LA MARMITE COSMIQUE III

1. "From Dusk to Dawn" (3:36) a very cinematic (in a very 1970s B-movie way) piece to start with, but then, surprise of all surprises, it turns into an Emerson, Lake and Palmer piece at the one-minute mark. And a brilliant imitation it is! At 2:10 it pauses to reset before reforming into a ELP-tinged return to the comically-eery opening motif. (8.875/10)

2. "Chimères" (10:57) a very interesting musical piece that incorporates what feels like several completely different motifs into one 11-minute song. As a matter of fact, there are long blank pauses between each of the suite's three sub-sections--as if waving the abuse of song inclusion in our helpless faces. There are themes that are styled in very funked-up-jazzy, jazz-rock, and even Canterbury palettes--and very creatively so, I must admit: this is all quite unusual and unique music despite its odd nostalgic familiarity. Then there's the case of Arnaud's deep basso voice: it is also something quite unusual (perhaps even unique) for Prog World. Rated slightly down for the seemingly random scattering of ideas and themes. (I wonder if Arnaud works with film or video as he creates and edits his music.) (17.5/20)

3. "Serendipity" (1:22) interesting with female vocalise soaring over the top. (4.375/5)

4. "Zebra 3" (3:06) great groovin' 1970s "Black exploitation" soundtrack music. Arnaud is without doubt an expert in these funk styles--and his sound engineering is always flawlessly clear and clean. Heavy on the slap fretless bass, clavinet, congas, and funky alto saxophone. Switch in the second minute into more of a KOOL AND THE GANG/HUBERT LAWS groove Jackson. Sax and Hammond get some lead time over the awesome funk. Another odd ending/departure: kind of just leaving us hanging. (9/10)

5. "Zappo's Grill House" (5:21) opening with a section of awesome 1970s woodwind and Fender Rhodes-led smooth jazz-rock fusion à la Hubert (or Ronnie) Laws, the Jazz Crusaders, Deodato, or even the house of Dave Grusin. The long slow chord and key changes paced by the walking bass line as doubled up by piano and bass are wonderful--like a study in song pacing--while the rest of "the band" add their little idiosyncratic flourishes and riffs. (8.875/10)

6. "Post-Modern World" (4:45) Amazing space funk that reminds me of Deodato, Parliament, Newcleus, or even Pink Floyd, or, later, KOOP. Space wind break at the halfway point before accelerating again into a funked up Floydian "Welcome to the Pleasure Dome" continuation. Very, very cool! Daevid Allen, Pierre Moerlin, and Ed Wynne would be very impressed! (9/10)

7. "Mandala" (2:24) taking us on a journey into the Indian sub-continent, sitar, tablas, harmonium, violin and a host of other Indian instruments are perfectly mixed and matched to render this nearly-perfect expression of non-European music. Awesome! (9.5/10)

Total Time 31:31

B+/4.5 stars; rated down slightly for brevity; an excellent addition to any prog lover's music collection; highly recommended.