EN AVANT DOUTE...

en avant doute (going forward despite everything)

Lazuli is a French band formed in 1998 who with "en avant doute" released a work that made many "best of 2007" lists. I can certainly understand why. Their myspace site describes the band as "somewhere between progressive rock & electro-world, poetry & travel.visiting new territories with a rather unusual instrumentation: Warr guitar, Chapman stick, marimba, vibraphone, percussions, guitars, vocals..& especially a unique instrument created by Claude Leonetti : the LEODE." (the Leode is an instrument created by Leonetti who lost the use of one arm in an accident, so that he could play guitar with one hand.and it sounds amazing.) They note that "songs are canvas on which they mix colors to paint their own world." High-minded sentiments to be sure but quite accurate. This album possesses an exciting sound all its own in an age where it's not all that easy to break through the din anymore. The release is also great value because they throw in a bonus DVD with performance and documentary stuff.

The title track is first and this is a song about losing a loved one. The title is described as a nonsensical phrase meaning to "go forward despite everything." Vocals are usually present and very good. The track starts with electronica-like sounds gurgling behind the vocal with a Bjorkish feel until the band kicks in a bit later. The album really engages on "Laisse Courir" which is a song about the rat race in life that we all put ourselves through. The beautiful LEODE really comes through here and gives the album such a unique sound. It sounds a bit like a combination of slide guitar and keyboard, and Leonetti sounds to me influenced by Robert Fripp. What is so amazing about the LEODE is the total freedom and agility of sound Claude is able to extract, it's just wild to hear and worth the price of admission by itself. You won't believe the notes he finds, he pulls them to Earth from distant planets and ocean bottoms. Incredible. But I don't recommend Lazuli on the strength of their guitarists alone, they are all accomplished musicians with some very good songs. "Le Repas de l' Ogre" in a not-so-veiled shot at our own President Bush with quiet vocal sections contrasted with loud rocking parts. Next up is an Ange cover song (a shortened version) called "Capitaine Coeur de Miel" from their "Guet-Apens" album. Their love of Ange is obvious in the passionate playing and singing. "La Valse a Cent Ans" is a love song where Dominique Leonetti does a great job in a higher range of notes and there is an immaculate balance between this expressive vocal and the Leode accenting. He also accompanies himself on acoustic with interesting instruments and percussion behind him. If I'm vague about the instruments I'm hearing it's because I can't figure out what the hell is making half the sounds I'm hearing! It's that kind of album, but such is the fun! "Film d'aurore" has a bit of a creepy vibe with a quick-paced tight drumming and industrial grating behind a heavy bass line. The track gets heavier and heavier with a definite Crimson-like cacophony, though this album is not like KC overall. Much of it is quieter and more folk-influenced, but with a modern sound. "Quest Terne" is a break-up song described as the "sun setting on the life of a couple." A softer track with a nice vocal. "L'Arbre" (the tree) is a tribute to nature and how our perceived evolution has actually been the opposite. We have set up a system that cannot sustain itself and refuse to take our heads out of the sand, lest we upset someone's profit potential. It's my favorite song here and not because just because of the subject: this is simply jubilant playing with nice hooks and Peter Gabriel style rhythms. "Cassiopee" is another treat with great escalation of the music until the frenzied latter part, while remaining grounded with the acoustic guitar and strong vocal melody.

The DVD is a fun bonus to have. You get a live performance (although I don't see the crowd.empty venue?) and a documentary. This is more like a road journal that shows us that while these guys play sophisticated music, they're still having fun like kids on the road. We see them partying in one city and getting back to their hotel rooms a little crazy pushing one another down the hallway on the luggage rack. There is also an informative history of the Leode instrument and how it came to be, very cool. And a promo video for "le repas de l'ogre" which proves the band has a way to go in the production of compelling rock video. The booklet contains complete lyrics in French with brief English descriptions about the subject matter, a very nice touch for those of us who understand English-only. And what a fantastic album cover!! It says a whole lot in that one photo if you really stop to think about it for a spell.

This is a band with much promise who I expect to only get better. I would like to hear maybe one or two instrumental tracks on their next album, here I believe all or most were quite vocal and I'd like to hear what they can do without that structure. But as they continue to master their unique sound and even expand it, my hope is that they maintain a strong emphasis on melody, on keeping it tethered to Earth in a sense. I think it's that combination of eclectic sound and folkish warmth that make this band so appealing to so many this year. 3 ¾ stars.

This French band didn't really impressed me with their previous album which was very much world music oriented.

It is rather different with En Avant Doute (which doesn't mean anything, it is a play-on-word actually). The opening number and title track sets the pace: great play-on-words, Crimsonesque music. It is a good summary of what we'll get on this good album. Laisse Courir reminds me of

The band keeps on with the magnificent Le Repas De L'Ogre. IMO, it is the best track of the band. Intriguing lyrics (at last!!!), scary and exceptionally dark music. The influences are obvious: Crimson for the music and Ange for the theatrical vocals and lyrics. It is a wonderful piece of music and a highlight of course.

The next song is a cover from Ange. Captain Coeur de Miel was the central piece of their very good Guet-Apens album. The last of their classic era. Although the original song lasts for about fourteen minutes, this cover only lasts for about a third of its original length. The vocal parts are the best ones and compared to the original version what is really missing is the fantastic closing guitar solo. Since this album is so short, they really could have developed this great song a little more.

The band is still in the very good territories with La Valse à Cent Ans. While the band totally ignored Ange in their first album, it sounds different here. Again, the whole Ange world is close: weird lyrics (which was a characteristic totally alien during Amnésie) with lots of play-on-words (like the masters). Another highlight.

