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IL Y A DES JOURS

Hellebore

RIO/Avant-Prog


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Hellebore Il y a Des Jours album cover
3.54 | 33 ratings | 4 reviews | 36% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 1985

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Introduction Vegetarienne 7:20
2. Tetraktys 5:10
3. Artefact 4:04
4. Film Di Ripratoria 3:39
5. Warme Wasser Mit Grass 4:04
6. Umanak - Marquis De Saint Cricq 14:14
7. Ce Sont Des Choses Qui Arrivent 6:15

Reissue Bonus Tracks:
8. Les Lions 4:00
9. Oarysts 4:40
10. Gargamel Chez Les Cosaques 1:22

Line-up / Musicians

- Jean Cael / bass
- Alain Caser / saxophone, flute, clarinet
- Antoine Gindt / guitars
- Daniel Koskowitz / drums
- Denis Tagu / keyboards, guitar

Releases information

Recorded at "Centre Andre Malraux", Vandouevre.
GA 8632.AR, originally released 1985 on AYAA.

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
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HELLEBORE Il y a Des Jours ratings distribution


3.54
(33 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(36%)
36%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(36%)
36%
Good, but non-essential (24%)
24%
Collectors/fans only (3%)
3%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

HELLEBORE Il y a Des Jours reviews


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

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Sean Trane
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog Folk
3 stars Sole album from this group who made a completely unlikely album released on the AYAA label (upon which Debile Menthol also released their albums), considering the unfavourable era they were in (the mid-80's) and Hellebore is best classified as Avant- prog and related to RIO or Zeuhl and chamber rock music and only 1000 copies were pressed. The album was graced with an artwork from the American collective Mnemonist (which had released a very apocalyptic Horde album, before transforming themselves into Biota), and the disturbing illustration fit the music rather well. A fairly acoustic quintet line-up (only some electric guitars) where three members (bassist Caël, guitarist Gindt and drummer Koskowitz) composed the music fairly evenly and separately, they recorded during the winter 83/84 the album and had a few more sessions from 82 to late 84, which are now added as bonus tracks on the Musea release.

Opening on particularly grotesque financial bourgeois questions with industrial noises in the background, Introduction Végétarienne soon veers towards a certain chamber prog between UZ and AZ, but apart from the intro, the music remains largely instrumental. Although not systematically, the next few tracks seem to evolve in the same realm with a bit of variation when heading towards a bit more to Miriodor's sense of burlesque music and comes close to free jazz improv on one number on the lengthier Umanak, but this remains thankfully short. When vocals are present, they range from vocalizing, to strange scats and at times a bit of Magma-esque choirs. In some ways Hellebore's album resembles a calmer Miriodor or Debile Menthol, but reminds me as well of Pataphonie's second album and at times early Univers Zero, although not nearly quiet as sombre.

As for the bonus track, they do sound like they were not recorded during the album's sessions, because the sound production is rather different. Les Lions (dating from mid- 82) sounds generally more aggressive with the guitar much more present (only wind player Casari is missing on this track) and a slightly more nihilistic and improvised. The next two tracks are the logical extrapolation of the album, the Oarystis tapes being supplied by the famous Chris Cutler.

While a very worthy album on its own, it is not really that essential considering the mass of records that shares the same musical traits in this Chamber Zeuhl RIO realm. But if you are a fan of this particular type of prog genre, Hellebore might just be indispensable for you. I'd recommend it to anyone into that universe, but maybe not as an introduction of a casual listener or someone just discovering the genre.

Review by chamberry
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars Hellebore is and odd little album. I'd say it's for people who would like a calmer Zeuhl or Avant- prog album. I find it too tamed to really shine, to be honest. Don't get me wrong, I like hushed albums, but some songs seem quite bland at times. The songs on side A are great, though, but side B tends to drag. I don't seem to remember much of the second half after I finish listening to the album. The first three songs have such a great atmosphere that it makes Il y a Des Jours worth at least a try. Who knows, maybe you'll find Umanak a good song after all.
Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars This is one of those albums that I feel I should really like, and want to really like it but am left unsatisfied after every listen. HELLEBORE were an Avant band out of France and they released this one album back in 1985. Besides the usual instruments we also get sax, clarinet and flute. I do like the way they use the organ to often create some atmosphere as it seems to float or drone. I don't know why but I just feel there's something lacking in this recording and like the other Collaborators here I feel 3 stars is the right rating.

"Introduction Vegetarienne" opens with a vocal lines repeated over and over and there's some experimental sounds in the background. Tough start. He ends up just talking until just before 1 1/2 minutes when a beat and organ takes over. Bass joins in as it builds. It settles before 4 minutes with a beat and organ before a horn and piano also join in. It settles back again around 5 1/2 minutes as picked guitar, piano and cymbals take over. I really like this section. It's building again. Solo piano ends it. "Tetraktys" is laid back to start with organ, cymbals, bass and picked guitar. It does turn fuller with horns and drums joining in. Some whispered words after 3 1/2 minutes. "Artofact" features organ, horn, a beat and bass early on then it kicks into gear before a minute and contrasts will continue between the fuller and more mellow passages. "Film Di Ripratoria" opens with a horn/ drum led melody as piano joins in. Clapping after 2 minutes along with random drum patterns as it turns experimental. Other sounds come and go as well. Back to that earlier sound to end it.

"Warme Wassir Mit Grass" has this excellent drum intro that is quite impressive as experimental sounds join in quickly. It's more intense around 2 minutes, very angular sounding. "Umanak-Marquis De Saint Cricq" is by far the longest track at over 14 minutes. Piano to start as drums join in along with guitar and more. I like this. Suddenly before 3 minutes we get a change as strange and theatrical vocal expressions come and go. They are gruff and the soundscape is avant. Dissonant horns follow as it gets even more insane. A calm 4 1/2 minutes in then drums and guitar take over. Vocal melodies too. A horn and piano take over in this melodic and melancholic section. It picks up around 8 minutes as the guitar and experimental sounds take over. It calms right down before 10 1/2 minutes then picks up again a minute later. It settles again with piano and a horn before kicking in one more time. "Ce Sont Des Choses Qui Arrivent" is the closer and it begins with piano and a horn until a minute in when it turns fuller but then it calms right down with piano, horns and drums. It's experimental 3 minutes in. It continues to settle then kick in. An okay closer.

Lots to like here for sure but I've had a really hard time getting into this one. For fans of Rio/ Avant.

Latest members reviews

5 stars It's 1985. I have a mullet. I'm dreading my 'O' levels. I'm under the snakebite induced impression that I look like John Taylor. I am masturbating furiously over my Athena poster of that tennis girls' arse and TV's Cleo Rocos and my only goal in life is to own a 2.8i Ford Granada. ... (read more)

Report this review (#84757) | Posted by Yukorin | Tuesday, July 25, 2006 | Review Permanlink

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