SYMPTOME - DEI

Not being a big fan of Progressive Electronic music I was drawn to this album because of the advertised use of mellotron. Lots of mellotron ! This was the only record that this band from France released, although on my cd there are two bonus tracks which were actually the "A" and "B" sides of a single that was released the year before the album was.

In the liner notes is an introduction that starts off with these words "Think early Franco Battiato, think a chanted cult prayer using mellotrons and oscilators.Think psyche, avant-garde, amateur, proffessional, underground, otherworldly, and you will get FLAMEN DIALIS". I will say that this is a difficult listen that didn't get better even after many painful listens. I found it interesting that the word amateur was used in the introduction, because the electronic keys really sound like they are being played by someone who is just learning to play. I'm sure though that this was on purpose to attain the desired affect. It's really annoying though ! Of course the mellotron is the highlight of this album and it's on all but three of the original album's tracks.

"Derniere Croisade" starts off really good with mellotron, keys and guitar creating a fine melody.The song goes down hill from there. The second song "Le Sanctuaire D'Argile" has chanting on it for the first two minutes."De'dale Vert Du Retour" has pastoral soundscapes as the acoustic guitar is strummed 2 minutes in. The sound builds after 3 minutes. "Meandrea Envoutes" and "Eclosion" blend into each other. The first song mentioned is haunting with keys and wind, while the second song has mellotron and synths as well as some flute and bass later as the song changes. "La Connaissance" has a jazzy intro before we get to drums, keys, flute, mellotron and samples. "Le Village Du Diamanche Matin" has a more uptempo melody with mellotron. "Eclats" is chaotic with various sounds. The first bonus track is catchy as you might imagine a single would be, while the second song is mellotron drenched.

I can't even say this is a good release, rather it's for collectors and fans of Electronic music and mellotron only.