AT THE CINEMA

Rousseau is a German outfit that released three albums in the Eighties (all of which are available on Musea), and after fourteen years with nothing have released an album of all new material. I have to say that this quite a strange album to play as it is virtually an instrumental followed by a song, followed by an instrumental all the way through which is certainly uncommon. The album commences with a piano-led instrumental, which although quite short and pleasant did make me think that I would be listening to an album of laid back classical instrumentals and nothing else.

But, the songs themselves are quite different, and are sung in English so they are easy to understand. This is music that is very heavily influenced by Camel, and nothing wrong with that I hear you say. Jörg Schwarz has a voice that is sometimes reminiscent of Nick Barrett and if another band could be looked for within Rousseau's music than it would be Pendragon, particularly when it is uplifting and full of pomp. I would have preferred to hear an album that wasn't quite so formulaic in it's' outlook and containing less of the instrumentals but overall this is a pleasant listen while not groundbreaking or earth shattering.

Originally appeared in Feedback #71, Dec 02