LES NOUVEAUX MONDES (2022)

The French prog band Nemo has gifted the world with nine excellent studio albums during its existence from 2002 to 2015, featuring a mix of infectious hard rock and symphonic music. In fact, the band never officially disbanded; they claim to be merely sleeping. Actually, that's a strange statement because apart from vocalist and guitarist Jean-Pierre Louveton being busy with his solo project JPL, Nemo occasionally releases reissues or live albums.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of their debut album, "Les Nouveaux Mondes", the album was reissued in August 2022 and not just in an ordinary way. The entire work has been re-recorded by the classic Nemo lineup, including bassist Lionel B. Guichard. You don't need to be an audiophile to hear that this new version sounds significantly better than the original. And it can hardly be any different. Apart from making unprecedented strides in the technical aspects, Nemo has evolved into a well-oiled machine where factors such as power, dynamics and timing greatly favor their progressive sound. It's also worth noting that Jean-Pierre Louveton has developed into a great vocalist over the years. Initially, he used to sing in a somewhat nasal manner, so it's a pleasure to witness his improvement.

Listening to the album is a delightful experience once again. Nemo kicks off with the ten-minute track Abysses, which is packed with tempo and mood changes that serve as absolute highlights in this reissue. The vibrant drumming by Jean-Baptiste Itier, together with Lionel B. Guichard's pulsating bass playing, propels the driven guitar and keyboard performances to the most beautiful corners of the universe. It's a sheer delight to witness.

Next up is the two-part suite Dr Fergusson Et Les Caprices Du Vent. In the first part, Au Dessus Des Toits, there's an excellent build-up from a tinkling electric guitar to tight riffs and pleasing melodies, leading to an exuberantly rolling passage where the band's youthful vigor in composition becomes a bit too evident. The other part of this suite is called Au Dessus Des Pyramides and features delightful Middle Eastern-tinged gothic elements. The subtle guitar interludes in between are magnificent.

Between the two parts of the suite, Nemo presents three songs that carve out the band's sound perfectly. Tempête, in particular, can be considered highly successful with its vigorous guitar playing. Let's not forget that this is their debut album. The excellent synergy might actually mislead you.

The regular album concludes with Phileas, a twenty-minute epic consisting of four tracks. With this epic, the concept of "Les Nouveaux Mondes" gains more significance. The album revolves around a number of fictional characters who attempt to change their imaginary world in a groundbreaking way. In the case of Phileas, we hear percussive keyboard sounds resembling a xylophone, giving the song an ethnic touch. Meanwhile, Nemo delivers their unique interpretations. It's Lazuli-like world music.

After the ten tracks, two bonus tracks follow. Africa is originally from an ancient demo. This version has been rearranged and re-recorded in 2022. Bataille Navale is an unreleased track recorded during Nemo's first concert on March 16, 2002. It contains musical sections that were later reused. Normally, I'm not a big fan of such extras, but with Nemo, I accept everything. Hopefully, they will awaken soon.

Orginally posted on www.progenrock.com