ESPACE FINI

Nice surprise. Tiemko's debut album is an interesting piece full of mixtures and syncopated rhythms based on a great work on keyboards and sober guitar solos. Its not a memorable album, but it has some good moments.

Requiem is an interesting piece that works as an almost epical introduction with some dark chorus. Chant Transylvain... it's just a little "intermezzo" before the powerful start of Elephant de Siberie, maybe the best song of the album. From an exquisite work that reminds me some 80's Ponty songs, suddenly this "elephant" turns into a dark bolero with an amazing rhythmical piano and powerful drums. T87 and Bulgarian Dance are two regular songs or maybe they sound to me so much "classic-fusion"... But Contrastes ans Espace Fini are two wonderful instrumental pieces, with awsome arrangements and very-very dark (It reminds me some Halloween (FR) albums and even Mona Lisa).

The album ends with Post Scriptum a song who started on the same rhythmical and instrumental base of Requiem but transforms into a nice jam.

Anyway, the album is good, you can listen it very relaxed three or four times but then it turns a little bored... 3* for me...

Although it is their debut album, Espace fini matches what the band has recorded later in terms of musical maturity, in spite of the comparatively limited variety of instruments and tones employed, ...and also the studio provided only 16 tracks for the whole band !

This first album has exclusively electronic drums and conveys the kind of unorganic techno-industrial feel that was quite fashionable in the 80's. Applied to this very music, it makes it feel as triumphingly uncompromising, somehow like the Merrie Melodies opening theme for Bugs Bunny and co. An exquisite sense of freedom as regards the very rich input of ideas, some very bold like the weird chords that start Contrastes, an impressive rigor in terms of having it all played right and in place, yet they dare introduce it all with a jolly song "Chant Transylvain Du Sud-Ouest Tyrolien".

Their way of getting a band into playing and cutting records is of highest value at my place, and it's amazing that they've managed to keep creating such demanding pieces for so long without massive ad investment and control by the music industry.

Viva la France!

Tiemko is a French trio consisting of keyboards, drums and - not like the most of prog-trios - electric guitar. Don't let the lack of bass player fool you - Tiemko shows that the band can go without one and still make amazing music. The adventurous trio went in searching for their own musical identity, ranging from neo-prog, jazz-fusion, electronic and symphonic music to avant-garde sounds. The result is known today as "Espace Fini".

"Requiem" is a symphonic, yet very tame composition which reminds me of a Japaniese ensamble Zypressen. A lots of sublime keyboards, fake-trumpets (which usually sound terrible, but not in this case). With an addition of choir and xylophone it all makes a delicious piece to start an album with. "Chant transylvain du sud-ouest tyrolien" is just a grotesque intermission (Miriodor and Zamla Mammaz Manna come to mind), which leds us right into "Elephant de Siberie". Now that's a serious buisness! The powerful bass synthesizer, intense drumming and beautiful guitar solos make this one my personal favourite here. "T.87" from the other hand is a little goofy and weird sounding track, with a lot of 80's feeling in it. Quite complex, with a good guitar jamming and some sinister turns. "Contrastes" is a little bit too majestic pattern, with a disturbing, yet relaxing in some way jazzy vibes in the middle. "Bulgarian dance" is an uptempo, quirky tune, showing Tiemko's love for the avant-garde movement, which ends up sounding a little bit like the Belgian band Present. The same goes with "Attentat", but along with avant-garde comes neo-progressive feeling. "Espace fini" is my least favourite track in here, as it seems to be rather a sloppy tune. The piano does its work though, making the music much more claustrophobic. At the end we get "Post-scriptum", which is basically the jazzy version of "Requiem" - and it sounds good.

The one problem with this album is that there's not so many essential and attention catching moments, which might be causing it to sound a little bit immature. But the wonderful atmosphere, musicianship and courage (+ the great cover!) make this album an easy 4 stars for me. Not their greatest effort, but still a bloody good record, worth your time and being an excellent addition to your prog rock music collection.