GERARD MANSET

— First review of this album —

1In A Country Of Gingerbread ... its modern, a good point, it had to be; the bass and the synth give the rhythm, a female voice denotes, why not it feels like you're in the islands, not worse; Gérard equal to himself with his voice, his words; ah he sentences again; his lyrics always intoxicating, ah but you have to get used to this too cold drum machine 2Le Crabe Aux Pinces D'homme returns to the sound of yesteryear, so much so that I hear snippets of Jean- Patrick with his crystalline guitar; frantic rhythm, trumpets, cheerful; more texts that you have to ask yourself to... listen to, the music wants to be consensual, more supportive, he said; well the trumpet-piano and overplayed bass variation, you have to swallow it... he said the Javanese pajamas well we know where we are 3 Hope beautiful heavy guitar with phrasing, we return to his previous albums, which I don't like; age, the desire to change, all that on a basic guitar arpeggio, it's very little, it's too little; yes it is well recorded but his words which made me dream no longer work... his age? his inclinations with little girls who wore white dresses? This implication irritates me from now on; yes the guitar is warm, warm, but too suggestive of his inclinations, ah hope was there freedom there? And the fox and the weasel were TRI-YANN, that's all; well finally the bomb that fell happened in 40 and so we are far from what you imagined 4 Pantera with ultra bass and organ for a title sailing between MANSET and CABREL, incredible with these backing vocals and the air that takes you away whether you listen to its words or not; the minimal but thunderous orchestration at the same time, much more modern and that's a plus even if it's a lot at once, MANSET evolves and kills the panther to save his skin 5 Marilou‐Marilou... lost illusions of a youth, of a lost love, of a youth where life was good in France; a sound with organ of the time, just to try to conquer Marilou and the western slide guitar just to have time to go up Route 66! Otherwise how does he manage to be able to speak-paraphrase for almost a quarter of an hour, he who was well known for his repeated verses...there it is torrent galore; the good part if Gérard doesn't want to go on the airwaves, he will be served there; if he would like to go on the airwaves, well that will pose a problem in the long run; but hey that would be known if we put quality on the airwaves 6 Black Sandals with the return of the echoing, redundant voice, finally you understand me; intimate ballad there, spleen guitar solo and stopping the electro synths for good 7 Leave us but leave me, where I feel the southern atmosphere, the warm one, for the long sunny evenings; and the return of his vocal technique, I always love that 8 A Love Story as an intimate lullaby for a moment of solitude or how to fall... in love! 9 But She Is There ah, she is there for the title lament, with a contemplative and depressive air, with a desire to heal her wounds, to move forward to avoid remaining in the past; the orchestration is intended to be dark, melancholic to leave this adventure cheerful 10 La Fontaine De La Vérité D'amour for the last title and a title with sung vocals and phrasing; the languorous violin behind the trademark and the electronic percussion more in the background... that you know it! The plus for the Manset versions for a while now is the melancholic slide base which no longer transports you to Thailand but to the great lands of the western; for his texts, listen and you will know more.

MANSET or how to achieve excellence far from the tumultuous world! 1 Kingdom Of Siam or the perfect title; my first listen, violins as required, dynamic drums, the soft guitar that comes from behind, the magnificent sithare that squirts and the air from there, just... perfect, the voice, his voice in reverberation, something of his own 2 Balanced the tune that hooks you from the start, the strident guitar, the redundant chorus, well remixed, yes the first version is more and more has-been and you have to listen to Manset the goldsmith who likes to rework his compositions; in short, do not swing to see the difference; what in the ditch more; the monotone tone is amplified by trumpets, yes the kind of instrument that repulses me but which has the opposite effect, ah if I could understand everything; I whisper his texts, I invest them, I incorporate them 3 The Sea Has Not Ceased to Descend Well I'll be quick, I love 3 titles more than anything including this one; why I don't know, probably an overdose at the time; today what is left apart from this bewitching voice, these texts... always the same one wanting to be right, this synth just neither too soft nor too present; in short a mantra this title that I can repeat in my head to fall asleep, that's how; captivating tune despite the very short duration of the pieces; what prog blood could flow in short titles too, but yes my brave sir, ah how I would like this expression to rub off on you 4 When Tu Portes guitar arpeggio in coulis on a flight of melancholic violins or how to fly away to the lands of Siam; a metronomic bass as a base and the journey again

