The French of 'Grandval' led by 'Henri Vaugrand' had released the second part 'Descendu sur Terre' of their trilogy on the elements in the midst of a pandemic which did not allow them to defend it on stage and, therefore, they took the opportunity to complete the loop with this new album 'eau | feu', I quote them, "consecrated to nature and animals, to the place of the human race and its follies". For this album, 'Henri Vaugrand' has found a fellow traveler with 'Olivier Bonneau' who signs two titles and we find this French progressive rock inherited from the 70s with in particular texts which highlight the French language and who can recall artists like 'Ange'.
Musically, this opus alternates long developments which embark us in progressive sagas with long instrumental parts and other titles, more direct, leaving a good place to the vocals. The short 'Ferimur' welcomes us with sound effects accompanied by a whispered text which continues with a first memorable melody, then, 'Les jours innocents', this time recounting the carefree period of youth (which we have evil in these troubled times), envelops us in a repetitive theme magnified by an original rhythm section accentuating this endless side and alternating different intensities. With 'Il neige encore' (see the video above), we are taken to the solitude of old age and, to the rhythm of a beautiful melody ending with a magnificent guitar solo, this composition shows a very moving face with words so evocative for all those who have elderly parents, then, the longest development, 'Heinrich (un monde bien étrange)', takes us on an admirable progressive journey close to 'Ange' with texts drawn with the chalk line speaking to us of the disastrous fate of climatic exiles and which deploys original instrumental sections bringing us back to the best progressive bands of the 70s, including this central part which reminds me of 'Genesis' and which continues in a magnificent and refined acoustic guitar/voice atmosphere before to return to a more energetic finale. Then follows 'Erables et chênes', slightly shorter than its predecessor but which continues in this original progressive and, this time, in the sung part, it is the French from 'Lazuli' that come to my mind and the set features a rhythm section catchy and inventive which presents beautiful variations in the instrumental central part with jazz/rock influences. As for 'Aqua et igni' (literally, forbid someone water and fire and used to describe exiles), the French tackle the painful theme of migrants which makes this title particularly moving and, musically, they offer us a catchy melody in a dark atmosphere brought by disturbing sounds of keyboards and, after a short crescendo, the finale falls into a more refined section, magnificent to end on a kind of instrumental cry. And to conclude this very beautiful album, 'Fin de partie' takes us on a last composition which alternates verses in a slow tempo and a chorus filled with energy in an atmosphere of urgency and which has an instrumental part at the end of the title. reminding me of the few haunting bars of an Ange's 'Cimetière des Arlequins' but much more measured.
In summary, the French of 'Grandval' closes their trilogy with an excellent 'water | feu' which shows all the talent of this formation which continues to offer us sought-after and imaginative atmospheres which improve over time, and which are inherited from several decades of progressive French music... | |
