Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
Magnésis - Les Gens De.... CD (album) cover

LES GENS DE....

Magnésis

Neo-Prog


From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Bookmark and Share
4 stars I have to admit I have never rated this French band...... until now.

This is their fifth album and the fourth I have reviewed. Due to pre-senilism, I have accidently bypassed their fourth album and gone straight to this one.

Something must have happened to the guys in Magnesis. Something very good, that is. They have more or less ditched their immature, thin sound take on Neo Prog and adopted a mature Symph/Neo Prog sound and approach. A sound that reminds me about Ange. The Marillion influences is still there, but more subtle. Magnesis has also embraced more of the French music culture. Jaques Brel to mention a few. The centuries old art of French ballads has also been embraced by Magnesis on this album. And so has French classical music too. This album is somewhere between symp prog, neo prog, French popular music from the 1930s and classical music. A large chunk of classical music and symph prog, that is. The music is performed by excellent musicians and a vocalist which finally has come of age like a good French cheese (sorry, monsigneur Tillerot). The other instruments are a large portion of tangents, some guitars and bass & drums.

The result is an almost brilliant album which will positive surprise symph and neo prog lovers. Like it has stunned myself ! Frankly, it is albums, no make that little gems like this which makes me review thousands of prog rock albums.

All songs here are superb and I am only withdrawing half a point for the lack of a killer track. But this is an album which I will probably include in my top French prog rock album list. It is an album which is close to perfection. It an album which deserve a lot more attention.

4.5 stars

Report this review (#504621)
Posted Wednesday, August 17, 2011 | Review Permalink
apps79
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars Three years after the very good ''Etang rouge'' Magnesis seemed to have really established a solid core around Eric Tillerot.A new album saw the light in 2001, entitled ''Les gens de...'', recorded and mixed between April 2000 and March 2001 in Dijon and released again privately by the group.As with ''Etange rouge'' though, ''Les gens de...'' was promoted through a distribution by the giant French label Musea.

With ''Etange rouge'' Magnesis presented a refined, theatrical and atmospheric Neo Prog, surrounded by huge symphonic vibes, and that's the game played also in their fifth studio effort.And while the long instrumental opener ''Le syndrome de Ravaillac'' shows the group getting into more Electronic/Prog realms in the vein of SHAMALL, the rest of the album is an upright Neo/Symphonic Prog affair with Magnesis sounding very close to early PENDRAGON and QUASAR, reminding a lot of Belgians AMANDA and maintaining an evident ANGE influence throughout.Quite long and interesting proggy arrangements combine with shorter Neo Prog and Folk tunes to offer an album full of intense emotions and atmospheric passages.Especially the longer tracks combine a dramatic song-based performance by Tillerot with symphonic interludes, edgy synthesizers and excellent electric guitars in compositions, where both melody and diversity coexist.The tempos are numerous, from laid-back, more keyboard-led textures to energetic and grandiose moves with a rich sound.There are also plenty of nice Classical-inspired interludes to be found, while the shorter tracks explore either a more groovy Neo Prog style or obtain a light Celtic/Folk influence.

The millenium finds Magnesis on the rise.Another very good offering by the group, as ''Les gens de...'' is a decent example of symphonic-flavored, modern French Prog of great quality.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.

Report this review (#947065)
Posted Sunday, April 21, 2013 | Review Permalink

MAGNÉSIS Les Gens De.... ratings only


chronological order | showing rating only

Post a review of MAGNÉSIS Les Gens De....


You must be a forum member to post a review, please register here if you are not.

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.