5 Snow Is White .... the 3rd title is this one; crystalline piano, solemn air, we wait for the rest...drums hop here we go, from looking at each other, from not understanding...time is running out for me to tell you about it; ah this bass which made the LEDs of my first channel vibrate, ah this text, ah this text hey the snow is white ah no I was in a dream; 6 No More Belief or the eternal question about knowledge and youth leads far, far; hop serious sax and the drift, the progressive instrumental variation at donf, the moment when you know that you are elsewhere whatever happens; a long finale with the sensation of listening to the men who connect men ad by Phil COLLINS 7 The Day You Want to Leave with another kingdom-stamped intro, with tuned piano, guitar, drums and violin; the orchestral like a diamond in the rough, the melody with the crystalline piano note and... the birds fallen from the nest; when it is beautiful there is nothing more to write, the sound engraved in your memory doing the rest; but one day you will have to remember if you have forgotten; the MANSET sound is the invitation to stroll, stroll, walk along your brain and to actually compose osmosis to release a concept album without realizing it 8 Alone And Bald ooh that one is dated; piano and dark cello on a heady tune, basic but magnified by these captivating lyrics; the racing piano makes you prick your ears and prepares you for this piano-drum madness in a furious crescendo; that's it, it's gone, I'll leave you; the always tangy guitar adds a background to move you a little more if that's still possible, MANSET that's it!

Red Coat, The Sunda Islands, The Bridge, Your Happy Soul and The Mask on the Wall were added on a remix CD, but I'm telling you about the origin, just to keep the good memories of this cult album, a or my sister was surprised one Sunday before leaving for her midwifery studies to see me listening to her, such is life.

In the early 70's the French EMI/ Pathe label released a handful of wonderfully weird albums that have long been sought after by collectors and music fans alike. Personally I'd like to give a big round of applause to their A&R department whoever they were or whatever they were on as this was some seriously creative stuff. Guy Skornik's trippy 'Pour Pauwels', 'Puzzle' by Michel Berger which shamefully has yet to be reissued, avant-garde composer Igor Wakhevitch's stunning 'Hathor' and Gerard Manset's 'La Mort D'Orion' are works that should be heard at least once by anyone with a remote interest in progressive pop and art rock.

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Gerard Manset is something of a renaissance man. Raised in suburban Paris, he's a musician, painter and travel writer with a vast catalog of albums that all have something to recommend although it's 1970's 'La Mort D'Orion' (The Death of Orion) that is widely considered his masterpiece. A science fiction concept album, it's a dark journey but space rock this is not. This is orchestral pop twisted into modern classical music akin to some of Franco Battiato's output. The opening title track clocks in just shy of 25 minutes and it's a remarkable piece of music. A small string quartet leads to a spoken word piece by Manset, followed by a female operatic interlude and light East Indian raga all within a minute and a half. Astounding and Manset's voice is wonderful on 'Vivent Les Hommes' (Living Men) backed again by soprano vocals and a crescendo of strings and piano while 'Le Paradis Terrestre' (Heaven on Earth) alternates between opera and pop effortlessly.

My command of the French language is non-existent, but that has never interfered with my enjoyment of this album. It's one of a kind and should be bookended with the Serge Gainsbourg classic 'Historie de Melody Nelson' and William Sheller's dazzling 'Lux Aeterna' as the best in early 70's French music.

The new Manset doesn't disappoint far from it this latest album finds Gerard in fine form. Once again the production is outstanding and the sound is immense. Over the years Gerard Manset developped his craft as a master songwriter and each album release is a true event. From the opening song Comme Un Lego to the closing track Dans Mon Berceau J'entends Manset captivates his audience. The second track Dans Un Jardin Que Je Sais, Quand Une Femme and O Amazonie are for me the highlights so far but the trick with Manset is that you discover something new with each listening session...A good 4 Stars as Manset seem to mature over time like an old wine...

Gerard Manset is one of the French poètes maudits, cultivating mystery, poetry, innovation far from the beaten tracks of French commercial, easy listening chanson. Few French musicians have this rich flavour except perhaps William Sheller. A great melodist and arranger, this man can play on words too. This first real opus is a gem. A concept album based on Science-Fiction, the story of a dying planet. A universe close to the first King Crimson's albums plus the French touch (stress on the vocals and lyrics), including an orchestra. More progressive by the attitude than by the typical prog sound as we mean today. But we are in 1970, aren't we? Very recommended. Recently reissued and remastered.