LE BATELEUR

Le Bateleur is the second album by this amazing French prog duo. Once again out to challenge the listener with their constant changing throughout each piece leaving you wondering what they'll do next, and it's always something amazing. They may go Canterbury in one part, then give a wonderful spacy synth solo that sounds straight out of the 1970s to Camel-like guitar passages, RIO and Zeuhl type stuff in another passage, symphonic prog parts as well. What I love is the seriously retro approach these guys do. Lots of great analog synths, although the Mellotron is sampled, although still well done. I love how complex and challenging this music is, but they also manage a wonderful flow without ever sounding choppy or abrupt. This is the type of prog I've been looking for, not some overlong boring stuff with scarcely any good ideas (a problem I leveled at many prog releases since the 1990s), but totally wonderful and engaging material. Some may complain that it's a bit too all over the place, but not me as it all sounds like it's all put together very well. Although nothing like Änglagård or All Traps on Earth, they too do that "do one thing, go on to the next" approach. This is truly an amazing album, and don't forget to check out their debut, which is just as amazing!