LA TULIPE NOIRE

The 10 000th tribute to Marillion.

There's nothing wrong with unoriginality, just look at the music market today: it's all re-heated stuff we heard many times over. The same phenomenom is not avoiding the progressive world, La Tulipe Noire is proving it, but they're doing it nicely at least.

I frankly was attracted to this record because of the the nice cover (how shallow of me). The songs are basically Fish-era Marillion but sanged by a girl, a not too convincing one at that. She barely changes key and stay with the same phrasing all the time. Fish was good when you think of it! For those who cannot get enough of that sacred period (and there's a lot), you will like this a ton.The keyboards are my favorite part of the record, they will please the Mark Kelly fan.

A good clone but quickly forgotten in my case.

With Shattered image issued in 2000 La Tulipe Noire sounds more solid, the musicianship is more tighter then before, the sound and all is far better then their on previous work, but the influences here are more evident as before, the greek version of Marillion I might say, even the logo of the band is very Marillionesque. So, musicaly speaking this is more then ok, some passages are truly great. The voice of Ima fits perfectly into this neo prog atmosphere, having some spectacular moments on some pieces. The instrumental section aswell great, no complains from me, fine parts who remind me lot of Marillion, Jadis or IQ, not original but good. Best pieces to my ears are Shattered Ego, Through The Snake's Eyes and A Scent Of Spring, the rest are also good. This is solid neo prog album, that might please enough fans of the genre, even originality lacks here I can easy give 4 stars, the guitar and keyboards are really awesome. Fine cover art.

La Tulipe Noire from Greece and their truly debute album from 1998 named In the Gates of dream. I said truly debute, because they were active with same line up as here since early '90 but under a diffrent name Mavri toulipa . Well what we have here isa combination of neo prog with symphonic elements added and the result is ok, with female behind the mic who is at least for me an aquaring taste , really. There are some very fine keyboards parts here like on Oblivion and on couple pieces more, but the sound is to plastic as other reviewer said, the drums sound like are drum computer. Even with that low points I find this album to be ok, and it sounds like theiy dicovered their own sound here and diffrent then their next one Shattered image who has a clear Marillion feel. 3 stars, no more no less.

La Tulipe Noire's preceding albums had been undistinguished pieces which had garnered them a reputation as a Marillion clone band - and not even a particularly interesting Marillion clone at that. So, imagine how surprised I was at the jump in quality evident on Nostimon Hemar; the combination of top-notch production values, tighter performances and composition, and ageless subject matter (Homer's Odyssey) works wonders on the band's sound. Whilst they do still show a powerful Marillion influence, this time around they are at least doing something interesting with that approach and are finally showing a distinct personality of their own. I do hope the band get around to producing more material after this, because I'm sure they'll do better now that they've finally come into their own.

You know what you're getting from La Tulipe Noire's Shattered Image when you realise the band's logo here is a shameless rip-off of Fish era Marillion's logo. Sure enough, what we have here is Marillion-imitating neo-prog, and whilst lead vocalist Ima gives a very credible performance in her own unique style the rest of the band are content to try and emulate their heroes. However, between the production values of the album and the rather mediocre compositions, they fall well short of the mark. Go for this one only if you really can't get enough of weak imitations of Fish-era Marillion, or if you are out to research the Greek prog scene.

Long before Greek Neo-Progsters La Tulipe Noire entered the foreign market,they presented themselves in early-90's to the Greek underground rock scene with the greek translation of the later name (Mavri Toulipa).Practically their line-up was the same with the later effort ''In The Gates Of Dream'': G.Hyde on bass,female singer Lena behind the microphone,Spyros Kontakis on guitars,Alix on keys,while their drummer by the time was Babis Leontiadis.Their debut was made on the Greek label Wipe out Records in 1992,a LP only release entitled ''Ta logia tou anemou'' (Words of the wind''),recorded at the legendary 111 Studios in Athens,the music shelter of many Greek cult rock bands.

Stylistically the band explores the same style as on their later works,dreamy Neo Prog with emphasis on symphonic keyboard arrangements,emotional solos and melodic guitar work with some more grandiose heavy passages thrown in for good measure and strong lyrical content.Actually the keyboard/piano work of Alix is really captivating and among the more symphonic approaches met in Neo Prog and the guitar work has strong similarities with the 80's MARILLION's albums,especially the instrumental passages are really interesting.What holds the album from rising into a higher level is the use of the Greek language,a sort of unsuccesful experiment,as the type of music sounds so strange mixed with the language.Additionally, and while Lena has a good and clear voice, the dull social lyrics are typical of dark Gothic bands and anyone familiar with the Greek language will find them cheesy against the style of music presented.Otherwise the album has a fair amount of decent Neo/Symphonic moments to offer to a prog listener with a very ethereal atmosphere created by the musicians.Finally,the production of the album is not the best,but definitely better compared to the band's early efforts as La Tulipe Noire.

