COSMIC VARIATIONS

VERY DISCO?. oops sorry, DISCO VERY! Been reading text right to left lately, I guess. Yes, what a discovery this French multi-instrumentalist one-man show, owner of a whopping 18 album solo discography since 2002. Pretty impressive to say the least. Obviously, Xavier is talented but also prolific and very focused, with no "writer's block" of any kind. While the quantity is there, the quality seems to be constant as well, even though there are stylistic variations along the road. A big thank you to Anne Claire of Bad Dog Promotions in getting his latest opus into my hands, a request that I rarely deny (unless the artist is not my cup of tea, as I hate doing negative reviews, being more a fan and supporter of our prog genre and not a dismissive critic).

'Cosmic Variations' is the title and its an instrumental tour de force that defines modern prog music in 2022. As mentioned previously, Xavier plays all the instruments himself, being an excellent guitarist, a deft bass player, adding keyboards where necessary and manning a drum kit with effective thuds. As a rule, I always search out and follow the bass guitar within any new artist or album, for my ears to hop on the musical box and get a feel for the overall material. The set list is interesting in that long pieces (3-to 7 minute), all being basic variations of a same style, that alternate with gentler, at times ambient (1-2 minute) intermezzi, all variants of 'Echo', giving it an aural equivalent texture like a mille feuilles in pastry. Layers upon layers of crunch and cream, mes amis.

The blustery "Sea Serpent" is an exciting opener where all his musical ingredients coalesce into one, elegant fretless bass swells pushing the cresting riffs around, percussive whitecaps to add some nautical drama and some searing guitar lines that underline the melody. Epic, bombastic, and stormy contrasts abound, very much like a soundtrack for an uncertain oceanic journey, an escapade for the mind. Convincing beginning. After the brief serenity of "Echo1", the naval adventure persists with the "Compass on Argonauts Ship" , another fluid romp at breakneck velocity with all the required contrasts, showing off some tremendous soloing, propulsive bass in the undertow, as well as roaringly heavy drum patterns. Xavier can certainly play intense. Ouf! This pattern is now set for the rest of the album quite clearly as the obsessive "Reticulum" hints at the same dense, heavy and bold arrangements, interspersed with lighter glimmers of sound amid the fury. But when Xavier goes crazy, its crazy! His lead playing is lightning quick, thunderous rhythm riffs, rotund bass, as well as adding the effects board options where needed.

I mean I can go on, but you get the message by now. There are no vocals to appreciate or criticize, no soppy ballads, just a well- thought out structured instrumental album, 49 minutes of muscular and appeasing flips of passionate music that will provide enough background entertainment while going about one's day as well as a companion for the armchair /earphones duet. Definitely with checking out in view of the talent, the style and the material on display here. Give it a try.

4 Interplanetary Alterations

Xavier BOSCHER is a French musician, artist from Nice, who has played everything since 1995; he appeared on MISANTHROPE, a great reference, then formed the more intimate NEBELUYES before releasing his 18th solo album this year, you read that right, in a 6-string instrumental prog metal rock vein. A nervous and intimate album with a new-age coulis through the 'Echo' interludes varied in layers; an astral, cosmic journey. Harmony in redundancy on a theme taking up in different tones the story of a recent disappointed love.

"Sea Serpent" big metronomic riff at the start, air setting the tone between prog metal rigor and the desire to take off further, near the stars? A mixture of rolling fretless, rumbling whitecaps and other methods to bring us to an abyssal terrain of discovery, a title that flows very slowly stopping time with a solemn, lethargic air. "Echo 1" 1st of six interludes for a moment of serenity, cosmic-hovering interlude with incisive stressful notes to keep you alert and bring you to "Compass on Argonauts Ships" on a tune reminding me of KING CRIMSON; it then scrolls suddenly, it unravels on the side of the score for a moving tune, filled with warmth and fluidity; we are in the air, in the submarine behind the porthole, we especially feel the evolutions of Xavier metal proguous before the hour.

Crystalline "Echo 2" where the ethereal fresh interlude in declination. "Reticulum" with an interlude moment and nag title boosted by a suave melody; here it's dark and doom, it's obsessive, heady and interspersed with a soaring SERRA-like bass that blows hot and cold; the soli follow one another closer to a SATRIANI than to a VAI for its colorful dimension; a title that does not run out of steam leading to "Echo 3" declination on a varied tempo depending on its appearance, let yourself be invaded.

"Denebola" on the same obsessive, nervous tune, quickly associated with the vibrant and reverberating notes of this more melancholy, wiser title. An ode to the guitar with a djent bass in the finale, a piece that evolves over time. "Echo 4" with almost 2 minutes, time to imagine a little more and it fades, time to wait "Pleione", short and rhythmic, basic, title for a handbanging from behind the bundles then notes s cascading, a little difference in continuity. "Echo 5" when I finally remember the reference title of my meager musical culture...

'Music For A Nurse' by OCEANSIZE, yes, a reminiscence but it's mine. "Astrophel" on an air worked by the drums, the plaintive guitar notes, the atmospheric breaks bordering on New Age, one does not easily erase one's roots; the solo still seems to flow, oozing from a gradual crack beyond the ether. "Echo 6" and the last ambient intermezzo, a musical layer stacked like a hot dog with several sausages, a millefeuille dripping with cream. "Stellan" for the final, genre radio remix edit.

Xavier BOSCHER therefore releases an instrumental opus showing a beautifully crafted musical skill. Nervous metal riffs, varied solos that set off on different atmospheres and a vibrant bass to amplify the effect. A nervous and harmonic sound, a sound interspersed with 'Echo' to entertain the ear and avoid having an overly repetitive rendering, a sound to help you rest after a grueling day in the background or on headphones and up in the upper atmospheric strata.