CLAUDE MONET - VOLUME 1, 1883-1889

For many years Francois Claerhout had shown interest in the life and the works of impressionist painter Claude Monet.With a main goal to complete a whole book for his career he started writing down a few new songs, while his brother Philippe accompanied him on guitar.Soon they were found with so much material it could fill a triple-disc edition.The period between 1883 and 1889 was covered by XII Alfonso in the 2002 album ''Claude Monet vol. 1: 1883-1889'', released in 2002 on Musea.The quartet of Claerhout brothers, keyboardist Michael Geyre and Thierry Moreno was helped again by a long list of musicians, Laure Oltra on lyrics, Ian Bairnson (Kate Bush, The Alan Parsons Project) on guitar, French-Portuguese singer Bevido and even actress/actor Catherine Alcover and Claude Aufaure.

A trully impressive concept and a rich artistic package (52-page booklet illustrated by two young artists from Bordeaux, Guiral Claire and Philippe Poirier) is unfortunately supported by a no more than mediocre album, which undoubtfully serves the needs of covering Monet's life, but ending up to be only good for background music.Any symphonic moves are completely sidelined and the album sounds like a mix of Spoken Word, New Age and Prog Folk, styles with which XII Alfonso were already familiar with, but this time the final result is far from impressive.Too many lyrical passages and a very mellow atmosphere with folky and light Classical underlines, mainly performed on piano, is not the best content for a work with such an impressive background.The music is heavily relying on acoustic guitars, accordion and piano with occasional dashes of flutes and keyboards, there are even some Chamber Music arrangements and MIKE OLDFIELD-like soundscapes in here, but the flow just isn't there and the dynamics are much needed than ever, despite some good cinematic atmospheres.16 tracks as a result and only a few of them are above average, some intense symphonic electronics and a sporadic grandieur between acoustic and Film Score-like orchestrations are signs that the band was capable of producing something more intense and atmospheric.Because the rest of the album is too soft, often resembling to French Chanson or Acoustic Folk, lacking the nerve to become trully competetive, albeit some careful arrangements.

Dissapointing album.Great concept behind, but musically too smooth and calm, propably working better as a Soundtrack than a Prog Rock album.So I would recommend this mostly to anyone in love with Film Score Music.Prog Rock fans will be merely left unsatisfied.