TERRE II

It took many years but our fellow avid listener / composer of refined prog jazz inflected soundscapes Julian Julien is back with a new release, this time produced in digital format. During a breaking time from his solo musical adventures Julian formed the 'Cosmicadelic' jazzy collective / neo prog live band Fractal and published an album entitled 'Surann'. He also illustrates himself in the writing of a handful of classical scores for short movies of various genres (drama, thriller'). 'Terre' I was a solid exploration into orchestrated, melodiously and delicious groovy jazz rockin hymns with touches of micro-tonalism (classic minimalist / pattern music) and original, discreet Eastern elements. This new album is a more frantic orientation into free-jazz jam components with a vigorous inclination for music for films and short-form ambient impressionist-like music. The 'Iris' serie almost includes hypnotically seductive grooves with a discreet kraut-rockin flavor. For my ears the experimental-Electronic based textures are more obvious than on Julian's past releases and certainly that the softly cinematic touch has something to do with his recent compositional works for films. The general music tendency is warm, dynamic and eloquent and the typical progressive rock sound is well exposed in the use of arrangements, epic instrumental side and soloing improvs. The album includes a bunch of interesting guest musicians active in the jazz musical spectrum but not only. 'Terre II' is a beautiful and inspiring release, recommended for fans of Codona, Collin Walcott, Steve Tibbets (for the multi-dimensional jazzy prog side), Cluster and Harmonia (for the krautrockin echoes), Wim Wertens and Michael Nyman (for the contemporary classic music side), Krzysztof Komeda (among others) for the cinematic approach. An eclectic ambient jazz - prog rockin album and a pretty good companion to 'Terre I' as well.