from Sonic The Hedgehog or something (that bright neo-classical thing?). Ah yes... The French! haha. Something sort of Post-Progressive here, too, as it were. To be honest, sort of on that note, the verses are a tad wanting. Nice synth solo. Really good things here, but I'll wait... I was going to say it for the opener, but there's elements that remind me of Muse(?) with "Generateur" (that heavy guitar and the super slinky bass in the context of a Post-Prog world). It sort of reminds me, too, in tone, of Italian Prog. I'm conflicted haha. The music has really shown its age thus far.

Really beautifully juxtaposed is the soft intro of "Sur la tombe du phenix". [In all seriousness here] Light, Runescape-ready "mallet percussion" (keys, apparently) is met with strong cello(?) strikes. Nice, natural build here. And a very cool main riff! Somewhat metallic, but perfectly, harmonically ominous. Also, sort of how I view Porcupine Tree, Nemo is clearly a band that is utterly aware of many different popular musical idioms and ready to (in the most positive form of the word) exploit them. They mix the aforementioned Post-Prog of Muse and Neo-Prog of bands like Landmarq and Pallas with Alt-Metal affectations, and then here there are apparent Country influences? Is anyone tracking with me?... Regardless, very cool. Very successful fusions of all these things on "Sur...".

Then we're onto our three-parter, "La mort du scorpion", beginning with the light, introductory "Soleil". What it introduces is the bright, classic-sounding "L'oeil du cyclope". There's little guitar and piano trills that weirdly reminded me of GG, but these were quick, fleeting moments, not representative of the whole. [There goes that guy who walks into downtown past my house every day, chewing his cud as he does... Whatever it is that he's chewing, he's always chewing it haha.] Beautiful stuff, especially as it dies down to a droning, bucolic scene with a pedaled piano, its melody matched with the sheen of acoustic guitar. This reminds me greatly of the wondrous Styx track "Sing for the Day"! Interesting! And love it! Best thus far. Our third and final part to the mini-epic is "La mort du scorpion", I guess the title-sub-track of the track haha? Crazy difference in tone from the last, as the theme of death would rightly imply. Those wonderful "mallets" return and the guitar sings a sorrowful tune. Pretty fantastic, even in its quietness, really. Dramatic swells as it crescendos to the end.

Entering the original finale to the album, we have the nearly-18-minute epic "Les nouvelles croisades". This intro is literally... "YYZ" by Rush, yeah? I was a little unsure about the guitar-work on this album at the start, but like a few other tracks before this'n, the riffs are just awesome! Oooooh and the bridge section after minute 11! Very cool. A little jazzy? Anyways, epic indeed. Finally finally, we have the bonus track closer "Le pire est avenir". Very upbeat number, but still with that slight tension and ominous feeling. Oh, yeah, they're French; I forgot /s. Pretty cool track. Their vocals are pretty much definitely my least favorite element (throughout). Maybe it would mean something else, something more, to me if I knew French (or if it were in English haha)... I'm skeptical. I'm a man of melody and intrigue. What can you do? haha. The music generally does save this one for the "Good" category, though. One of the saving graces is the groovy, heavy bridge here starting around the 7-minute mark.

And that's it! Rough start, in my opinion, but a more-than-solid release overall!

True Rate: 3.75/5.00