SALAMMBÔ

Taken after Gustave Flaubert's book, this is the group's third album and as you might have guessed a conceptual one. Two tracks only each filling up a side of vinyl, both of them highly theatrical musically speaking, and no bass and drums, this is a rather puzzling but very charming, oscillating between classical music and rockier moments (the synthesisers moments). If the words descriptive music can ring you something, this might just a fitting definition of it.

Enhanced by another Gustave's artworks (Doré on this one) as a sleeve, this trio (violin, (sometimes) fuzzy guitars, KBs ranging from piano, organs and synths) augmented by Mrs Fizelson's vocals here and there, is achieving quite an impressive show of mastery of their musical propos. The music peaks between the 11 th and 13 th minutes of the second track, sometimes reminding you of a much-happier Univers Zero.

If you love grandiose ambiances, with aerial atmospheres, this little gem can be right up your alley, digging up a highway to your musical orgasmic fields. Do I make sense? No? Blame on this album ;-)

If my memory is correct, at the time French progressive rock was very popular, Wapassou has ridden the prog waves with Ange, Atoll, Tai Phone, etc. etc. But their style is much different from other bands. I suppose they thought it was the most important that the floating and streaming tune and sound, without any percussive sections, should scatter over their play and works. So, as you can listen, this album has exactly fuzzy atmosphere and beat(?). If I listen to this work, I always feel seasick, or drunk on Japanese sake...I guess most of avant-freaks love the album, but I have to say sorry.

I'll give this album 2 stars, with a thought by avant-freaks.