LE POISON QUI REND FOU

4.5 stars. This is similar in "sound" to their first album, with the same lineup except for a different bassist. This does have more variety on it and there is a female vocalist ( Marie-Anne Polaris) featured on the first track. I do prefer the debut but both are excellent records. I would highly recommend getting these both on a 2 on 1 cd that is out now.

"Le Poison Qui Rend Fou,Part 1 : Ram Ram Va Faire "Pif Paf" opens with a tortured guitar melody that seems to be telling us to run like hell. It is eventually replaced by a fast paced piano and drums melody. The female vocals come in giving this a Zeuhl flavour.The vocals stop as a piano note is hit and the dark angular guitar melody returns grinding away. The soundscape 5 minutes in is great as drums have joined in, and the guitar melodies continue. A change arrives after 8 minutes as some good piano melodies lead the way, eventually the sound stops with slowly played piano taking over. A powerful sound joins the piano including some raw guitar sounds that come and go.This is fantastic ! The tempo speeds up to end the song. "Ersatz" features these cool intricate sounds that come and go throughout the 5 minutes. Denis shines on this one.

"Le Poison Qui Rend Fou, Part 2 : Didi, Dans A Chambre !" has an almost circus like melody to it. The guitar is prominant, and is dark as usual as it grinds away. The drumming and piano work are outstanding, and the bass comes in later with some throbbing lines of it's own. This would be great to see live. Impressive track. "Samana" was composed by pianist Alain Rochette and has a Jazz flavour to it. This is evident a minute in with the piano and light drums.Then it changes 2 1/2 minutes in as the song stops and piano melodies take control. Then a dark mood clouds the soundscape that is slow moving at this point. Piano is still prominant though. Marching style drums come in, as the pace starts to pick up with piano leading the way. Drums and piano are so intricate. Solemn guitar ends it. Interesting that it would be 13 years before PRESENT would return in band form to give us another album.

UNIVERS ZERO also had a 13 year break between albums in their career.