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Caféïne - La Citadelle CD (album) cover

LA CITADELLE

Caféïne

Symphonic Prog


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Greger
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars "La Citadelle" is CAFEINE's debut CD released in 1994. CAFEINE's music is a mix between jazz-rock, 70's progressive rock and 80's neo-progressive rock. Much of the music is very intriguing with reminiscences to BRAND X, KING CRIMSON, MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA, MAGMA and FRANK ZAPPA, but there's also lots of quieter moments with good melodies in-between the complex instrumental passages. These quieter moments reminds of ANGE and MARILLION. This is a very strong debut CD and it's almost as good as their follow-up "Nouveaux Mondes" (2000). Recommended!
Report this review (#11915)
Posted Friday, February 20, 2004 | Review Permalink
ZowieZiggy
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars Music displayed by this French band on their first album is complex, intricate. Not too much symphonic unfortunately.

The opener "La Cour Des Miracles" (which was a quarter of Paris where thieves, murderers, beggars etc. were living in the middle ages) is the best song from this work. It holds many theme changes (too many?), starting on a medieval mood (fully in-line with its title of course), then a Genesis style musical part (keys) featuring lyrics which refer to the dangers of this place for a casual visitor. An excellent guitar work during the second half of this excellent song punctuates it brilliantly.

The band sounds better while playing instrumental sections. Fortunately "Insomnies" doesn't feature too many lyrics. Their lead voca list sounds at times as Daniel Balavoine (a French pop singer) and doesn't always fit in the style of music "Caféine" is playing.

The instrumental "Delenda Est" is a bit chaotic to my ears. Very much Crimsonesque. Highly technical, for sure, but not my cup of tea.

The band is often switching mood. When you listen to the soft "April Theme", the band almost plays in the folk territories. And even if the lead singer on this one is Patrick Jobard (who is usually doing the backings), I can't say that this change is dramatically better. What is excellent though, is the superb guitar solo in which Patrick excels. A pity that the vocals are not on par (they remind me here of another French band : "Il Etait Une Fois". Which is not really what you would have expected with such music).

The closing number is a long piece of music (almost sixteen minutes) which is partially ruined by the vocals. Fortunately, the band will opt for guests vocalists. I assume that they were aware of the problem. The good point is that as for "Insomnies", this number has long instrumental parts (guitar are agoin so great) that the listener still can enjoy most of this song. Almost neo-prog, then folkish in the final and long part.

"La Citadelle" is an interesting album which deserves three stars on my scale. Eclectic or cross-over prog are probably more suitable to catalogue this good band.

Report this review (#158267)
Posted Thursday, January 10, 2008 | Review Permalink
apps79
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars CAFEINE were a French band,found in 1990 by Patrick Jobard (guitar), Christophe Houssin (keyboards) and Laurent Houssin (bass guitar). The first line-up included also Bertrand Peyrat on drums and Jean Chiriaux on vocals.The band recorded two demos with great success and was offered a contract by MSI,however it was the departure of Houssin,Peyrat and Chiriaux which slowed things down.CAFEINE continued playing live with Jean-Christophe Lamoureux on bass and Hervé Morel on drums,while new vocalist Philippe Ladousse joined a little later.Finally the band's debut ''La citadelle'' was released in July 1994,

STYLE: A fine release of melodic Progressive Rock with a modern sound (often flirting with neo progressive),yet the influences by 70's bands are obvious.Keyboards have a strong classical flavor and when they doesn't it's the guitarist who takes over with plenty of mind- blowing melodic solos.Lots of instrumental parts with enough complexity and a good amount of strong, poetic and lyrical performances.From the powerful,filled with interplays compositions to the more relaxed,laid-back vocal-led themes,it's a certain aim for the band to keep the album's good balance.

INFLUENCES/SOUNDS LIKE: Any guitar/keyboard-driven symphonic band that springs to your mind.From GENESIS and CAMEL to ANGE and ANYONE'S DAUGHTER with an obvious neo reference.Often I am reminded of EXPLORER'S CLUB ''Age of impact''.

PLUS: Keyboard work is simply beautiful with a mass of memorable symphonic outbursts.Guitars are also very strong,both on rhythmic and solo parts.Vocals come also as a plus,as Ladousse is a decent singer without an over the top moment.The album in general is very melodic and maintains a great balance throughout.Some more complex parts will satisfy the more demanding progheads.

MINUS: You won't find something you haven't heard in the past.The production is flat,burring at moments the fantastic keybord and piano work,a common thing for most of late-90's/early-90's bands.Drums and especially percussion sound very very plastic.

WILL APPEAL TO:...fans of Symphonic/Neo Prog,who propably consider it a must-have.

CONCLUSION/RATING: A carefully-arranged album by a very talented band in the vein of Classic Progressive Rock can be nothing more than a succesful purchase.Fine melodies,an ethereal atmosphere and the superb balace guarantee a pleasant listening...3.5 stars.

Report this review (#301431)
Posted Friday, October 1, 2010 | Review Permalink
3 stars A French band named after my favorite drug.

Their music is symphonic prog too. Well, more neo-prog than symphonic prog. The sound and music on La Citadelle is very neo-prog at times. Then again, there is also a lot of Yes in the music here. The French language vocals also draws parallells with the likes of Ange and Magnesis. But mainly; neo prog.

The keyboards is very flat at times. The keyboards sound is very much from the 1980s with no warmth and no life. The same goes for the guitar sound. The vocals is good though. In short; I am not happy at all about the sound which really does this album a great disservice.

The songs are really good though. Most of them are epics and La Cour Des Miracles being the best song here. But I have heard a lot better albums than this album. A good album and that's it, really.

3 stars

Report this review (#560349)
Posted Monday, October 31, 2011 | Review Permalink

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