PETRICHOR

For the second time I discovered the name of "Petrichor" for an album title, it was already present on the album released at the end of 2018 by the French group KEOR that I strongly recommend, and BAND OF RAIN which comes from take out his seventh throw. This word designates a particular odor, usually pleasant, which the earth takes on after rain. This definition indicates the direction and the turn that this work will take, it will let glimpse the romantic and traditional roots adopted by BAND OF RAIN, like an ideological message announced before the discovery of the content, the informed listener will perceive all these aspects over the listening . This album takes again the English folk bases already heard in the preceding opus, but improved by a more elaborate work and fructified by the additional arrival of seasoned musicians. These British artists offer us Psychedelic / Space Rock music with claimed influences from groups such as PINK FLOYD, KING CRIMSON, RENAISSANCE and YES with a special mention for the expert synthesizer and composer LARRY FAST "Synergy". Note that an eighth album written during confinement is already being recorded. "Petrichor" is a conceptual disc whose main themes are witchcraft, superstition and weather. Here is a summary of my impressions: "Daughter of the Moor" begins slowly like a good track by MARILLION with a voice resembling that of the legendary FISH, the song turns and metamorphoses into tremolos pushed to the extreme like Tom YORK , a "Zeppelin" guitar solo accompanies this vocal feat. We delay with synthetic and pianistic passages to start again with another throat ... three singers for the price of one? This time it twists like a Jeff BUCKLEY in great shape if I may say so ..., it looks like a cover of this much-regretted genius (rip), with almost the same orchestral effects with a very rocky temperament tuned to the same guitar which never ceases to send us endless solis as a kind of well-balanced background sound. "The Craft" develops an instrumental resonance that reminds me of YES "Tormato" period, but with a vocals all their own. A voice alone or with others interpret a few plaintive couplets melting in a form of softness sussurated with subtlety as if to speak in the ear of a loved one ... Sensations sometimes folkloric, sometimes medieval with some atmospheric moments, but constantly dressed in the same bewitching rhythm ... it's beautiful and sad at the same time, but above all successful! "Larkspur" sends us tortured sentences like a castra with intense emotions. The word is strong, but the vocal prowess is there ... hats off! A slow and sporadic tempo appears repetitive to better accompany this voice which never stops dying, with this impression of listening to a story with a glorious past and "Tolkiesques". Guitar riffs with heavy harmonies will complete this beautiful heritage. This "Merlin" does not speak, he takes us on an instrumental journey in a magical and chimerical world rocked by a tempo that sounds like a death knell. He slowly retraces his epic to us through a light and airy bass that wanders through ancestral times, enhanced by endless and distorted riffs and guitar solos. Close your eyes and let yourself be carried away by this captivating and spooky piece. With "Tupelo" we come back to earth, we retouch a very rock ground with all its variants, finished the lyricism of yesteryear. Here blues is mixed with rock, rock with country, but always scaffolded by a touch of mystery and electric sounds revolving in loops in the background, providing this track with a striking rendering to better establish a refined cinematic relief. After two very interesting and heterogeneous instrumental pieces I find with delight our singer prodigy on one of the best tracks of the album: "Witchfinder". MATTHEW CORRY delivers us in addition melancholic and exhilarating songs comparable to those of the leader of RADIOHEAD accompanied by an orchestration of the same name, intonations of the talented JIM GRAY of the group CALIGULA'S HORSE are interspersed admirably in certain epic passages where the chills become overwhelming ! A pivotal passage at 2:40 will make us levitate above the sofa and teleport us into an imaginary world full of sweetness, escorted by a melodic guitar installed in a perpetual solo, before ending this masterpiece with a little lullaby full of delicacy and emotion. The eponymous "Petrichor" the longest title of this opus was obviously conceived around the voice of MATTHEW CORRY. I am not going to complain about it, because here MATTHEW CORRY gives us the cover with a anthology of his vocal possibilities revealing to us the full extent of his talent.The instruments are in perfect harmony with this overwhelming voice, whose controlled emotions rise crescendo until the essential oil is drawn from this humus with vital scents. What to say about this album ...? Quite simply that it is beautiful, that the melodies are immensely deep and melancholic, that the orchestration offers us a complete and bewitching tapestry of the most beautiful effect, and that I have just adopted a new sublime voice in my musical repertoire. This group which is in its seventh album deserves to be better known, and should be referenced among the greats of progressive music! The recurring problem with masterpieces is that they are inaccessible to ordinary people, I myself did not fall in love with the first keys, but I have the immense advantage of writing chronicles that force me to be rigorous and to listen a certain number of times before judging. Now I am wise, and I strongly advise you to harness yourself to this little wonder, and not to let go before having felt all the contents!