GUÉRISON

Second and much awaited album after their tremendous debut album called Cycle 1, although it was a slower process than originally announced. Although not named as such, Gu'rison delivers what was promised as most of the album is related since the opening 3- movement suite is named Cycle II. The group is now only a quintet (KB-man Goulay is listed as a guest), but numerous guests are contributing, the better-known being Benoit Widemann on the minimoog. This is not the only surprise as this album contains vocals (not just chants), but not the sublime Natacha voice present on the debut, replaced by Yannick Duschene, who also takes part in the mixing and mastering (along with the ever- excellent Udi Koomran). As for the artwork, it looks like some tantric 'sand painting' and the back cover feature a wink to the five musicians in stylised silhouettes.

Opening on the 10-mins Cycle II, the album takes off where its predecessor had left things at, with a delightful and serene Zeuhl music (we're nowhere close to Magma's oppressive climates). The following three-part 8-movement Triptyque, of which the first part is surprisingly dedicated to Supertramp's Roger Hodgson, but fear not, it's only in the spiritual mode, not in the musical realm. Nevertheless, the lengthy 26-mins suite plunges deep in the inner throes, while remaining fairly lightweight, the JR/F moods being never far away.

The closing 15-mins Gu'rison (Healing) suite presents slightly different soundscapes, sometimes passing through the Canterbury-ian counties, with some delightful Kentian meanders and detours - most notably the fuzzed organ is track 14. The two bonus tracks are a bit awkward, the Parasite bit being mainly a drum solo (from the Gu'rison suite), while Hymne Au Soleil (from the first Triptyque piece) is mainly a Rhodes and vocals thing. While both bonus tracks don't clash with the album proper, they do sound and feel a bit less thought-out as the three main suites.

The logical continuity of their first album, Gu'rison just doesn't repeat the formula, but expands on the universe developed before. Easily as good as their first effort, hopefully, they'll concentrate on the main Setna project, instead of spreading themselves a bit thin on side-projects like Xing Sa.