NYL

After the demise of Cheval Fou guitarist Michel Peteau along with drummer Stéphane Rossini moved on to form a new group under the name Nyl.The band produced one sole release on Urus Records before fading into obscurity for good.The album features some important guest musicians in differrent tracks, like bassist Jannick Top of Magma fame or ex-Ame Son Patrick Fontaine and Bernard Lavialle on bass and guitars respectively.The same album with plenty of unpublished recordings was released on Legend in 1994 and more recently on Psych Up Melodies.

Regarding the original album, this is quite short (just 27 minutes), but it is definitely a slight improvement over Cheval Fou's unpolished sound.''Nyl'' is again a Psych-flavored Heavy Rock album with a bit of a jazzy taste throughout, where Peteau's guitars lead the way.However gone are most of the freak-out ASH RA TEMPEL-like experiments of the previous band and ''Nyl'' is actually characterized by the raw, attacking and strongly psychedelic guitar grooves of Peteau along with his edgy soloing, often accompanied by tasteless vocals (credited to a number of singers), which strangely fit well with the powerful music, and of course the solid and slightly improvised Rossini drumming.The opening eponymous track contains also some flashy space synths (credited to D. B. F ???), while the distinct jazzy vibe comes from the dynamic sax interventions appearing in a couple of tracks.

The CD reissue of the album contains no less than 38 minutes of bonus material from the recordings of the group.Actually the first tracks of this extra stuff ('' Ibha'', ''Jaguar I & II) continues from where the album stopped.Good spacey Heavy/Psych Rock with some nervous synths and saxes to go along with Peteau's guitars.The longer tracks (as well as the rest of the material) though remind more of Cheval Fou than Nyl.Long spacey jams with many improvised, almost Kraut-Rock, passages and full of fiery psychedelic grooves and sound effects, this is some very hypnotic music with a free feeling overall, close to the likes of AMON DUUL, GONG or early SOFT MACHINE.

This is quite deep Heavy/Psychedelic Rock with much diversity, while the CD reissue makes ''Nyl'' an even more attractive purchase.Recommended for all Acid Rock and Prog/Psych maniacs out there.