TSUNAMI

3.5 stars. Benoit Widemann is best known for his work with MAGMA no doubt but the keyboardist and synth master did release some solo stuff. This is his second album and much like the first one I have difficulty enjoying it because of all the plastic sounds. Sequencers, mini-moog and all kinds of synths played by Benoit but because you can't have enough of these sounds we also get a second man Jean-Pierre Fouquey playing the same stuff Benoit does. The drumming is above average and I like that the bass is fuzzed out at times but this is all about the synths beeping and bopping. We do get a sax player as well and it's his only composition called "The Proud Mongol" that I like the best mainly because it has no sequencers or mini-moog. Great drumming late on that one and it turns completely to Jazz 2 minutes in with the bass, drumming and piano. That ends a minute later as we get piano and atmosphere then the sax kicks in. The title track and closer is probably my least favourite. By the way besides his work with MAGMA the other album he's on I'd recommend is with Vander, Top and Lockwood called "Fusion". Benoit's solo stuff just doesn't do a lot for me despite some excellent playing by the whole band.