EN AVANT DOUTE...

Very nice theatric progressive rock in the NEMO vein from these Frenchmen. Quite a lineup of masterful eclectic instrumentalists throwing it all into the mix including Chapman stick, Warr guitar, marimba, vibraphone, and synth guitars.

1. "En avant doute" (3:02) wonderfully sparse instrumentation holds tremendous tension while Dominique Leonetti sings in a conspiratorial near-whisper ... until 1:25, that is, when Dom and the whole band unleash their pemt-up emotions in a display of symphonic power. Wow! Then back to the softness for the final stanza. Cool song. Very effective. (8.875/10)

2. "Laisse courir" (5:11) opens sparsely but roaring guitars quickly make their presence known before backing down again for Dominique's delicate singing. The slide guitar (or is it the Warr?) is especially powerful throughout--masterfully played. Dominique's performance is more nuanced but his intensity never quite reaches the impact of that slide guitar. (9/10)

3. "Le repas de l'Ogre" (5:07) more theatric vocals performed from within a wide range of dynamics and effects. Claude's Léode play coupled with Sylvain Bayol's Warr is awesome (plus the métalophone)! Great soundscape! One that builds up to a great climax! (9/10)

4. "Capitain Coeur de Miel (Part 2)" (5:03) the most emotion-packed vocal and guitar song on the album. Incroyable how Dominique's impassioned performance peaks with the Warr guitar at 2:14 and then the Warr takes over, continuing to express the same torment and anguish that Dominique's voice had just done! Amazing! Worth the price of admission, sans doute! (10/10)

5. "La valse à cent ans" (4:20) cool calliope-like sound coming from somewhere (there are no keyboardists!) along with the usual eerie Warr sounds and great deep bass from the Léode. Nice song though there are no real surprises here. (8.875/10)

6. "Film d'aurore" (4:26) another great tension-evoking soundscape--especially due to the bass (Léode) and cymbal play. The Warr "note" in the middle of the third minute is awesome as everybody else continues their symphonic swirl around him--especially the drums and guitar work of Gédéric Byar. Excellent song! (9.25/10)

7. "Ouest terne" (3:32) tuned percussion and acoustic guitars provide a folk minimalist sound via a weave of acoustic instruments over which Dominique provides two vocal lines, one, in the background, of a fairly high register. The overall Americana sound is kind of like Chris Isaak ("Wicked Game"). Nice change of pace. (8.875/10)

8. "L'arbre" (4:18) now into PETER GABRIEL territory with some kind of world music-sounding instrument sound palette. (That Warr guitar brings so much to the table! And the two percussionists, too.) Great solo from the Warr in third and fourth minutes over the Birdy/BIG COUNTRY-like music. (9/10)

9. "Cassiopée" (6:36) great atmospheric PINK FLOYD-like music for Dominique to sing over/within. Amazing instrumental palette. (9.5/10)

Total Time 41:35

The strong presence of the Warr guitar and tuned percussion in this album really make it stick out for me--and, I think, make lead singer Dominique Leonetti's performances really rise to the occasion. The other instrumentalists are all at the top of their game for this one, and the song/sound variety is so amazing--which is why En avant doute? remains my favorite Lazuli album.

A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece of diverse and unique progressive rock music--one that should not be missed by any self-professed prog lover! Quite possibly the album of the year for 2007!