BELLE ALLIANCE

"Belle Alliance" is the continuation of the style adopted on the former ASHRA album, "Correlations": accessible space disco-rock, the Manuel Göttsching way. However, the music is more various, as it shows influences from other musical genres.

"Wudu" and "Screamer" are efficient openers, with a energic beats and guitars. Then comes "Boomerang" with its reggae ryhtm and joyful tone. Undoubtly inventive but a bit odd as its ambiance contrasts with the former tracks. Back to electronics with "Aerogen", my favorite composition of the record. Fast space-disco/rock with a very good guitar solo from Göttsching.

The second half is less dynamic. "Sausalito" has an average melody and is the least interesting track of the record. "Kazoo" contains is a slow ambient tune with some oriental incursions, but unfornately not many variations. With 15 minutes duration, "Code Blue" is the only long track of the album. This very slow atmospheric composition sounds by moments similar to Terry Riley. Enjoyable, but much too long and certainly does not justify its length. The record finishes with "Mistral", a delicate aerial tune with spanish influenced guitar play.

Although a bit unequal and heterogeneous, occasionally resulting in strange transitions, the overall impression is positive. I slightly prefer "Correlations" over this one. However, as its little brother, "Belle Alliance" is quite pleasant and original.