YGGDRASIL

French progressive rock in the MARILLION, IQ vein with some great instrumental work. This concept based album is centered around 2 epic length tracks which are quite well done with nice theme variations and texture changes. Vocals and lyrics are acceptable, but it is clearly the songs writing and instrumentation performance which will be the main attraction (at least it was for me). I find "Yggdrasil" to actually be a fairly dark album with some lovely guitar and keyboard playing.

I bought this one in the nineties not knowing what I was buying, just hoped for the best. Turned out pretty well fortunately which didn't go for all of my "hope for the best" purchases. If I remember well the main reason I took it was because of the many lengthy tracks, the ones I usually like. Huge total length as well by the way, also a bonus.

The opening song is pretty short though, a nice instrumental to start with called Headliner (3,25*). Next is one with vocals sounding ok but not really great or special (both vocals and song that is) (3*). Third track is Vision, the first with substential length. It starts with quiet acoustic guitar, after a minute joined by vocals and electric guitar and energetic drumming. Some strange keyboardsounds follow then followed by organ returning to vocals and electric guitar again, sometimes the guitar sounds out of tune but it could be deliberate. Turns out to be a versatile track this, composition is quite good with nice melody and mood and temperament changes (4*). Next is Knight of the Sun, a song I liked from the beginning. Very melodic middle length instrumental track, accessible with catchy percussion at the start and great guitar and keyboard later on(4,25*). Next is an epical one, called Unquiet. Along with previous this probably the highlight of the album, brilliant and true symphonical composition with several excellent keyboardparts. This one of the best neo progressivesongs I know (4,75*). Keyboard is also dominant in the short Maginot Line, a nice compact energetic song (3,5*). David the King is also short but more ballad like with acoustic guitar. Sounds a bit like Pigs on the Wing from Pink Floyds Animals (3*). White & Blue is more of a long one again but quite different from the previous few, more laid back almost a long ballad. Good song (3,5*). Dolls is a multi part epic, the longest of the album consisting of 6 parts in total clocking almost 17 minutes. A great finale of an impressive album (4,25*).

Maybe it's slightly rounded up but it's a well deserved 4 stars nevertheless. A great neo progressive jewel by a relatively unknown band proving that France is also an excellent prog country, one of my favourites actually. Where this album is concerned: highly recommended for Clepsydra fans and true neo fans liking the longer more symphonical stuff.

''Yggdrasil'' by AFTERGLOW is a rare,forgotten piece of music released back in 1994.Undoubtfully the band's style is closer to neo-prog as we know it by bands like MARILLION and IQ...But if you are trully into neo progressive,I think the first band that comes to mind is early ABEL GANZ with heavy doses of Hogarth- era MARILLION...not the pop side of 90's MARILLION but the more progressive one as it is listened in albums like ''Brave'',''Seasons end'' or even the FISH-era''Clutching at straws''...The above mentioned critic is supported by the non-accented voice of Freud Chaudeaux which comes like a cross between Alan Reed,singer of PALLAS and former singer of ABEL GANZ, and Steve Hogarth...There isn't a really weak moment to be heard during the listening except maybe the 13-min track ''Unquiet'',in which the band chooses a rockier,more accesible,pop/rock style of playing that really turns me off...The 17-min epic ''Dolls'' has its moments but I think the best track is the ''Visions'',very emotional and with great theatrical performance by the singer...The two instrumental tracks ''Headliner'' and ''Knight of the sun'' is where the band's style of playing resembles to second-era IQ...

A nice strong debut that deserves at least 3-3.5 stars...It's a pitty that this band disappeared just like that,we could really have to deal with some very strong releases by AFTERGLOW and the neo prog scene could get some fresh blood that it really needs...