MALICORNE 4 [AKA: NOUS SOMMES CHANTEURS DE SORNETTES]

I would find this one sub-par if it was not for two numbers that sort of save this album going to Dullsville . Although one expects Blanche Biche to evolve from its initial ambiance , it stays for the 6+ min on the same notes but the number linked to it just after Bacchu Ber is very powerfull and interesting (a war march) , but the better is to come. Still taking original folk texts and brooding musically on it , while trying to stay true to the spirit of the songs is the normal Malicorne manner. but on Jardinier Du Couvent , they make a real epic of 9 min changing four times of ambiance, some of them enchanting you to the point of thinking of Gryphon or an acoustic Yes. One of those climates remind me a lot of a Traffic number John Barleycorn Must Die , where dark brooding lyrics and strong vocals makes you shiver for the man's health and wealth. Easily the better Malicorne number on a otherwise relatively weaker album.

A French cross between GRYPHON and STEELEYE SPAN. The songs are mostly old French traditional songs. The head of Malicorne is singer-guitarist-composer Gabriel Yacoub, other four fellows handle a folkish set of instruments (e.g. flutes, krumhorn, clockenspiel, organ, violin, cello, mandolin and percussion plus the usual rock instruments) and each one sings. This feature made me think of also GENTLE GIANT here and there. So even if this is filed under traditional music and not rock, there is a strong sense of Prog Folk. A knowledge of French would naturally ease the enjoyment...

I preferred those songs where Marie Yacoub's voice took the lead. Also 'Daniel Mon Fils' (2:40) is very nice, as it is almost completely a cappella, with an organ growing louder towards the end. The only non-vocal track is an old military dance 'Bacchu Ber' (1:58). There is a song of 9 minutes too; it's a hybrid of two ballads. If you like the two bands I mentioned in the first line and preferably know (or enjoy) French language, Malicorne is worth hearing. ...Damn, forgot to check what is 'biche', to figure out the Celtic mythological creature that is half woman, half 'biche'...

This group delivers French sung traditional music with strong emphasis on singing, often having multi-vocal choral, accompanied with violins, harpsichords, flutes, guitars and also bass guitar and drums, but with small emphasis to the modern instruments. Quite pompous approach is in my opinion characteristic to this record, not in very painful style though.

The traditional sides are strongly romantic in ancient medieval European style, covering ballads, marches and traditional dances. Most memorable tunes for me here are the chorally sung "Daniel, Mon Fils" and as finest "La Blanche Biche", having an experimental voice layer for a background of the lady singer, males joining later, melting modern and traditional approach in a fine manner. "Le Jardiner Du Couvent" is also probably interesting track for prog fans, this "mini epic" starts with melodic minor tune for pairing male and female voices, accompanied by piano, bass, and violin, with these creating tension released by a rock sequence later (not being really favorable direction to my taste). Later acoustic chord progressions and singing with piano, bass and violin continues. The album closes to "Ma Chanson Est Dite", which seems more like a happy, joyful joke than a proper song.

If French traditional music within a progressive folk rock sound context interests you, this group delivers it certainly. Nothing specially wrong with the record, but due some stylistic solutions it does not completely fit to my personal taste.