PAR LES FILS DE MANDRIN

By the time of their 5th album, Ange's playing, enthusiasm and originality had been replaced by a more professional but rather routine approach. Apart from some adequate songs, there's nothing on offer here that we hadn't heard on any of the previous albums.

The opener isn't bad but still not as captivating as you might hope. Just like the preceding album, this is the singer's brainchild, resulting in a strong focus on the vocals (which are luckily excellent again) but with little room for the musicians. Even the 10 minute long Hymn A La Vie is at heart just a long chanson.

Next to these two, also Au Café du Colibri and Autour du Feu are acceptable, but generally, there is little 'feu' at all on this album. The fire from the early Ange albums is pretty much extinguished. Luckily they would restore themselves with a good live album and one more excellent studio album Guet-Apens.