The rest of the story is known.By 1997 the band would change the name into La Tulipe Noire mainly due to the interest of foreign companies in their music and all lyrics would afterwards be written (fortunately) in English.

I would not call this album essential for a listener of Greek citizenship, as I am.The lyrics is a bit of a problem.The music though is quite good with a special reference on the awesome keyboard work and foreign listeners can add even a whole star to this rating.Almost recommended...2.5 stars

This is the most recent release from these Greek Neo Proggers. If your into concept albums this is a very ambitious concept about a Greek odyssey as seen through a Greek poet's eyes. Each track is written about in detail in the liner notes so you can follow along.The band has changed their sound somewhat, becoming heavier but this is still Neo-Prog in case you were wondering.Usually when a band becomes heavier I like them better, but that's not always the case and this is a good example. I still hold their album "Shattered Image" up as my absolute favourite by them.

"Anakrourssis" is the instrhumental intro track that opens with atmosphere before kicking in just before a minute. It's heavier 2 1/2 minutes in. A calm a minute later with atmosphere as it blends into "Oenops Pontos". It starts to build and we get vocals for the first time after a minute.This sounds really good.These first two tracks are my favourites. "Lotus Eaters" kicks in with vocals quickly but the tempo shifts a lot on this one. Catchy stuff. "Polyphemus" opens with keys and synths as reserved vocals join in. It kicks in before 2 minutes fairly heavily. Piano and spoken words after 3 1/2 minutes. It kicks back in heavily 4 1/2 minutes in.Great sound before 6 minutes. "Circe" opens with atmosphere before becoming synth and vocal led.The organ is prominant after 4 minutes and the guitar follows.

"Tiresias" opens with atmosphere then it kicks in. "Nissos Sirinon" has a catchy rhythm but overall i'm not a fan. "Scylla And Charybdis" builds with vocals. It's nice and heavy before 3 minutes before it lightens with piano. "Calypso" has the focus on the vocals and it's fairly laid back. It does get fuller at times and we get some brief guitar late. "Phaeacia" opens with piano then vocals and a fuller sound follows. "Ithaca" is not the best closing track i've heard but it's okay.

A good album no doubt, but for me it's not a 4 star record. If your into concept albums in the heavy Neo-Prog style you'll want to check this out.

Then my first impression of this album was an easy an listening pop rock, a simpler and female version of Marillion Fish era, with catchy melodies, and nice keys arrangements. The Marillion influence is evident, Shattered Ego, is a rip off of "Script for a Jester tear", the intro, the structure of the song and the final coda has the same armonies! There are other songs that remember the Marillion style, "Empty streets" for example remember me a b-side of Marillion, Tux-on, for the drum, the style of guitar and the same armonies, ok fortunately there are diversified arrangement of piano and a stunning keys solo that makes it very pleasant. Their Masterpiece is sure the long track "Haze", where is possible to see this band to shine, the song is very structured with several time changed and beautiful instrumental interlude between guitar and organ, especially in central part of the track. The other song are a bit weak, and in my opinion. Highly recommended album for all MARILLION/neo-prog fans, but just 3 stars.

I don't understand why this album is so high rated and why this band changed their old style becoming heavier almost metal. The metal sound is present in too much songs and in my opinion this ruin the catchy melodies you was used to listen in their previus album, although this makes the sound much modern than before. Yes there are some stunning melodies like in "Oenops Pontos", Calypso and the strength "Lotus Eaters", with a beautiful keyboard solos at the end of the track. The other tracks are well structured with strong solos of guitar and keyboards, and mellow moments at centre of the composition. The production here is excellent, with brilliant arrangement and all the instruments are well calibrated, that's a good improvement compared to their previous works. 3 stars

I know very well this band, and now after i've listened all their 4 album, i can give my review in a full vision of their whole work. Their style remember a bit Marillion or Pendragon, but very less in this album, and just in the central passage of "Winter in your heart", you can hear the sound a la Marillion, but the band has his own style, that i'll define Baroque Neo progressive, for the brillant arrangements of keybords, and beautiful instrumental passages in the central part of the compositions. The best songs IMHO are: "Le fond du Ciel", that open with a bombastic crescendo instrumental part to end with the voice of the female singer in a mellow way to change again like before and change again, and "Castle on the Sand" driven by a melodic guitar, and by the passionate voice of the singer. The lead singer "Ima" is absolutely fantastic with her emotive, strong and evocative vocals, and her tone of voice fits perfectly with this kind of music. The moods are melancholic, strong, emotive and romantic. This album is a Masterpiece, after many listen, i don't find it borig or dull, 5 full stars