BARBARES

NEMO have surpassed themselves with "Barbares". Their first masterpiece, "Si - Partie 1", broke the mould of what came before and came close to being the perfect album. Much in the same way, "Barbares" breaks new ground and introduces a deeper, more layered sound with devestating effect. There are enough indicators to recognise the band, but new influences are also present, at times making me think that this is what MUSE would sound like if they fully embraced Prog (although not the vocals!).

The first five songs show off a contemporary sounding band, mixing in some electronic sounds, at their most confident. Highlights are difficult to point out when the whole album is this good, although "L'armée des ombres" and "Le film de ma vie" are personal favorites.

"Barbares" is an ambitious attempt at a 20+ minute song with a recurring theme. The piano and mediaeval sounding guitars that feature in the main theme along with the liberal use of flute give the song a slightly celtic feel. This all fits in nicely with the lyrics, which muse on mankind's shortsightedness and barbaric nature. The only slight flaw is the ending, which is perhaps slightly drawn out.

The French vocals and the fact that their albums are self-produced and hard to get hold of undoubtedly makes it more difficult for NEMO to achieve the presence they deserve as one of today's most exciting prog bands. If they continue producing music of this quality, though, it can only be a matter of time...