BARTOK'S CRISIS

This CD by a German band with French roots was given to me as a present by my brother who said it is one of the best releases he stumbled across in 2011. Yes, and I share his opinion, despite often not having the same musical tastes like him.

What Eclipse Sol-Air delvers musically can already be partially deducted from the cover, a mixture of diverse musical styles: the listener is taken on a journey through Symphonic Prog mixed with Metal, Folk, Neo-Prog, Pop, Classical and Medieval elements. Vocals in English German, French, and other languages. The vocals are delivered by male and female vocalists. Through this musical roller coaster ride highly talented musicianship shines through.

It is difficult to say which track is the best; there is actually not any weak track. The two long tracks "waiting for You" and "Benedictus" are my favourites.

And for those who like comparisons: What comes to my mind is Orphaned Land and Haggard; however this is just a very vague comparison. Somehow Eclipse Sol-Air go much further than those bands . . . and they excite me much more. I will give 4and half stars.

Released in 2011, 'Bartok's Crisis' was the second album by this German-French outfit, following on from their debut some four years earlier. At this time the band were a six-piece, although there are numerous guests to boot, but in reality they were the brainchild of Philippe Marie- Arnauld des Lions (vocals, keys, rhythm guitar) who always saw this as a project with a revolving line-up. With male and female vocals and songs in three languages this is a band that obviously wants to be different, yet these are probably the simplest to understand as when it comes to music it is way more complex. Imagine as a base a band that is bringing together strong elements of both Horslips and Red Jasper, and then mixing in a little Renaissance. From there all bets are off as this is an incredibly varied album and there are times when they are pure symph and at others they are obviously neo. The first time I played "Waiting For You" I was amazed to notice at the end that it was more than fifteen minutes long as it just flies by, with some wonderful hooks and loads of different phases.

But that is just the first of the four longer songs found in the middle of the album, with "Benedictus" closing in at 11:06, "Phantome" at 13:03 and "Die Rumanen" at 21:25. It is true to say that there are places here where it does sound as if the long song has been artificially created by putting in some sections that have little connected with the rest (such as the drum solo), but we're progheads so does it really matter? By the end of the album I was totally confused as to what I had been listening to, and just know that I enjoyed it. This feels much more like a theatrical production than 'just' an album, as the songs are often very visual. I have to confess to doing a double take on the last song of the album though, as it is the old sing in a round "Frere Jacques" that I was taught as a young child. It never sounded like this though.

This is one of the longest single discs I have come across, at 82 minutes, and it is certainly never boring! Well worth investigating further, www.eclipse-sol-air.de