AMPHIBIA

Patrick RONDAT is Jean Michel JARRE's guitarist. This album though doesn't contain music influenced by Jean Michel JARRE. The music is complex instrumental progressive rock/metal with very nice melodies and influences from classical music. There are a lot of good harmonies and tempo changes. Patrick is a true guitar maestro. Would you expect something else from a musician that's working with JARRE? Jean Michel JARRE also produces the album.

Behind the drums are the well-known drummer Tommy Aldridge (ex-Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Gary Moore and others). As always his drumming is very heavy and energetic.

The highlights on this album: ¯ The title track "Amphibia" that is split up into six sections, all with different moods.

¯ Antonio Vivaldi's composition "Vivaldi Tribute" from the concerto in G minor. "L'été" (Summer). Symphony in 3 movements "Presto". This track contains astounding guitar playing. Patrick used to play this piece as practise, and this is truly an intricate piece of work. The album's best track.

¯ Not very surprisingly there's a cover of Jean Michel JARRE's famous "Equinoxe IV". Here Patrick interprets it in another way. I love it!

¯ The neo-classic track "Burn Out" that is a live version of a track that was on Patrick's second album "Rape of the Earth". It's so skilfully played that it's hard to believe it's a live recording.

The CD comes with a cover booklet containing comments from Patrick about each track, and a great artwork showing a frog on the front cover. This is a masterpiece that's highly recommended!