quarta-feira, 25 de dezembro de 2013

*. Saqqarah .*

Album: Genese (1996)
Genre: Prog Rock (Symphonic/Neo Prog)  /  France

A fantastic French group from Vannes, set in 1992 by Patrice Mauvieux on guitars, Lou Van Der Cruyssen on vocals, Dominique Renault on drums, Christophe Bastien on keyboards and Herve Juguet on bass.In 1994 Saqqarah recorded the 3-track mini CD ''Peti eref tra su'', but the next year Bastien quit with Mauvieux taking over also the keyboard section.1996 sees the group releasing its first full-length album ''Genese'', recorded at Drop Studio in Rennes and offered as a self-production. Saqqarah propose an exceptional Neo Prog, strongly characterized by its evident PINK FLOYD, MARILLION and COLLAGE influences and very similar to the sound of PHAESIS and DELTA CYPHEI PROJECT.The album is split in 5 tracks entitled ''Phase'' (from a to e), most of them are multi-parted, with fantastic instrumental soundscapes, while Van Der Cruyssen delivers some of the most intricate French vocals you will ever listen to, sensitive, theatrical and expressive all the way.The music is outstanding for most of the time of this almost 70-min. work.Saqqarah blend the tremendous symphonic textures of COLLAGE, the intricate, lyrical approach of MARILLION and the spacey side of PINK FLOYD in a unique amalgam, full of emotions and different colors.The arrangements are long, tight and well-crafted, based on elaborate guitar solos with obvious STEVE ROTHERY and DAVID GILMOUR touches, long and spacey synthesizer runs and a few symphonic section with light organs and more edgy synths.There is not much flexibility to be found, but actually ''Genese'' does not need some.The challenging melodies, the cosmic soundscapes and the top-notch vocal lines come out of a masterful inspiration and Saqqarah offer an impressive and very personal work with zero dead holes. One of the overlooked gems of French Prog of the 90's.Atmospheric, melodic and original spacey Neo Prog with its own character.Definilitely a must have. Review by "psarros" (Prog Archives).

RATING:  8.25 / 10

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