SAISON 8

After enjoying their performance live recently on Midsummer Prog Festival 2018 and having only listened their first album before (and not enjoying it very much), I decided to go through the last record of the band!

And I have to say the very positive impression that these songs gave me when I listened live are more or less the same than in this album. Their music is not really progressive, groundbreaking or original, but the overall quality of the record is just excellent, both in terms of production and compositions.

The album starts with J'attends un Printemps is a very beatiful and delicate way, with fine keyboards and vocals, accompanied by soften guitars, but soon the power of the whole band explodes in 02:57 sounding just great and very cohesive, making a crescendo which is a trademark of the band.

Un Linceul de Brume is even better, with a great beginning with echoed guitars and the great voice of Dominique Leonetti, who shows his qualities as a great Singer. The final part of the song is an apotheosis of leòde, distortions and a brutal double pedal on drums. Mes Amis, Mes Frères is rockier, even with some Hammond organ in the verses and a great guitar solo. Not so good as the two previous tracks, but good for being played live.

Les Côtes es a very surprising change of directions, with a very cool beginning which sounds like a strange carnival music, dark and atmospheric. And even the predictable crescendo maintains catches the listener's attention! Just like Chronique Canine, another dark tune which follows the path of the previous one but in a more rhythmic and guitar-oriented way and with another great use of the leòde, an instrument which gives this band an special and very welcomed personality.

Mes Semblables retrieve the rock mood of the third track, but with an oriental influence in the verses and a good instrumental bridge. De Deus Choses Lune is another hit of the album with powerful percussions on the verses, fine vocals (again) and tons of dramatism. And the leòde steals the show again!

The album ends with the excellent Les 4 Mortes Saisons, a sweeping acoustic song which is almost perfect in its minimalism.

Conclusion: if you are searching for intricated prog passages or tons of complexity you are on the wrong track, because Lazuli are some kind of world music rock band with some touches progressive elements. But the quality of their music is undeniable, just like their very strong and catchy live performances.

They are not the most original sounding band and they abuse of crescendos in their songs, but the incredible and unique use of the self-invented instrument leóde and the quality of the production, the vocalist and the rest of the band, make the listening of this album a real pleasure.

Excellent work! I'm eager to hear more albums of this band.

Best songs: Saison 8 has not a single bad or mediocre song, but J'attends un Printemps, Un Linceul de Brume, Les Côtes, De deux Choses Lune and Les 4 Mortes Saisons are the best.

My rating: ****