MOTEUR!

It is very strange that in less than three years, a band can sound so different. Their main song writer and inspirator is still on the command with his brother. The other three musicians being frequently replaced. This had no effect for the brilliant "Guet-Apens" but on "Vu D'Un Chien" the tendancy for a harder sound was already introduced.

This will even more true with "Moteur!". The opening number is almost hard-rock. Galaxies away from the great "Capitaine Coeur De Miel" for instance. Pityful. "Saga" is another rock song with a very dominent bass playing, somewhat sci-fi lyrics as well for this rather average song.

One of the very few nice song from this album is "Rien N'Est Trop Beau Pour Toi". At least it features some nice keys, which reminds that Ange was a great symph prog band. Unfortunately, it is the shortest track of the whole only clocking just over two minutes.

A full rock FM one with "Mourir, Souffrir". It is really hard to believe. Of course, another great prog band produced also a crappy album in 1981 (you remember "Abacab" I'm sure). This one is on par. Extremely poor.

The mood for "Touchez Pas À Mon Ciné" is blues-jazz. Very strange for an Ange composition as well, but at least we escape the awful atmosphere of most of the other songs. There will even be a good guitar solo. The lyrics, which describe the movie industry (from the soundtrack to the director) are also above average.

"Détective Privé" is a pure hard-rock song. At times, I wonder if this album was not a joke. But a very bad one. The jazz-rock mood for "Un Autre Jazz" is similar to "Touchez Pas À Mon Ciné". A bit harder but OK as well (although it has not doing to do with the Ange will all have loved).

After another useless "Moi, Pas Idiot!", the second good song of the album "Assis!" is another quiet one which breaks with the hard-rock oriented style of this release. It even reminds some of the great Ange songs. Unbelievable ! The only symphonic track here.

The whole album surrounds the universe of the film industry (the concept), lyrics being hard at times against the whole stardom system.

If "Vu D'Un Chien" could be still catalogued as an average album, this one is truely miserable. Very little to be remembered. By far the worse Ange album so far. It hurts me to give such a low rating to an album from this once superb band.

But if you have read my previous reviews, you know that I have rated no less than three of their albums with five stars : their debut one "Caricatures", "Au Delà Du Délire" and "Guet Apens". So, there is definitely enough work to chose from to discover this band.

Avoid this one by all means. It can not even be found for cheap. One very little star. This is poor French rock music. Stay away from it is my only advice.

Moteur! from 1981 was an interesting album and I feel the most fair rating would have been 2,5 but 3 is unfortunately too much. Allready the cover makes us wonder what this is. Earlier Ange's cover's were fascinating and the 1980' record was the same. This album shows some sad member's and my feeling is that it's uncomfortable.

Is there anything left of old Ange? Yes the vocals partially are similar: dramatic and expressional. But without proper instrumentation, without the screaming organs it's not the same. I can recommend two tracks on this record which has some of what was so fantastic with Ange: "Touchez pas amon ciné" and "Moi pas idiot". They have a little mot scenic approach and a darker soundscape.

What's wrong then? They don't play bad but the unpersonal 80s bass for example and the modern keys aren't interesting. I feel very much that I miss old Ange. It's not wrong to change direction. Why do "Cimetière de Arlequins" again when it's allready done"? I feel this is quite lame and insufficient. A disappointment. But I look forward to se what has happened to next record.

1. Tant Pis L'Indien, with Robert still on guitar, the sound continues to evolve, as the times dictate, more in-your-face, more synth-pop after the heavier rock sound of Vu d'un Chien; here it's easy to listen to, fast, and it cleans the atmosphere of Mandrin's sons, well, that's a good name. 2. Saga for the fat synth, especially for having this title that reminds me of my favorite band; in short, let's imagine Didier's bass on Subway, which would come out 4 years later; the funky bass that was fashionable during the 80s. The lyrics are more common, less seductive, which is a pleasant contrast; in short, a passage with a prog outro, the guitar and synth playing it cool to remind us that ANGE was prog above all. 3. Rien N'est Trop Beau Pour Toi, with Francis on his electric piano, sparkling and nostalgic, just like Christian's vocals, which play on an innocent, or almost, bucolic nursery rhyme; A beautiful stylistic exercise to be used as a progressive interlude. 4. Mourir, Souffrir for the crystal keyboard and the heavy riff, hard at the time; a jerky rhythm, a nervous vocal launching the chorus, and I understand the early fans wondering where their band was going!!! But in the 80s, to avoid dying, suffer slowly, good people! A captivating synth break, I like it, it's a change, yes, we have to evolve, but it's a tad short, were they trying to release a radio edit? 5. Touchez Pas à Mon Ciné With the bourbon mentioned from the start, yes, I listen to the lyrics; otherwise, it's definitely blues on an Olympian synth, in short, the organ comes from Francis, who transformed his touch, his range, and the listener's perception; the vocal on a Z-series movie or something else for the longest rise of this side, well, for me on cassettes, it was like that; The warm guitar solo is breathtaking, but only the voice tells us that we're definitely on ANGE, my good people.

6. Détective Privé will get people talking and jazzing; the radio edit track is on confident FM rock, the word is out; a pleasant, bouncy track, an electric rhythm, the guitar evoking TELEPHONE at the height of his craft; Christian stays the course with his instantly recognizable voice; consensual nonetheless. 7. Un Autre Jazz, which goes for it on this singular track; in short, bass on the right, Christian in front of you, and the track is playing Michel JONASZ; the sound has changed radically, was that a good thing? Personally, YES tried it and changed it since it was required or it would no longer exist; come on, play another jazz track and listen anyway, and stop complaining! 8. Moi, Pas Idiot! for the most criticized track, the furthest from their original sound; a bit of ska, a bit of new-wave without wanting to say it, the song with the captivating guitar, a nice snub with Francis who answers Christian; a tune that also makes me think of LAVILLIERS, no one has criticized him for his mistakes; in short, the song that is not so stupid IMHO, yes, I sometimes give my opinion 9. Assis! for the basic orchestral rise on a borderline cappella vocal; Robert shows that the guitar must also carry the song, which he does very well here; Christian tells a story without being bawdy and on a beautiful crescendo that goes, goes forever 10. Chatte, Chatte for the conventional heavy rock FM track, a bit French produced without having to copy the Anglican; the riff that talks, that makes you nod, Christian who puts a little sensuality back into his text with well-marked images; Rock is meant to be fast, easy to access, ANGE gets into it, not into the pussy, follow my text a little. (2.5)