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La Tulipe Noire - In the Gates of Dream CD (album) cover

IN THE GATES OF DREAM

La Tulipe Noire

 

Neo-Prog

2.60 | 28 ratings

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apps79
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
2 stars LA TULIPE NOIR were born in Athens,Greece in 1997 out of the ashes of the group ''Mavri toulipa'',which is the greek phrase for black toulip.Actually this pre-LA TULIPE NOIR act recorded an album on Wipe Out Records in 1992,entitled ''Ta logia tou anemou'' (''Words of the wind'').The original line-up featured Lena on vocals, Alix (piano & keys), S. Kontakis (el. & ac. guitar), Y. Barkoulas (el. & ac. guitar), George F. (drums) and Hyde on bass guitar.The same year they recorded an album with Greek lyrics,soon translated into English,after the interest of foreign companies in the band.This one meant to be the band's official debut ''In The Gates Of Dream'',released on Europa Records in Greece and distributed by Musea throughout Europe.

STYLE: Modern Symphonic Rock flirting with Neo Progressive at moments,supported by the crystalline vocals of Lena.The sound is rather keyboard-driven with tons of synths,piano and organ passages,resulting often a dark mysterious atmosphere.Guitars can be quite melodic and a bit aggresive at the same time,while most of the tracks move in a mid tempo.Some sudden breaks add to the album a complex flavor.

SOUNDS LIKE: The overall sound is closer to bands in the likes of Polish prog (ABRAXAS, SATELLITE,COLLAGE,ANAMOR),though not of the same class.Early British neo/symph prog bands like IQ,JADIS or PALLAS are an evident influence.

PLUS: Very nice keyboard work with alternating synths,piano and organs giving the album a great amount of variety.Vocals of Lena are obviously decent with an operatic touch.Guitar parts are also good,though not something excellent.

MINUS: Awful production,making the whole album sound so plastic,the biggest dissapointment of this release by far.Compositionally the band stands on a mediocre level with plenty of unmemorable stuff.The combination of this style of music with such crystalline,almost operatic vocals is often unsuccesful.The line-up features a drummer,but it's hard to believe it's not a drum machine playing.

WILL APPEAL TO: Fans of modern Neo/Symph Prog and obscure collectors,trying to purchase albums from countries with a limited prog past.

CONCLUSION/RATING: It was the first album of the band,which excuses so many mistakes,like the amateur production,the mediocre song-writing and the questionable mix.Talent is there,the future would show...2 stars.

apps79 | 2/5 |

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