MYSTERKAH

Mysterkah biography
This neo-prog band made up of both French and English musicians started off as a foursome in 1995, in a little French town called Chedde in the Haute-Savoie region. Over the years, the band went through various line-ups and set-ups, even breaking up completely at one point. Two of its original members, however, stuck together through it all, namely keyboard player/lead vocalist Yleah White and guitarist/bassist Alec Hudson. After years of hard work, and with the kind help of French drummer Xavier Richard who came from Bordeaux especially for the occasion, they recorded a first album in 2001 titled "Fresq".

"Fresq" is a concept album about a rejected alien who, through cryogenics, decides to remain frozen in a cave for thousands of years while humankind self-destructs. That is, until a female survivor eventually finds him, wakes him up and gives him a new reason to live: helping mankind rebuild a better world. Musically, it is White's vocals and sweeping keyboards alongwith Hudson's lead guitar that are most noticeable. White's powerful and wide-ranging vocals recall those of Isabelle Plante (TRANSCENDENCE) and Tracy Hitchings (LANDMARQ); as for Hudson, his fluid and soaring style lies somewhere between Steve Howe's and Nick Barrett's, his bass playing taking more of a back seat as does Xavier Richard's percussion. There is nothing very complex or experimental about this music, its strength lying in the dynamic compositions, the highly melodious and appropriately bombastic arrangements (particularly White's synth) and the album's overall consistency. A fine piece of neo prog and a promising debut.

Recommended to fans of MAGENTA, JANISON EDGE and ELOY.

: : : Lise (HIBOU), CANADA : : :