BEYOND THE SEVENTH WAVE

Yet again we have a concept album. Across the Rubicon was an exploration on memory; this time, Silhouette explores liberty. The silver thread is a butterfly, translation of "Papillon", name of a book on a (self-claimed) wrongly convincted man who escaped. Little disclaimer btw, the status of the story is discussed, it is not entirely sure whether he was wrongly charged, and apparently the story mixes up several pieces of different stories (it is said the author wanted to compile different stories, about different people, but the editor pushed for him to consistently use the 1st p. sing.). To be sure, the butterfly is also a symbol of freedom by itself. The last track is indeed titled "Wings to fly". The exploration on the theme is once again complex and going through a lot of stuff, including love (see notably Lost Paradise and Beyond the Seventh Wave). The progression of the album is "rhapsodic" as are all good concept albums, with a few transitory tracks, namely the two "Betrayed", and you can probably include "Escape".

For the music by itself, we also have the same qualities compared with the last album. Silhouette has established their styles, after 2 albums of searching for themselves and increasing quality (1st one, The Maze, was almost a kind of "pilote", with little consistency I think, no very long track, and the vocals were not great; 2nd one, Moods, was actually already kinda good, but the theme was not as rich, and some of the music was still slightly boring). Their special use of keyboards notably creates a weird, alienish atmosphere, which is hard to describe but is found a lot since Across the Rubicon (and some of Moods already), notably Breathe and Grendel Memory; it contrasts with the vocals which are unusually "innocent" as a commenter put it, and they are thus on par with several of the tracks; yet, at times, the lyrics, theme, get darker, but the vocals keep that innocent touch, which can create strange contrats. I would really understand if some were taken off from this way of singing, it's very subjective - personally I really love it. The use of guitars also goes increasing, and although we have neither a great experimental creativity, nor a solid virtuosity, they remain always melodic, pleasant. In this album, you can hear a few solos across Lost Paradise notably, as well as some naked pink-floydish guitar dancing in the background on the last track.

All of the album is pleasant, there is no track I want to skip.

Additionally, some parts of it are literally catchy, in a way I very rarely find in prog/neo prog. There is notably a very satisfying chorus in Lost Paradise that I may have humed in my mind like a million times, with all my heart. The music progression on that track really supports and enhances that core, with the drums, the keyboards, the guitars, all expressing themselves from the very beginning. Honestly I don't think anyone can have anything but a great time while listening to that track. Web of lies, in 2 parts, is also great.

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