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STILL DREAM

Edhels

Neo-Prog


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Edhels Still Dream album cover
3.19 | 28 ratings | 8 reviews | 7% 5 stars

Good, but non-essential

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Studio Album, released in 1988

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Capitaine Armoire (5:02)
2. Butterflychild (3:35)
3. Boarding Pass (4:46)
4. Fée d'hiver (1:07)
5. October Dawns (6:15)
6. Gael & Selena (1:52)
7. Christie Feline Girl (4:21)
8. Still Dream (4:23)
9. Annibal's Trip (4:38)
10. A la lisière du Soleil (4:55)
11. Heart Door (7:37) *
12. Twine (0:42)

Total Time 49:13

* Bonus track on CD Release

Line-up / Musicians

- Jean-Louis Suzzoni / lead, rhythm & acoustic (4,5,12) guitars
- Marc Ceccotti / lead, rhythm & acoustic (12) guitars, guitar synth (7,9,11), keyboards (1,2,5,10), bass (1), composer
- Noël Damon / keyboards, piano (5,6,8,11), percussion (2,3,7,11)
- Jacky Rosati / drums, percussion, keyboards (2,3,7-10)

With:
- Jean-Marc Bastianelli / keyboards (11)

Releases information

Artwork: Christian Ravit

LP Musea ‎- FGBG 2014 (1988, France)

CD Musea ‎- FGBG 4001 (1988, France)

Digital album

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
and to projeKct for the last updates
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EDHELS Still Dream ratings distribution


3.19
(28 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(7%)
7%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(39%)
39%
Good, but non-essential (46%)
46%
Collectors/fans only (7%)
7%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

EDHELS Still Dream reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Cesar Inca
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars Edhels is a talented modern symph band led by guitarist/keyboardist Marc Ceccotti, an instrumenta lensemble whose prog direction is heavily keyboard-based: I must add that the use of keyboards is not excessive nor gratuitous, but a medium to build symphonic textures and ambiences, with both good taste and eerie delicacy. This is the sonic landscape drawn for the guitar (and occasionally guitar synth) soloing to surface now and then. The overall sound is very reminiscent of 80s Camel, Camel, and to a certain degree, neo-prog's instrumental facet, including some jazz-pop flavours. The use of some electronic percussion devices enhances the modern essence of Edhels' prog. Meanwhile, the guitar solos are pretty much influenced by Latimer's lyrical approach, at times infected by an odd Frippian twist, never getting too deconstructive, but indeed a bit disturbing. 'Capitaine Armoure', 'October Dawns' and the bonus track 'Heart Door' are in my opinion the most representative of Edhels' style, and they are certainly the most accomplished samples of the band's elegant symph style. Regarding the softer side of Edhels, the most notable tracks are 'Butterfly Child' (which contains a delicate new-age touch) and the solemn 'Annibal's Trip'. Tracks 4, 6 and 12 are acoustic interludes that show the most pristine side of Edhels: their skill on the handling of electronic stuff can also be properly used when it comes to acoustic instruments. All in all, a very interesting musical work from a band that was to evolve artistically on their following recordings.
Review by erik neuteboom
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars The third album from this French band is a unique progrock gem, so overlooked. Almost every track manages to keep the attention because of the captivating sound from the fiery, slightly distorted electric guitar (with hints from Latimer and Fripp) and the modern sounding keyboards and the varied musical ideas: classical guitar - and piano pieces, a song delivering a Vangelis-like synthesizer atmosphere and lots of compositions that feature a lush, often bombastic or ominous keyboard sound (from majestic church organ to brass-synthesizer), fiery electric guitar and lots of shifting moods. GREAT!! Erik Neuteboom
Review by Progbear
PROG REVIEWER
2 stars Marginally better than ORIENTAL CHRISTMAS, but still not anything to write Mom over. The compositions are a bit more fleshed out, if not especially original or exciting. There seems to be more of a "new age" feel at times, which ordinarily make me gag, but it seems to be a wise decision. Anything to allow LESS of Jacky Rosati's sub-Alan White "boom-thud" drumming! The keys are still an 80's digi-synth nightmare.

Highlight here: definitely "Heart Door", featuring some of Cecotti's finest guitar work, and easily the best composition they've managed so far. I wouldn't recommend going out of your way just for that, but if you see the CD for cheap in a clearance bin, it might be worth it.

Review by Neu!mann
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars I first heard the name of this strictly instrumental French symphonic outfit in Edward Macan's 1997 book "Rocking the Classics" (an excellent scholarly study of Progressive Rock aesthetics, by the way), in which he cites Edhels as one of three examples, along with OZRIC TENTACLES and DJAM KARET, of where Prog Rock was heading at the end of the millennium.

Like a lot of other contemporary Neo-Prog acts, Edhels (the band's name was supposedly derived from Tolkien, but don't quote me on that) was heavily influenced by more than one classic 1970s role model, in this case blending the delicacy and nuance of golden age GENESIS with the macho instrumental bluster of ELP circa "Fanfare for the Common Man". But guitarist/band leader Marc Ceccotti isn't just another musical tomb raider, and what elevates Edhels above the crowd (besides the welcome lack of any histrionic Neo-Prog vocals) is his gift for melodic lyricism, and a certain Gallic sensitivity to color and tone rarely heard (in the mid '80s, at any rate) on either side of the English Channel.

