FURVENT

After the stellar debut just a year prior, Le Grand Sbam comes back with their second effort, Furvent. The ensemble has grew with two new members now, including additional female vocal, keyboards (Rhodes/Moog Little Phatty) and cimbalom, and the cimbalom is an especially prominent part of Furvent's sound, bringing tons of oriental flavour into the mix. The first time around The Grand Sbam felt to me like a cross between an avant- garde prog band with a travelling satiric theatre, whereas now it feels like a real, proper contemporary music ensemble. In any case, let me tell you: the Sbam is more Grand than it ever was!

"La trace" opens up with an endless cascade of syllabes, and that's exactly what I want! Just so... so many beautiful syllabes! Let me tell you right away: the usage of human voices on this album is out of this world. The piece starts off very dense and rapid, but you will quicly find there is quite a lot of room for quiet, atmospheric moments, which I really like. I can feel I'm in an another universe, it's so god damn immersive. Overall, the suite is very much melodic and graceful, with some neat instrumental surprises (like an up-tempo vocal jazzy run or electronic, moody, Gwyn Wurst-style part towards the end) and dramatic vocals. And the coda, oh man, the coda sends me to the moon. Fantastic, magical, hats off!

"Nephèsh" is definitely my favourite piece on the album. It's not as massive or dense as "La trace", as it features only piano and group vocals. However, it's been stuck real hard in my head ever since I've heard if for the first time. The vocals are so lush and beautiful, I love every single voice: from high, melodic and dancy females to low, rhythmic and sarcastic males. It actually brings tears to my eyes, believe it or not. And Antoine Arnera's piano playing here, MY GOD!!!!! He's been my favourite keyboard player for a while, but what he does here is absolutely outstanding! So fast, yet so full of grace and feeling. His style is truly unique and awe-inspiring, and "Nephèsh" is a 1000% piano killer. I literally can't overstate how much I love it. I'd actually go as far as to say that this is one of the most favourite pieces of music I've heard in my life. Stunning, ravishing, unexplainably magical. I love it, love it with all of my soul!

"Yi Yin" is the main soundgrinder of the album, divided into eight parts and taking over half of the album. The piece is... well, it's massive alright. Gargantuan even. Very experimental, written so densely, I can't fully comprehend. Packed with many different moods, from dark and gloomy creeping chamer-zeuhl combo ("Les morts vont vite" by Shub-Niggurath comes to mind) to fast, wicked avant-prog a'la U-Totem's self-titled debut. I'm especially stunned by the endless supply of ridiculously complicated rhythms - stuff you'd expect to hear on a modern/contemporary music release (which, in its own way, Furvent really is). The composition is simply outstanding, some of the most impressive rock music ever had to offer. I stare at it in awe. How can you even write this stuff?!

"Choon Choon", hahaha! After nearly an hour of musical terror the band says "farewell" to the listener with a short, simple, sweet and dancy song. Very unexpected indeed. I'm gonna be completely honest - I don't really care for the song all that much, though I see it as a sweet, little cherry on the top: a refreshing aftertaste, if you will. Lovely, lovely.

Thanks to the kind people at Dur et Doux I was actuallly able to listen to the album long before even my pre- order CD arrived, and let me tell you: I will probably remember my first listen for the end of my life, it was really special. Truly a spectacular, fresh new way of combining zeuhl, avant-prog, contemporary music and many more influences. I would like to thank the band for making this record become a part of my life. Let's hope by the next release they're gonna grow into a full-sized symphonic orchestra (or at least get a bassoon player, that would be neat)! Whatever future brings, I'm waiting furiously. Vive le Sbam!

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