NARCISSUS GOES TO THE MOON

This is VISIBLE WIND's fourth album and the first where they started to sound like...well VISIBLE WIND. This is where they got off of that MARILLION-like Neo-Prog train they had been on.This is inventive and quite heavy at times. I do think the follow-up "Barb-A-Baal-A-Loo" is their best but this is in the same style.There's a fair amount of mellotron, Fender Rhodes, harmonium and flute besides the usual instruments. It's kind of cool that Jean- Philippe Goulet from INDISCIPLINE adds some violin here. I love that INDISCIPLINE album called "Non-Obvious Ride".The lyrics here are in both English and French like the follow-up. A lot of these tracks blend into each other.

"A Succulent Anachronic Pastiche" opens with percussion and organ as the guitar and bass join in. Great sound ! It does settles some with synths and blends into "Fuzzy Concept" where it settles more and vocals join in. Nice guitar solo after 4 minutes followed by spoken word samples then flute. It starts to build then the vocals return. "By The River" opens with the birds singing in a tranquil setting.They stop as it continues to be pastoral. "Xenophobia" is one of my favourites. Sparse sounds as reserved vocals join in. It kicks in before 2 minutes then it settles back with flute as contrasts continue. I like the heavier sections on this one a lot. Mellotron ends it. "Introvenus" is a short spacey piece. "Intravenus" is also a top three. Acoustic guitar as French vocals come in. Flute before 1 1/2 minutes. A full sound follows as synths, mellotron, guitar, chunky bass then drums come in. I like the fat bass lines with organ and drums 5 1/2 minutes in.The guitar joins in too.Vocals are back 8 1/2 minutes in but only briefly as the guitar starts to rip it up. Organ and mellotron follow.

"Lunar Doubts" has some relaxed guitar and spacey synths early. It kicks in at 2 minutes with some excellent guitar. It settles with reserved vocals as contrasts continue. "Join My Soul" builds with mellotron, bass, drums and vocals. Some female vocals on this one as well. "Race On A Pseudo Flying Carpet" rocks out pretty good with vocals. "Nothing Left To Hide" has some powerful organ late. "Ambulance" is all about the guitar coming in and kicking ass. "The Awakening" is the 21 minute closer. I can't get over the way this song changes moods, it really is a ride. A top three for sure. My copy has a bonus track "Strange Days" that is a DOORS cover and it's fantastic !

A release that is both entertaining and interesting. Like tszirmay says "4 lunes de miel".