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Pulsar - Halloween CD (album) cover

HALLOWEEN

Pulsar

 

Symphonic Prog

4.03 | 202 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer
4 stars Third opus from this good French band. Influences here are plenty : "Floyd" of course, "Crimson", "Oldfield" as well as "Tangerine Dream".

You can add some symphonic touches ("Genesis") as well, and you'll get the picture. The space-rock trip proposed here, is extremely pleasant. After a short intro, the start of "Tired Answer" is just fabulous, but unlike other reviewers, I just feel about the same throughout the two suite-pieces of music contained in this very good album.

Beauty and emotion are best expressed here. One of the sweetest flute, acoustic guitar and mellotron combination I have ever heard. On par with some great "Genesis" moments. The mood changes drastically during the second part which sounds more as a tortured, dark "Crimson" recipe. Very good combination which flows perfectly the one into the other. A highlight.

The third movement ("Colours of Childhood") is somewhat mellow and more spacey. Very soft (but not great, I admit) vocals and pleasant synth finale. It is also true to say that the last movement ("Sorrow Of My Dreams") from "Part I" is not as powerful as "Tired Answer". But otherwise, it would have been a masterpiece.

The listener is brought back again in the spacey and ambient atmosphere with "Lone Fantasy". Same sort of song like "Colours of Childhood" : peaceful acoustic music with this time, a smooth sax to punctuate it.

"Dawn Over Darkness" opens with a fantastic and fully symphonic section again. Vocals tend to be a bit too theatrical ("Ange" 's influence I guess). Fully Trespass-esque and tranquil. Like during the short "Misty Garden Of Passion". We'll get another "Crimson" style of instrumental track with "Fear Of Frost". Harrowing, scary, jamming. This brings some diversity in this ocean of symphony in which we are plunged again during the wonderful opera-like "Time". A great closing section, believe me (just too short IMO).

These thirty-nine minutes are so expressive (even if melancholic at times), so subtle, so melodic that one has the impression that times flies while listening to it. Do yourself a favour and have a spin with "Halloween". You shouldn't regret it if you like the references I have mentioned in my intro.

Four stars.

ZowieZiggy | 4/5 |

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