LA TRANSFORMATION

3.5 stars really!!!

OG is a one-man project where he writes and produces, but plays guitars, bass and plays the organ. He's assisted by drummer/pianist Nicolas Léonard and a bunch of other musos, including a string section and a horn section - I'm using the "section" word liberally here, because these "sections" are not always used in a "section" way, if you get my drift. Og is from Eastern Belgium and obviously knows other artistes, since the superb artwork was drawn by the famous sci-fi comics drawer Philippe Druillet

Musically the album has a gentle mostly-instrumental rock-jazz feel with some prog overtones, but it's clear that those searching for complicated music will likely be bored out of their skull. Besides the naïve music (especially the first five tracks), the drums are the weak point of the album. It's all too square, never a roll, never a break, just the basic union- minimum (minimum syndical). BTW, whatever few vocals there are, are generally choirs (non-Kobaian) and a spoken few grunts around the end of the album.

Actually you can feel Og is primarily a guitarist, not only in his songwriting, but because it is when the guitars get louder that the music becomes more lively and credible. The bass playing doesn't have the same problem, it actually is mixed loud enough (I hate having to really push my head into the speaker to listen to the bassist), and here it is near-perfect. Sooooo, for me, the album really starts with Le Combat, where the bass & guitars take control and grab your attention and a bit of adrenaline is flowing through our veins, but unfortunately, it ends all too soon. What a contrast with the following L'Ennui, where the piano bores you back, except when the guitar wakes up for a short while. Le Halo is another excellent moment as are a few more further down the album, especially with an enthralling organ (not a Hammond, I think) Matin Triomphant has a good violin intervention, while L'Envol has a good flute and guitar interplay, underlined by AHM-like Floydian choirs. The latter piece is book-ended by short electronic intro and outro. The climax of the album is clearly the early Floyd-ian trilogy Epreuve/Metamorphose/Accomplissement

Overall, an enthusiastic first oeuvre with all the naïve errors of a one-man show (the basic drumming for ex), but a very promising one at that, thus allowing us bright hopes for the future.

Nice ... you have to be in a smooth temper, then just relax and drift away into OG MUSIQUE's special realm. 'La Transformation' is the second album meanwhile, a rather entertaining instrumental excursion with candied melodies - a cool album full of relatively short songs which sometimes seem to be excerpts from longer extended recordings. Here we have a cornucopia of styles included which comprises psych, folk, pop, jazz, rock and classical elements. OG MUSIQUE is the moniker for Belgian musician oG who's the mastermind behind this project and handles guitar, bass and organ, supported by Nicolas Léonard on drums/piano plus some additional string and brass collaborators.

Acoustic guitars and flute serve a strong folk feeling from the beginning - the organ style though reminds me of Bo Hansson on Les Berges Du Ciel, also provided with some trumpet impressions an outstanding composition. Le Combat and the two following songs are much more psych coloured due to oG's electric guitar and spacey organ. L'envol - La Reine Bleue on the other hand appears more jazzy funky in the whole. And finally I would like to point out L'épreuve - La Métamorphose - L'accomplissement - the longest song concerning title and playtime, decorated with excellent multiple guitar appearance - a combination of indo/raga, acoustic and gilmouresque Pink Floyd reminiscence - even experimental in some way because of a weird organ finale.

'La Transformation' showcases noteworthy songwriting and musicianship in general, except the simplistic drum playing somehow - not really disturbing, but a bit left out in the cold as for my impression. All in all you'll listen to relaxed songs which show a 70s retro reference, sometimes provided with a popular sentiment, but this surely is far away from common mainstream productions on the other hand. Obviously nothing for headbangers - so much the more dedicated to lovers of charming music.