ROTROUENGES DU MÉCHANT D'AMOUR...

In AVARIC's first and, to a lesser extent, second albums, their fresh and energetic music resuscitated medieval texts that were otherwise the province of society's fustiest. Unfortunately, on "Rotrouenges du méchant d'amour" their arrangements are now subservient to the dogged delivery of those verses. They seem to be tackling the syllabically voluminous ones here which, from the track lengths, lend the impression that this might be AVARIC's most progressive release up to that point, but this does not always mean better. Even the modest shifts that do occur on the longer pieces fail to shake my overwhelming ennui, particularly on the closing two tracks. It's worrisome when the best aspect of these "epics" is the somewhat overdone but arrestingly beautiful violoncello contribution that is abandoned unarmed in the wasteland about it.

If an obscure local band from Bourges can even have a signature tune, it's probably "Anne D'Alarcen", but it's similarly disinterested, with the flutes offering the most respite as they do throughout this effort. The velocity gains offered by "Le Cry Du Prince Des Sots" and "En Regardant Vers Le Pays De France" are nullified by the recitational vocals, which remind me why MALICORNE was never a favourite. It is most telling that, apart from the eerie title track, the best pieces are the most folk oriented, as "Unhappy Day!" and "Tous Coeurs Tristes" confirm AVARIC's mastery of the witheringly scarce medium of immediacy.

The title here translates to "Troubadour Song of the Wicked Love"., but its biggest sin is that it keeps on singing..and singing.