THE COSMIC BACTERIA'S EXPERIENCES

This is more the work of a one-man band than the line-up of two suggests... Indeed, electronic drums are used throughout the album so where is Altmayer ??? This album suffers awfully from this "one-man band". The vocals are terrible and the music is very boring. The problem is that all the tracks are long ! The shortest is over 7 minutes. The music comes close to Saga but lacks the beauty, magic or anything really. It's just not worth getting interested in so take care you don't pick up my second-hand copy...

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Posted Sunday, June 26, 2005 | Review this album | Report (Review #37719)

LONGSHOT began their prog trip in 1994 in the commune of Villefranche de Rouerge as a one-man project behind multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Michael Reese.Reese was so much attracted by a science-fiction novel of his friend Thierry Gulleminot,that he decided to adapt it in a trilogy under the name LONGSHOT...a concept story about a runaway,which escaped from the jail of Alpha Centauri,but was killed by a deadly cosmic bacteria,named ''the dark fear''.For this first part he recruited Michel Altmayer on drums,ex-member of the Zeuhl band ''Troll'',later to record with symph progsters ''Atoll''.So this first part entitled ''The cosmic bacteria's experiences'' was released in 1997 in only 500 copies due to problems with the band's distributors.

The truth is that such kind of a concept seems too ambitious to be created by just one person.Though the album is good in general,it fails to capture my whole attention from the start to the end.The same atmosphere dominates the whole album and it lies somewhere between melodic prog in the vein of CAMEL or even OSIRIS (the Bahrain band) and the guitar- driven prog of JADIS...and actually the guitar work in here is often remarkable with nice riffs and some intricate melodies,while at moments it becomes quite complex with great breaks.The album is balanced between instrumental themes and song-oriented tracks and I could say that it stands well in terms of composition and arrangement.However the digital keyboard sound is somewhat plastic and additionally a bit low in the mix,the compositions seem to last a little bit longer than they should,while what really spoils the whole effort are the distorted,spacey vocals of Reese,which sound at least accented,amateur and at times even hilarious.

For devoted fans and collectors of melodic Neo Progressive Rock,this would be propably a fine purchase...I wouldn't recommend it to lovers of more sophisticated and demanding rock forms...only 2 stars...

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Posted Tuesday, January 5, 2010 | Review this album | Report (Review #259462)

In exception to the vocals which was so very Badly recorded ( maybe with a Fisher Price Mic ) the stamp of the voice seems good but it's not sounding ! This , cd by an unknown band from Luxembourg with 2 members seems playing Genesis Music easier that Bands such Xitizen Cain & the poor Galadri ... (read more)

Report this review (#117930) | Posted by GenesisFan | Tuesday, April 10, 2007 | Review Permanlink

Qué bueno teclados é musica ! That band that i believe from france or belgium was unknown for me til i found a very good chronicle at progressivrockbr after reading another excellent one metamusica magazine. this showed an interest when i saw genesis and yes cited and what a delight was the l ... (read more)

Report this review (#68568) | Posted by | Monday, February 6, 2006 | Review Permanlink

I knew this band thanks to Wmms mentor Peter Wustmann. I asked why he need such band too much anchored progressive roots for its label.Sure Peter had at this time PROG ROCK such Maryson, Anyones Daughter, Rachel Birthday and Ines but this band LONGSHOT was surely the Proggier in my idea. This ... (read more)

Report this review (#64295) | Posted by | Wednesday, January 11, 2006 | Review Permanlink

This is most a "like" YEs album from the drama period that a Genesis tribute as named in the booklet. Unless a very "Middle range" producing, all music is kind of technical prog with large changes, not a quarter minute with the same riff, causing for the music a lack of attention because the d ... (read more)

Report this review (#63315) | Posted by | Thursday, January 5, 2006 | Review Permanlink

It's a real drummer playing on this cd . Not a simple drummer, MICHEL ALTMAYER the guy from Troll and recently ATOLL and its easy to recognize its sounding!!! I consider exhaustive a 5 stars on any Longshot but the Bacteria merit at least 3 to 4 stars !! Far better that any MUSEA cd from the same ... (read more)

Report this review (#54098) | Posted by | Monday, October 31, 2005 | Review Permanlink

Hare Krishna !!! GOD BLESS ALPHA CENTAURII ! i was hopeless ! Fully acclaimed by the international press during 1997 and 98, LONGSHOT is back ! Without coming pessimistic, I was thinking that Longshot was one of these bands destined to remain in the darkness while I see it at the top of the po ... (read more)

Report this review (#37381) | Posted by NiKo | Thursday, June 23, 2005 | Review Permanlink

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