LITURGIES CONTEMPORAINES

Some might call it a childhood obligation to obey my parents wishes, but I was gung-ho from a very early age, learning multiple languages simultaneously (Hungarian at home, English neighborhood in Montreal and French (France) private school to start, later picking up Spanish, Portuguese, German and Italian with weekend tutors). Needless to say, it helped me enormously to build strong relationships with a wider audience than most unilingual people. So, when progressive rock in the early 70s went Italian, German and Spanish/Portuguese, I had absolutely no difficulty whatsoever enjoying the lyrics to the fullest. Lucky me, indeed. I feel for those prog fans who cannot fully appreciate the immense genius of Ange (Christian Decamps had some tremendous lyrics as well as a mesmerizing vocal style) and all its offshoots (Atoll, Mona Lisa, ?). While English is a powerfully vivid global language, French is even more dense in its precision and way more emotionally charged, which is why translations of one English page generally required a French page and a half! Plus, Shakespeare had three French counterparts in Moliere, Racine and Corneille. But that is for the History Channel, on to la musique.

Getting my hands on Solace Supplice was a smooth and rather comfortable ride, also due to knowing the talents of multi-instrumentalists Eric Bouillette (Nine Skies, Nova Cascade etc..) and the delightful Anne-Claire Rallo (with whom I probably share a Baccalaureat!), whose Bad Dog Productions has sent me lots of suggestions in recent times. This album is what French contemporary prog should sound like, very much in the same vein as Jean-Pierre Louveton (Nemo), Lazuli, Magnesis, Esthesis, Monnaie de Singe, Orion, Motis, Gens de Lune, Children in Paradise etc?

So, speaking of Moliere, the opening track "Le Tartuffe Exemplaire" kicks off the album with a BBC snippet morphing into a wicked Jimmy Pallagrosi drum beat and Nick's daughter Willow Beggs on bass keeping terrific pace, as the rambling Bouillette vocals theatrically evoke compulsive behaviour, scandalous and vile, in the finest Gallic tradition! His wicked guitar solo only adds to the exaltation. Blistering track of the finest Grand Cru. "Sunset Street" maintains the morose tornado of sound, relentless, the playing and singing are obsessive and yet very creative, swerving like a Paris driver in rush hour traffic. Then, a melodious world where chirping synths, trembling bass, a slashing guitar, a shifting beat and a slick voice unite under the banner of "half-pained" lyrics combine to trap one's interest and never let go. Needing to continue on a track-by-track basis, suffice to state that all the remaining tracks seek to uphold an uncertain sense of despair, as the subject material leaps from pain, watchtowers, cosmic adultery, paranoid schizophrenia, and circus of souls to leading the charge of the hussar cavalry, the devil's diaper (that is quite the vision) and slumping decadence.

"Les Miradors" (the Watchtowers) exudes a sad reminder of a Kafka-esque universe where people are forcibly caged in by heavily armed border guards, haunting choir work propelled by a frenzied percussive attack, this would have fitted nicely with a 1980s video of the Warsaw Pact 'defending' its citizens by inverting their weapons inwards. Anne- Claire shines on bass and keyboards while Eric simply offers deliverance on his axe. Amazing track and my favorite here. The music is mostly dark, brooding, occasional frantic, but seemingly always anxious and harrowing. There are nevertheless interspersed moments of reflection and calm, such as the majestic "Cosmos Adulterin" which still keeps a symphonic bombast in its conclusion, with some stunning instrumental displays and the equally hypnotic "Schizophrenie paranoide" where the drums and effects are simply otherworldly.

The musical merry-go-round on the carnival-like "Au Cirque des Ames" is heroically efficient, with a swirling violin leading another compelling voyage into the absurd, Anne-Claire's acrobatic piano work and an elephant march from the rhythm section, as the clown trips over himself in the illuminated sandbox. It's far from funny as this circus is a serious act. The last three tracks simply close the deal with more exploratory displays that rigorously keep the existing focus on mood and atmosphere. Spectral and misty, the vocals whispered when needed, angry when not, the guitars scorching and scalding and the rhythm volcanically eruptive. The solemn dirge of the final track sums this beast succinctly, a purposefully hesitant vocal that transfixes the listener, as a twisted violin and drone piano sets up a colossal electric guitar solo, full of verve and vinegar and unchained rage, as a synth lead elevates this into a paroxysm of delight.

The crisp sound, the impeccable playing and the overall feel of this album is a true wonder, like pages from a gripping book, each chapter an enticing adventure into musical originality. Take a leap of faith and explore something unusually different, no one will be left disappointed by these modern-day rites by a highly accomplished band. Obviously, the quality of the music reigning so supreme, the French speakers will undoubtedly enjoy the lyrical content but if non speakers want to really get into it, perhaps getting the words translated into English might elevate their enjoyment even more, after all, the band did put in the effort, fans can do some as well.

Easily a top contender for album of the year 2022. Not a weak second to be found.

5 Future Rituals