'AmartiA' is a French formation which already has twenty years of existence and which releases its fifth studio recording, 'Daylight Beauty' after three albums in the last four years with 'The Beast Within' in 2017, the acoustic cover of different compositions from their repertoire, 'In a Quiet Place' in 2019 and a live, 'The Beast Alive (Live)' the same year. Tagged in rock and progressive metal, we can now say that their musical direction has completely erased the metal component and, even if the last opus still brought some more muscular passages, the style of 'Daylight Beauty' is intended to be quieter and we embark on a wonderful progressive journey tinged with atmospheric and we could compare this last album to what can be done by groups that I appreciate more particularly like 'Mostly Autumn', 'ILLUMINAE' or the formation of 'Ryszard Kramarski', 'tRKproject' to name only few groups with female singers.
'Lose Control' welcomes us in a cozy atmosphere with the sweet voice of 'Amandine Duwooz' which gradually gains momentum and with a first melody that envelops us gently and on which we surrender completely, then, 'Dancing Light' continues with a more marked rhythm and with a remarkable guitar solo in the central part and a final in decrescendo punctuated by long chords supported by keyboards which come to counterbalance the repetitive tempo. With 'Lily', the sweet mix between Amandine's singing and guitar arpeggios delicately titillate our eardrums in a new endearing melody, the final 'Floydian' saxophone solo being wonderful, then, 'Child's Eye' sets the emotional cursor even higher with acoustic instruments which add an extra delicacy whether with piano or acoustic guitar and which has a melody that reminds me of those of 'Ian Jones' in the period 'Karnataka'. Equally addictive compositions follow that we continue to enjoy with happiness such as 'The Journey' which bears its name well and takes us on a delicious journey or the instrumental' In Waves' with its beautiful alternations of intensity or ' Old Man And The Sea 'which unrolls a new melody with a chorus that never leaves you or even the quiet' Melancholy 'whose title alone sums up the atmosphere released throughout the opus. And to finish in style, 'Please Tell Me' offers us a new soft and calm melodic jewel and 'Cloud 9' ends on a more energetic note while keeping this admirable alchemy between the aerial and subtle song of Amandine and the electric instruments which intervene more strongly between the sung sections.
In summary, the French of 'AmartiA' release an album in all respects remarkable which shows a resolutely softer face compared to their last studio recording and which is interpreted admirably by talented musicians and by a singer who transports us throughout the album, which destines 'Daylight Beauty' to an audience loving a delicate and sought-after progressive with catchy melodies from the first listen... | |
