I introduced you to 'The Dame' with their first album 'Losing Sight of What You Want' in 2018 and 2024 sees the release of their second studio recording, simply named 'II'. We find the singer 'Marian van Charante' but, from now on, she is no longer part of the group and has been replaced by 'Elianne Ernst' in 2022, the group preparing a third album with the latter. The line up has also changed slightly since, on drums, 'Remco Engels' replaces 'Ruben Meibergen'. On the menu of this album, we are taken into sensual and theatrical progressive rock that I highlighted in the first album and this in six compositions including three long developments.
The 12 minutes of 'Into the Wastelands' welcome us by offering us a magnificent progressive saga with a beautiful alternation between sung parts, 'Marian van Charante' always having this delicate and expressive singing, and provided instrumental sections which mix different atmospheres and which highlight very beautiful keyboard accompaniments from 'Thijs De Ruijter' and remarkable guitar solos from his father 'Stephen De Ruijter'. Follows 'All in Good Reason' which is slightly less progressive and which is a beautiful ballad with a catchy chorus that we want to repeat with 'Marian van Charante' which shows this very pleasant sensual side and filled with beautiful emotion, then, 'Momentary Inn' continues in this quiet style conducive to escape which is a sort of delicious mix between 'Floydian' progressive rock and hushed jazz club music, the piano accompaniment adding to this feeling of delicacy and lightness. More energetic, 'All in Good Reason' is a catchy composition which brings a beautiful diversity to the whole with always unifying melodic lines which are immediately grafted into the head, then, another change of scenery with 'Overwhelming Silence' which is a magnificent piano/voice ballad with palpable emotion, the kind of song that we listen to religiously in a quiet place, with headphones on. The 9 minutes of 'Disentangling' crown this very beautiful album with a long progressive development which is a sort of summary of all the atmospheres previously deployed with multiple changes of atmosphere, rhythm and intensity allowing 'Marian van Charante ' to show us again all his vocal talent by adapting his singing in a beautiful way, sometimes sensual, sometimes more energetic, the finale being absolutely beautiful with a last marvelous guitar solo from 'Stephen De Ruijter'.
In summary, this second album 'The Dame' confirms all the talent of this Dutch group who offer us progressive music bathed in atmospheres filled with delicacy and sensuality, thanks in particular to a talented singer who adapts her singing perfectly with the musical atmospheres displayed... | |
