LE ROYAUME D'OCÉANÉA

MAGNESIS, a screenplay based on a short story by Frederic Przybyl, an apocalyptic event spelling doom for Earth, with a select few chosen to regenerate the human race in the kingdom of Oceanea?you get the plot.

1. Opening after the typical French narration, the music kicks in; it's beautiful, it's marshmallowy with the French vocals; me, who's trying to protect this magnificent language, no, it doesn't work for the prog world, that's just how it is; paradoxical, in short, a good, well-placed melodic opening that's had its day; the melodic instrumentation even borders on electronic music; in short, the finale with pads is worth it, the vocals stand out, making the French scene seem funny, which is certainly why it's not recognized. It's unfortunate since many French bands singing in English are often less well-off musically speaking; Yet the musicians are struggling in the right direction. 2. Le Royaume D'Océanéa continues, a big, heavy riff on a fat, velvety keyboard, it starts off well; the vocals deflate everything despite the real desire to do well. The question is, was GENESIS better for having better integrated its vocals, was it just as simplistic, or did Peter have a different charisma? Here, a bit of THRESHOLD and Karl GROOM from the 80s trying to do like the majors; a brief, pompous piece with a beautiful final crescendic momentum. 3. Le Guide, with the same progressive atmosphere; beautiful piano, expressive pad rolling, and the voice that fits well in a small, remote room in a small French village but doesn't go any further, thanks to VOLTAIRE. The desire to do well is obvious, the bass spurts just right, but this phrasing, this narration brings us back to earth and avoids flying away. a bit silly because the guitar solo is worth its weight in prog gold; the keyboard variation with its GENESIS 2nd period choirs is worth the detour, we finally leave; the second, more melancholic, reassures me about my analysis: it's beautiful, fine, moving and if the recognition hasn't happened, it's not by chance, only ANGE, LAZULI and MANSET were able to make prog without the voice acting as a brake; the final riff in the distance, then present there in front of you, well we're off to ANGE version 'Vu d'un Chien', very good this passage; bitter observation, very good orchestration and theatrical vocals that hit and brake for the journey; not a question of voice, just habit or musicality 4. On Les Ruines D'Un Monde Ancien could have been named on the trail of the big blue, so much do SERRA's notes resonate from the intro; It's beautiful, and we wish it wouldn't end. Look, the distinctive, theatrical voice on "ANGE" actually, still my paradoxical resistance to this language. Yes, I love France, or what's left of it, and prefer T-shirts tagged in French. The Oldfield-esque bells and then the fluid synth solo make me feel guilty.

5. Les Songes De Darius for one of the two radio edits where the voice is highlighted; for the prog, it passes for a radio track; it's a bit cloying, says my girlfriend, a hit expert. It's hard to contradict her, given the popularity of the track, which, with its expressive pad, has a beautiful progressive touch. The final guitar solo is worth its weight in gold, but why hasn't this band received its recognition? 6. The Temple of Poseidon as an encore, instrumentally it's really moving, I hear a number of very beautiful reminiscences, this time with a breathtaking keyboard solo on the edge of the reborn GENESIS 7. Abysses and 6 minutes of intro that are enjoyable, well it's long too; it starts halfway through with an electro electronic music break, yes it's long; we have a monotonous atmosphere that sets in with a reverberating piano and we arrive at the 15' mark for the assault of the waves; the fusion of genres makes us take off and go into interstellar space, astounding and bluffing; this instrumental could be played by a fan base of Klaus SCHULZE and TANGERINE DREAM, well constructed. The final guitar solo screams with joy over a tearful sound, revealing a hilarious side of this band. 8. A melodic, symphonic finale that would have been praised during the 80s for its grandiloquence; there are times when one may not have been born at the right time, with solemn trumpets closing this aquatic odyssey.

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