Progressive artists can be divided into 2 categories: those who are influenced by the main mainstreams of the last 50 years without bringing real novelty and those who, in addition to having influences drew here and there, mix them to get something personal and necessarily innovative : for me, the French of ‘Orion Dust' are to rank in this 2nd category because their second album 'Legacy' is a treat for the progressive fan who is looking for something original in music (see on their site the concept and lyrics in French here). To be honest, I had discovered quite late their first album 'Duality' released in 2016 and I had spent some time to enter their universe but I must say that 'Legacy' gave me more pleasure because it appears to me even more rich and innovative. It is certain, it is not the kind of album which is offered immediately but requires a few listenings to tame it. From the first 2 titles that are only one, we cross with "Norroway Song" several musical landscapes starting with an introduction that mixes bass vocals and some acoustic guitar chords that takes us to distant lands in a total change of scenery, then, an organic rhythmic on which the guitar and the sing of 'Cécile Kaszowski' accompanied by choruses in a sort of incantation accompanies us in the continuation of the journey; 'The Stream' takes over in a much more classical style and can recall bands like 'Mostly Autumn' (see their latest album here), Cecile having a tessitura close to ‘Olivia Sparnenn'. The journey continues with 'The Unrising Sun' in a mysterious atmosphere with an addictive rhythm section and beautiful tensions and relaxation between rock and metal that ends with a soaring of guitar riffs worthy of the greatest 'Porcupine Tree' then, 'Mirèio 'takes us into magnificent breaks in rhythms between urgency and appeasement feelings. Total break with 'The Awekening' which begins with a monastic song and continues on a section very 'Gilmouriene' to explode in a second part with a beautiful intervention sung (see shouted) Cécile to finish in some acoustic guitar chord. The text 'Prelude' (rather perched by the way, but in the style of the album) serves as an introduction to the instrumental 'CXXVI' which is for me the must of the album with a masterful crescendo where intervene a mixture of female choruses and male voices which are a kind of mix between the 'Floyds' of the 'Ummagumma' period and the much less well-known French band 'Art Zoyd' that you can listen to here (by the way, is it a coincidence between the cover of 'Duality' and that of 'Berlin' of ‘Art Zoyd' ?), the title ending in apotheosis on a masterful guitar solo accompanied by choruses: grandiose !! And after that, the sweetness of 'Snegourochka' is not too much to recover from our emotions. In summary, as you will understand, 'Legacy' is for me one of the essential albums of the year 2018 and show that the French of ‘Orion Dust' have reached a maturity that allows them to tackle any style and to compete with renowned artists who brought novelty into the music such as 'Steven Wilson' with his multiple projects... | |
