NOUVEAUX MONDES

CAFEINE is a relatively new 4-piece band, and their second album "Nouveaux Mondes" was recently released on the Musea label. This band plays what I would call "modern symphonic prog". The style of music here has similarities to bands like CAST, DISCIPLINE, and FINISTERRE. In the case of CAFEINE, they also bring in fusion influences, as well as influences from the 70s French prog scene (ANGE, MONA LISA, ATOLL, etc). "Nouveaux Mondes" is quite a diverse album, and each track tends to explore new ground and atmospheres. Some examples include the first track "Hubble", which is an excellent sympho-jazz-fusion instrumental. A couple of the following tracks remind me a bit of SPOCK'S BEARD. The music, at times, tends to flirt with traditional verse/chorus/verse/chorus song structures. But the instrumental sections, and musical surprises along the way, tend to spice things up. The last few tracks, which sound more like a long epic, recall the classic days of ANGE, MONA LISA, and ATOLL. I have to mention that although digital equipment is used throughout the CD, it is tastefully done. Those last few tracks really bring back those ANGE, MONA LISA, and ATOLL atmospheres to mind. I almost forgot to mention that each vocal track (99.5% of the album is in French) on the CD features different guests from the French prog scene. Those guests include Christian Decamps (ANGE), Sonia Nedelec & Jean Baptiste Ferraci (MINIMUM VITAL), Cyril Grimaud (HAUTEVILLE), Pierre Yves Theurillat (GALAAD), & Julie Vander. Overall, "Nouveaux Mondes" will impress not only fans of modern prog bands like CAST, FINISTERRE, and SPOCK'S BEARD. But fans of the classic French prog era will find plenty to enjoy.