LIBRE SERVICE - SELF SERVICE

I guess you could call this "Rhythmic Fusion" with all the percusion, drums, xylophones and vibes. Very accessible and polished with shorter tracks, it's a far cry from their first amazing album. So yes this was disappointing for me at first, mostly because my reference point with them is the first album. On the other hand this is so intricate and melodic it's hard not to like it.

"Troizix" opens with a beat and lots of clapping. Guitar comes in followed later by flute. "L'Envol Des Singes Latins" opens with percussion and synths before drums and flute take over.There is an island vibe to this tune after 1 1/2 minutes. A catchy track. "Les Petoncles" is better with the slower beat and vibes. Guitar and bass follow. I like the calm after 3 minutes. Sax comes in then the tempo picks up to end it. "La Belle Et La Bete" features xylophone and vibes early with drums. Flute 1 minute in. I like it better 2 1/2 minutes in as we get a fuller sound. A gong ends it. "Bagdad" has a good rhythm to it once it gets going. "Noemi" is less than a minute of piano,guitar and flute.

"Celebration" opens with bells as flute joins in. A full sound arrives around 1 1/2 minutes. "La Noce" opens with sleigh bells then flute and classical guitar. I feel like throwing on some tights and prancing around. Kidding ! Thankfully a good piano melody takes over with drums and bass. Guitar comes in at 2 1/2 minutes. Flute leads the way later. "Toujours Trop Tard" is mellow with flute. Drums, percussion and guitar take over. Sax 3 minutes in then guitar returns before 4 minutes. I like this one a lot, especially the melancholic mood early. "Miro Vibro" opens with piano before flute and percussion arrive before 2 minutes. Piano is back leading the way then flute joins in again. Tasteful guitar late.

There is certainly lots to enjoy here if your into the lighter side of Fusion. Barely 4 stars. I really like the album cover too for some reason.