LES VOYAGES DE MIKADO

This band has operated under the radar of PA for a long time. That is my conclusion after discovering that this is the first ever review of both this album or any of their five other albums. The band is still active. Both gigs and a new album is scheduled. But this album is their debut album and I hope to review the five others within a short time-frame.

So, what is in store for those who want to venture into their world ? The lyrics on this album is sung in French. The good vocals is theatrical and like Peter Gabriel at times. The music is somewhere between symphonic prog, neo-prog, cabaret music and folk & medieval music. I get a lot of HARMONIUM, MARILLION and GENESIS vibes out of this music. The band is known for their theatrical gigs (hence the GENESIS connection). That shines through at this album. Their love for classic medieval music also shines through. MAGNESIS is not a one-trick-pony. The music here is very poetic. It is like MARILLION on their most poetic. Both MARILLION and IQ is a good reference.

It is my qualified guess that this is a concept album about something which happened hundreds of years ago. It feels like a concept album. The music is pretty good with some good melodies and hooks. Guitars and keyboards are the main instruments. The music is basically moods based where the band paint sound-landscapes of their medieval concept. I think it is an interesting album. Mostly because it brings something new to the market. I have problems finding anything to compare it with. Maybe that is down to my limited exposure to prog rock outwith the main bands. But I conclude that this is a good album.

3 stars