COSMIC VARIATIONS

Xavier BOSCHER is a French musician, artist from Nice, who has played everything since 1995; he appeared on MISANTHROPE, a great reference, then formed the more intimate NEBELUYES before releasing his 18th solo album this year, you read that right, in a 6-string instrumental prog metal rock vein. A nervous and intimate album with a new-age coulis through the 'Echo' interludes varied in layers; an astral, cosmic journey. Harmony in redundancy on a theme taking up in different tones the story of a recent disappointed love.

"Sea Serpent" big metronomic riff at the start, air setting the tone between prog metal rigor and the desire to take off further, near the stars? A mixture of rolling fretless, rumbling whitecaps and other methods to bring us to an abyssal terrain of discovery, a title that flows very slowly stopping time with a solemn, lethargic air. "Echo 1" 1st of six interludes for a moment of serenity, cosmic-hovering interlude with incisive stressful notes to keep you alert and bring you to "Compass on Argonauts Ships" on a tune reminding me of KING CRIMSON; it then scrolls suddenly, it unravels on the side of the score for a moving tune, filled with warmth and fluidity; we are in the air, in the submarine behind the porthole, we especially feel the evolutions of Xavier metal proguous before the hour.

Crystalline "Echo 2" where the ethereal fresh interlude in declination. "Reticulum" with an interlude moment and nag title boosted by a suave melody; here it's dark and doom, it's obsessive, heady and interspersed with a soaring SERRA-like bass that blows hot and cold; the soli follow one another closer to a SATRIANI than to a VAI for its colorful dimension; a title that does not run out of steam leading to "Echo 3" declination on a varied tempo depending on its appearance, let yourself be invaded.

"Denebola" on the same obsessive, nervous tune, quickly associated with the vibrant and reverberating notes of this more melancholy, wiser title. An ode to the guitar with a djent bass in the finale, a piece that evolves over time. "Echo 4" with almost 2 minutes, time to imagine a little more and it fades, time to wait "Pleione", short and rhythmic, basic, title for a handbanging from behind the bundles then notes s cascading, a little difference in continuity. "Echo 5" when I finally remember the reference title of my meager musical culture...

'Music For A Nurse' by OCEANSIZE, yes, a reminiscence but it's mine. "Astrophel" on an air worked by the drums, the plaintive guitar notes, the atmospheric breaks bordering on New Age, one does not easily erase one's roots; the solo still seems to flow, oozing from a gradual crack beyond the ether. "Echo 6" and the last ambient intermezzo, a musical layer stacked like a hot dog with several sausages, a millefeuille dripping with cream. "Stellan" for the final, genre radio remix edit.

Xavier BOSCHER therefore releases an instrumental opus showing a beautifully crafted musical skill. Nervous metal riffs, varied solos that set off on different atmospheres and a vibrant bass to amplify the effect. A nervous and harmonic sound, a sound interspersed with 'Echo' to entertain the ear and avoid having an overly repetitive rendering, a sound to help you rest after a grueling day in the background or on headphones and up in the upper atmospheric strata.