It's hard to describe the music of Edhels without sounding like a pretentious connoisseur of fine wine. The songs all have a rich, full-bodied sound, textured with lush synthetic strings and electric pianos, and spiced by the occasional tart aftertaste of Ceccotti's Fripp-inspired guitar work (both electric and acoustic: the 42-second epilogue "Twine" wouldn't sound out of place among Mr. Fripp's LEAGUE OF CRAFTY GUITARISTS.

Okay, so the music sometimes lapses into that big, bad midi-drum and keyboard overkill all- too popular in the 1980s. It dates the album somewhat when heard today, but at least provides a little depth and aggression to what otherwise might have been a pleasant but negligible New Age movie soundtrack.

In short: a worthwhile addition to any well-rounded music library, and a band deserving further exploration.

Review by progrules
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars There is one style of music (or better: prog) that will always appeal to me and is in fact my number one preference: the instrumental, melodic style preferably in the neo vein. And actually here we have a perfect example of that. This release by Edhels from the late eighties (!!) is just about how I like it most.

This is such elaborate music, very accessible, dreamy at times (the title is well chosen !) and simply captivating especially if you are in the right mood for it. Well, I'm in the mood for this most of the time except for those moments I want my music fierce and energetic. Because that's what this is NOT. It's extremely lush yet restrained and also laid back, very delicate also.

Describing each song is useless, it's the style what it's about here. I regret I have only found this album by Edhels, it's one of those bands that are pretty hard to find. But I'll keep searching if only out of curiosity what the other albums sound like. If it's the same as this one, I will buy them right away. Four stars without hesitation and recommended for fans of laid back, extremely melodic music.

Review by b_olariu
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars Third album of this discrete band coming from a small country is better in any way then the previous album. Released in 1988 under the name of Still dream, this time Edhels make a more complex, uptempo and with much better arrangements, but with all that not really something special. The keybords are very lush, smooth , again Marc Ceccoti did a good job, but as I said before the music of Edhels suffers in great arrangements, it's not enough to have good musicians who can handle the instrument , must be some shining moments, at last here and there. This album has it's moments for sure, the arrangements are better though, they play a kind of neo prog not far from late '70's german albums like Tibet, what done Novalis in that times, Machiavel in some parts, even Camel or Mike Oldfield, more the melodic side of neo with lush keybords and melodic guitar elements, some elements have that new age touch tipycal for that period. The music is accesible most of the time, not a prog rock listner will not be afaraid to take alisten, but for sure not many will be pleased what they will here. Edhels is not a very popular band here aswell like on other sites, maybe because some of their albums are not on every corner, but aswell their music is nothing realy impressive, at least these two albums reviewed by me is nothing extraodrinary. The highlits are for sure Heart Door and Butterfly child, good pieces whre is shown the talent of Ceccoti, the rest are only ok, but good. So, a 3 star album to me, better in any way over Oriental christmas, but nothing close to a masterpiece or alike.
Review by apps79
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars In 1987 Edhels performed the track ''Heart door'' for the Musea compilation ''Enchantement'' with an expanded five-piece line-up, featuring second keyboardist Jean-Marc Bastianelli.Although Bastianelli later became a stable member of the band, he did not appear on Edhels' ''Still dream'' album, the first and only work by the band to get parallel vinyl and CD issues by Musea.It was recorded at the Studio Les Mouchettes and released in 1988 with the regular Marc Ceccotti/Suzzoni/Damon/Rosati core.

This was another attempt by Edhels to combine different influences in a period amalgam, they sound like if CAMEL and KING CRIMSON shared some common members, but imagine all these elements created under an 80's production.In fact there is a certain feeling of confusion listening to this album, because Ceccotti's and Suzzoni's plays seem somewhat torn between jazzy and more melodic sources of inspiration, while Jacky Rosati seems undetermined on whether to use his keyboards in an orchestral or more quirky, Fusion-flavored way.The result has its own charm and ''Still dream'' sounds like a collection of pieces by two different bands, there are certain cuts with impressive electric solos and some acoustic pinches with PINK FLOYD and GENESIS influences, while the rest are in a jazzier/Fusion vein with a bit of HAPPY THE MAN/ALLAN HOLDSWORTH vibes, featuring nice instrumental breaks and shifting moods with semi-Classical piano and tricky work on guitars and keys, although performed in a much lighter style.''Still dream'' still suffers from the acoustics of the time, especially the drumming sounds very sterile, while there are a couple of minimalistic textures to be found in here (I hear some evident New Age-like echoes during these pieces), but the music is fine and executed with accuracy.

Not an album to like if you get sick about everything related to the 80's.But these guys definitely deserve some praise for keeping the Prog flame alive, especially after delivering material so close to Camel and King Crimson.Recommended with the above noted restrictions.

Latest members reviews

3 stars On 'Still Dream "here we are in the best of the group, nothing to do with the catastrophic" Astro-logical. "Here we are closer to the sumptuous" Oriental Christmas ", the first two titles are not excessively but achievable. third title "Boarding Pass" is a beautiful title, Guitar Hero beautiful, ... (read more)

Report this review (#238873) | Posted by Discographia | Saturday, September 12, 2009 | Review Permanlink

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