AU-DELÀ DES OMBRES

Canadian bassist Robin Gaudreault was born in Roberval, Quebec and became known when becoming the bassist of Direction.However, before Direction even launched their first album, Gaudreault wrote his sole personal album, recorded in three different studios, under the name of Ere G, just using the initial letters of his full name as a pseudonym.For this release he transforms from a compentent bassist to a full multi-instrumentalist, handling guitars, bass, keyboards, flutes and vocals, even if he is helped by no less than eight guest musicians and singers.Entitled ''Au-dela des ombres'', this work saw the light as a private production in 2002.

Although Gaudreault's album is on par with the sound of many contemporary Neo/Symphonic Prog groups, there is something very retro-sounding throughout this whole effort, propably coming from the combination of electric guitars and modern synthesizers with the vintage echoes of flutes and Mellotron at moments.While not fully convincing, this combination achieves to adapt nicely the current Prog stylings with the 70's scene and Gaudreault's album sounds if FLAMBOROUGH HEAD and GALLEON had some spare time to share ideas with HARMONIUM and BEAU DOMMAGE.His music passes through ethereal, romantic soundscapes with excellent French vocals, rural flute lines and orchestral Mellotron washes to energetic, modern Symphonic Rock, where the edgy guitars meet the nervous sound of synthesizers.Songwriting is pretty great and the arrangements are delicate and well-executed with changing climates and alternations between fairytale atmospheres to rich, instrumental Progressive Rock.There is also a fair amount of acoustic themes in the album, which works very good next to the spacey keyboards and the more melodic side of electric guitars and makes the whole mood even more dreamy.Today meets yesterday in a work full of past, present and even future nuances, executed with love and care.

Gaudreault's stint with Direction would last for five years and three studio albums, as he left the band just before the release of their third album ''13''.

A must-have for any fan of French-spoken Progressive Rock and a decent addition for all followers of the current and past Progressive Rock sounds.Dreamy, atmospheric and melodic music, that deserves a warm recommendation.