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XII Alfonso - Claude Monet - Volume 1, 1883-1889 CD (album) cover

CLAUDE MONET - VOLUME 1, 1883-1889

XII Alfonso

 

Symphonic Prog

2.82 | 32 ratings

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ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer
2 stars So far, this French band was unable to catch my attention with their first two albums. Let's see if this "Claude Monnet Volume I" is going to be different.

In a way, it is. Different I mean. The music is intimate, peaceful and almost all instrumental (even if there are attempts to vocals, or better to spoken words). Some Hackett, as usual, ("L'oeil Cannibale") or even Oldfield feeling can be distinguished ("Giverny").

At (many) times some accordion is featured, and I can't say that I am overwhelmed by the sound of this instrument. It conveys an old fashioned sound that is not my cup of tea ("Un Jardin Qui Nous Ressemble ", "L'Échappée Belle" and a couple more). The use of this instrument is probably meant to project us in the period of Monet (the French painter who is the artist that has inspired this work).

The track "Conflits" is dark and hesitates between classical and eclectic music. It is quite special indeed. The "chanson française style" combined with classical piano of "Les Beaux Jours De Giverny" also offers little prog feel. The pastoral and moving "La Fantôme De L'île Aux Orties" is breaking the overall mood nicely. It is my favourite track on this album. The last couple of songs are truly in the symphonic jazz vein.

If you like the combination of folk ("Les Cathédrales Immergées"), classical and eclectic music, with a jazzy touch this album might deserve your listening. But my rating is two stars for this work. I am not convinced with their musical style which is hard to categorize.

ZowieZiggy | 2/5 |

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