Although it is a different artist for their third album, there is certainly a feeling that this going to carry on where the last one left off, and in a way it does. Of course Philippe Marie-Arnauld des Lions is back, but only co-singer Mireille Vicogne and guitarist Fritzh Hoffmeister return from the previous work. There aren’t any guests this time either, and consequently there is a quite different sound as the multiple strings made quite an impact previously. The next thing I noticed is that this album is actually a great deal shorter than ‘Bartok’s Crisis’ at just over 51 minutes in length, quite different to the 82 minutes last time around. The last album really worked due to its’ sheer diversity and the listener never really knowing what was coming around the corner next whereas this one works as it is so direct and focused.
In many ways this is a much heavier album, but Horslips and Red Jasper are still influences, although possibly different eras of both. There is plenty of guitar, and still a lot to take in lyrically with songs in multiple languages, and sometimes multiple languages within the same song! No songs more than ten minutes long this time, and the complexity has been somewhat simplified, but this has been replaced with a stronger pop sensibility and there are plenty of hooks to be interested in. This is definitely the more immediate of the two albums and one that can be more easily enjoyed on the first play, but I have to confess to missing the sheer wildness and strangeness of the last one. But, this is still a damn fine album and anything short of 4 *’s would be just wrong. Another album well worth investigating.
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