THE LIGHTMAKER

With "The Lightmaker," the French prog band Nine Skies delivers their fourth studio album, and one thing is certain: among fans of neo-prog with harder elements, opinions will hardly be divided. The album exudes so much class in terms of compositional richness and musicality that the choice to be lyrical about it is obvious. Additionally, "The Lightmaker" stands out as a special tribute to co-founder Eric Bouillette, the talented multi-instrumentalist who passed away in 2022. Everything aligns perfectly on "The Lightmaker": the artwork, the compelling concept, the superb sound quality, and above all, the impressive guest list featuring names like Adam Holzman, Marco Minnemann, John Mitchell, and Kristoffer Gildenlöw. Nothing is isolated; it's the complete package that captivates. There are very few contemporary albums that make such a powerful impact as this one.

Let's first examine the album's concept. It tells the story of Rudy, who is living his 1001st and final life. The album follows various phases of his existence from the perspective of different characters and their self-reflections. These will undoubtedly provoke thoughts about the human condition, or at least that is the intention.

All these narratives come through well in this eight-track piece. Opener An Fánai is structurally different, though not in atmosphere. This instrumental intro with its Celtic title immediately gives the album a mysterious glow, highlighted by Alexandre Lamia's acoustic guitar playing.

In the following two tracks, The Explorer and The Dreamer, the band from Nice delivers full-bodied neo-prog with a Marillion-like vibe. Especially noteworthy are the expressive vocals of Riccardo Romano (RanestRane) and Martin Wilson (Grey Lady Down, The Room), respectively. Beyond these delightful guest contributions, it's particularly the pounding drums in The Explorer and the wildly appealing guitar solo at the end of The Dreamer that put you in a jubilant mood. No, in fact, every note, every harmony is a rich treat.

Nine Skies' sound is more than ever a swing between fragile and bombastic passages, a weave of tingling acoustic guitars, atmospheric keyboard sounds, and melodic explosions. The somewhat gritty atmosphere up to this point really finds its meaning in the following tracks.

With The Chaotic, the band ventures out. Furious guitar playing with plenty of melody colors the landscape, bordered by sharp guitar chords and dissonant vocals. There's also a radio play-like passage with spoken word by Laura Piazzai (Imaginaerium). It all sounds amazing, and then keyboardist Adam Holzman makes the track legendary with a swirling solo. It's impressive how themes from earlier steer the solo, a class act completed by a tumultuous guitar. After this intense track, there's a brief respite with Kristoffer Gildenlöw in The Lost. However, don't be mistaken. The track builds itself into a piece full of grim hallucinations. With Interlude: The Wanderer, featuring a 50-piece choir crammed into the studio, Nine Skies lets you truly calm down for a moment. It's beautiful.

In the last two tracks, Nine Skies truly surpasses themselves, not least due to the fantastic guest contributions. Singer Charlie Bramald gives a theatrical twist to the folky The Haunted. It sounds surprising and captivating, my favorite album track. I say this while class drummer Marco Minnemann and prog God John Mitchell in The Architect play the roof off and the band's regular singer Achraf El Asraoui also surpasses himself. "The Lightmaker" has so much to offer that you're almost spoiled before the disc finishes spinning. Rarely so good, this concentrated chunk of passion.

Originally posted on www.progenrock.com