AU-DELÀ DU DÉLIRE

There are things you may strongly dislike with the music of Ange, the leading French prog band, but there's one thing everyone seem to agree on: they were very original. For the theatrical, over-dramatic nature they are often said to be the French Genesis (Gabriel-era), and also soundwise they are comparable to Genesis, with some hints of King Crimson. Lots of keyboards including Mellotron! The sound is thick, colourful and dense. Instead of wind instruments that could lighten it up there's a violin.

The usual issue that may turn one off is the style of vocals. They are in French, naturally, but as if that wasn't enough for all non-speakers, they are quite over the top, approaching frenzy speech. One can hardly call it ordinary singing what Christian Decamps does. Unfortunately the music is very full of those vocals. I would surely enjoy Ange a whole lot more as an instrumentally oriented band. This (like several other 70's albums) is also a concept album. Too bad I can't figure out, with my rusty and never-been-good French, what's it all about.

But the music, very eclectic within its frames of symphonic prog, can indeed be a strong listening experience for an advanced proghead. Not for beginners, I presume. None of the tracks is unlistenable, nor without excitement. Perhaps the album is a landmark of continental prog; I personally enjoy it enough for four stars. However, if Ange's other classic albums are more or less similar (many are equally praised), it would probably be too hard a task trying to digest them all.