Holland is a country rich in progressive artists whether in rock or metal and ‘Lesoir’ is now one of those known groups with already 4 albums since 2011 and 2020 sees the release of their 5th studio recording ‘Mosaic’. In a progressive rock mixing different influences, this album is a continuation of the previous ones with compositions offering beautiful melodic lines in fairly quiet rhythms which can remind in some places of formations like 'Mostly Autumn', 'Loonypark' or 'Fleesh' to name only formations with female singers because this formation offers remarkable vocal performances with 'Maartje Meessen' and 'Eleen Bartholomeus'.
The album begins with 'Mosaic' which is fairly representative of the style of this formation, a peaceful mid-tempo which intensifies on the final with a remarkable guitar solo and a first luminous vocal performance by Maartje then, 'Is This It' is more complex with changes in tempos and intensity which make it a title that you have to listen to several times to get all the instrumental and vocal richness. With 'Somebody Like You', the rhythm is more linear but we keep a certain dissonance at the vocal level which is a bit the trademark of 'Lesoir', then, 'The Geese' continues in this direction with a nice alternation between tension and relaxation, and 'Measure of Things' begins with an oriental song which slides gently towards a beautiful ballad which, little by little, gains momentum for a remarkable final much more intense with a magnificent guitar solo while remaining fairly simple. The suite scrolls the instrumental 'Dystopia' which mixes different styles with beautiful atmospheric 'Floydian' sections, the complex 'It's Never Quiet' consisting of several drawers with a majestic final crescendo, the short instrumental 'Mxi' not necessarily essential and finally, the remarkable 'Two Faces' which is almost 8 minutes and which is a good summary of the very personal style of 'Lesoir' with beautiful melodic lines which one quickly appropriates, admirable alternations between powerful part and others much quieter and a last remarkable vocal performance of 'Maartje Meessen'.
In summary, the Dutch of 'Lesoir' continue to enchant us in their very personal progressive universe and 'Mosaic' is an album filled with beautiful compositions which must be appropriated little by little and which should please a fairly large audience loving creative and refined progressive rock... | |