The album goes on finely with another dark song: Film d' Aurore which is another scary number on the heavy side this time.

Other play on words with Ouest Terne (literally lifeless West but referring to Western-the US). Lyrics are full of these play-on-words mixing the wild West and the French (or best said Parisian) press world (Fogiel for whom who might know this TV guy whom I can't stand). But it is almost impossible for a non- French (or neighbour as I am Belgian) to get into these lyrics.

L' Arbre brings us back to their debut album and the world music feeling. Middle-East musical sounds and very high pitched vocals (as on most of the songs). One has to bear this aspect which could not be easily digested by most listeners.

In all, this album is much better than their Amnésie one. Much more interesting lyrics and obvious references to two prog giants for the instrumental parts are a much better experience.

Four stars.

This is much better than their debut i'll say that much. These guys have such a unique sound with the percussions, marimba, vibes, warr guitar, chapman stick and a homemade instrument called a leode that can make synth-like sounds to distorted guitar-like sounds. No keyboards. The vocalist does remind me a little of Descamps from ANGE, they even cover one of their songs, so they're no doubt influenced by this great fellow-French band. For me the toughest thing to digest is the vocals. They're not bad at all, it's just that they are often almost spoken and the focus of the song. Just not a fan of them that's all.

"En Avant Doute" is a good example of the vocals being the focus as sounds come and go in a pastoral setting. "Laisse Courir" opens with percussion and leode as reserved vocals come in. Some atmosphere here and good contrasts as well. One of the better tracks. "Le Repas De L'ogre" opens with almost spoken words and vibes while the leode creates some atmosphere. It kicks in briefly as contrasts continue.

"Capitaine Coeur De Miel (Part II)" is the ANGE cover but much shorter than the original. The vocals are almost spoken as leode cries out in the background. It's building until it gets intense before 2 minutes. This is the best part of the album. It ends as it began. "La Valse A Cent Ans" features vibes and fragile vocals. Not a fan. "Film D'aurore" again has these almost spoken vocals but it kicks in quickly. It sounds good 2 1/2 minutes in to the end. More intense. "Quest Terne" is my least favourite, it just doesn't go anywhere. "L'arbre" has these high pitched vocals and I like when it kicks in at 2 minutes. "Cassiopee" opens with some atmosphere as these light vocals come in. A heavier sound does take over and these contrasts continue.

Just can't get into this band the way most can.

Very nice theatric progressive rock in the NEMO vein from these Frenchmen. Quite a lineup of masterful eclectic instrumentalists throwing it all into the mix including Chapman stick, Warr guitar, marimba, vibraphone, and synth guitars.

1. "En avant doute" (3:02) wonderfully sparse instrumentation holds tremendous tension while Dominique Leonetti sings in a conspiratorial near-whisper ... until 1:25, that is, when Dom and the whole band unleash their pemt-up emotions in a display of symphonic power. Wow! Then back to the softness for the final stanza. Cool song. Very effective. (8.875/10)

2. "Laisse courir" (5:11) opens sparsely but roaring guitars quickly make their presence known before backing down again for Dominique's delicate singing. The slide guitar (or is it the Warr?) is especially powerful throughout--masterfully played. Dominique's performance is more nuanced but his intensity never quite reaches the impact of that slide guitar. (9/10)

3. "Le repas de l'Ogre" (5:07) more theatric vocals performed from within a wide range of dynamics and effects. Claude's Léode play coupled with Sylvain Bayol's Warr is awesome (plus the métalophone)! Great soundscape! One that builds up to a great climax! (9/10)

4. "Capitain Coeur de Miel (Part 2)" (5:03) the most emotion-packed vocal and guitar song on the album. Incroyable how Dominique's impassioned performance peaks with the Warr guitar at 2:14 and then the Warr takes over, continuing to express the same torment and anguish that Dominique's voice had just done! Amazing! Worth the price of admission, sans doute! (10/10)

5. "La valse à cent ans" (4:20) cool calliope-like sound coming from somewhere (there are no keyboardists!) along with the usual eerie Warr sounds and great deep bass from the Léode. Nice song though there are no real surprises here. (8.875/10)

6. "Film d'aurore" (4:26) another great tension-evoking soundscape--especially due to the bass (Léode) and cymbal play. The Warr "note" in the middle of the third minute is awesome as everybody else continues their symphonic swirl around him--especially the drums and guitar work of Gédéric Byar. Excellent song! (9.25/10)

7. "Ouest terne" (3:32) tuned percussion and acoustic guitars provide a folk minimalist sound via a weave of acoustic instruments over which Dominique provides two vocal lines, one, in the background, of a fairly high register. The overall Americana sound is kind of like Chris Isaak ("Wicked Game"). Nice change of pace. (8.875/10)

8. "L'arbre" (4:18) now into PETER GABRIEL territory with some kind of world music-sounding instrument sound palette. (That Warr guitar brings so much to the table! And the two percussionists, too.) Great solo from the Warr in third and fourth minutes over the Birdy/BIG COUNTRY-like music. (9/10)

9. "Cassiopée" (6:36) great atmospheric PINK FLOYD-like music for Dominique to sing over/within. Amazing instrumental palette. (9.5/10)

Total Time 41:35

The strong presence of the Warr guitar and tuned percussion in this album really make it stick out for me--and, I think, make lead singer Dominique Leonetti's performances really rise to the occasion. The other instrumentalists are all at the top of their game for this one, and the song/sound variety is so amazing--which is why En avant doute? remains my favorite Lazuli album.

A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece of diverse and unique progressive rock music--one that should not be missed by any self-professed prog lover! Quite possibly the album of the year for 2007!