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Gerard Manset - La mort d'Orion CD (album) cover

LA MORT D'ORION

Gerard Manset

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4 stars Gerard Manset is one of the French počtes maudits, cultivating mystery, poetry, innovation far from the beaten tracks of French commercial, easy listening chanson. Few French musicians have this rich flavour except perhaps William Sheller. A great melodist and arranger, this man can play on words too. This first real opus is a gem. A concept album based on Science-Fiction, the story of a dying planet. A universe close to the first King Crimson's albums plus the French touch (stress on the vocals and lyrics), including an orchestra. More progressive by the attitude than by the typical prog sound as we mean today. But we are in 1970, aren't we? Very recommended. Recently reissued and remastered.
Report this review (#178343)
Posted Monday, July 28, 2008 | Review Permalink
4 stars

In the early 70's the French EMI/ Pathe label released a handful of wonderfully weird albums that have long been sought after by collectors and music fans alike. Personally I'd like to give a big round of applause to their A&R department whoever they were or whatever they were on as this was some seriously creative stuff. Guy Skornik's trippy 'Pour Pauwels', 'Puzzle' by Michel Berger which shamefully has yet to be reissued, avant-garde composer Igor Wakhevitch's stunning 'Hathor' and Gerard Manset's 'La Mort D'Orion' are works that should be heard at least once by anyone with a remote interest in progressive pop and art rock.

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Gerard Manset is something of a renaissance man. Raised in suburban Paris, he's a musician, painter and travel writer with a vast catalog of albums that all have something to recommend although it's 1970's 'La Mort D'Orion' (The Death of Orion) that is widely considered his masterpiece. A science fiction concept album, it's a dark journey but space rock this is not. This is orchestral pop twisted into modern classical music akin to some of Franco Battiato's output. The opening title track clocks in just shy of 25 minutes and it's a remarkable piece of music. A small string quartet leads to a spoken word piece by Manset, followed by a female operatic interlude and light East Indian raga all within a minute and a half. Astounding and Manset's voice is wonderful on 'Vivent Les Hommes' (Living Men) backed again by soprano vocals and a crescendo of strings and piano while 'Le Paradis Terrestre' (Heaven on Earth) alternates between opera and pop effortlessly.

My command of the French language is non-existent, but that has never interfered with my enjoyment of this album. It's one of a kind and should be bookended with the Serge Gainsbourg classic 'Historie de Melody Nelson' and William Sheller's dazzling 'Lux Aeterna' as the best in early 70's French music.

Report this review (#1397166)
Posted Saturday, April 11, 2015 | Review Permalink

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