genre: prog
country: france
quality : mp3 (320k, cover)
time: 51'28" size: 124 mb
Gepr :
Magnésis has been around since the late '80's, and making albums since the early '90's. I can't believe I've never heard of them until their 2006 release L'Immortel Opéra (recorded and copyrighted 2005, but not released until early 2006). Magnésis is compared to Ange, Genesis and Marillion in every review I can find of them on the web ... and that's not many, in English at least. While it's true that there are many Genesis-like musical clichés in L'Immortel Opéra, and the extensive use of spoken French "poetry" as opposed to singing reminds of Ange, it seems pretty unfair to this band to dismiss them with only these narrow comparisons. L'Immortel Opéra, in spite of some less than "pro-studio" recording quality (particularly noticable in the dull drum sound), is a simply excellent album that makes me want to investigate their previous releases.
L'Immortel Opéra is at least a concept album if not a rock opera (it's hard for me to tell since the lyrics are all in French, and all the CD liner notes are as well), somehow involving Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Magnésis' music is usually described as "Neo-Prog", but L'Immortel Opéra sounds to me like '70's prog, in spite of the use of some digital keyboards and "string machines" or string patches substituting for Mellotron. It still sounds very deep and important in that '70's way. Perhaps the less-than-perfect studio technique helps. The vocals are spoken as much as sung, and not because Eric Tillerot has a bad voice. When he does sing, he has great control of pitch and vibrato, and a very emotional delivery. The band has a very dense, orchestral sound, probably in part due to the fact that they have two keyboard players. And though I can usually go through an entire CD of prog music without even noticing the bassist, I can't ignore Fabien Lo Cicero's excellent bass parts, featuring both slinky fretless lines and percussive slap bass. Add to this some nice melodies, good guitar work and an overall epic feel, and Magnésis has released a truly exceptional prog album in L'Immortel Opéra. I'll be looking for earlier releases as soon as possible, and if/when I hear them, I'll let you know. In the meantime, I highly recommend L'Immortel Opéra to all symphonic prog fans. -- Fred Trafton
1. Ouverture 15:40
2. Le Pacte 9:37
3. Le Voyage de la Diva 11:31
4. Le Fils de Mozart 9:02
5. Final 5:37
Jean-Pierre Matelot - piano, synthesizers; ac. guitar
Oliver Gauclin-Tetu - electric guitar
Alexandre Moreau - synthesizers
Eric Tillerot - vocals
Denis Godfert - drums
Fabien Lo-Cicero - bass
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