AMNÉSIE

At about two years ago a friend told me that he had discovered an amazing new French band that sounded very original, it was Lazuli and he borrowed me a live DVD (I will ask him to borrow it again to me for a review). This turned out to be a perfect introduction to the wonderful and very varied sound of Lazuli, if there has ever been a band that deserved to be put into the category Eclectic Prog on Prog Archives, it's Lazuli!

Their sound reminds me of Peter Gabriel during the captvating era of his fourth album, due to the blend of modern sounding samples and the ethnic instruments like the Indian 'bansuri' (a bamboo flute), the Armenian 'doudouk' (a flute that sounds like a clarinet), the Arabian 'oud' (a kind of lute) and percussion like the marimba, vibraphone, mealophone, djembe and tabla. I also enjoyed the work on acoustic guitars or suddenly fiery electric guitar runs, very original! Some tracks contain a very compelling sound that is loaded with a lush strings-sound, to me this evokes the exciting composition Kashimir by Led Zeppelin (a great blend of rock and ethnic).

I am delighted about Lazuli and I consider it too as a perfect example of good collaboration between the original citizens (the French) and the immigrants (from Nothern Africa), this is the way it should be, music unites! Recommended to especially the fans of world music Peter Gabriel and fans of progressive folk.