NICOLAS II

Potemkine - Nicolas II it's a very unique piece of undiscovered history! This album hasn't a weak track, every song it's full of musical acrobaties, tecnique, great arrangments and emotions of course! This album it's very jazz/rock fusion influenced, there is not much zeuhl ispiration like his precedessor Triton. This work is more shiny than Triton

Tango Panache it's one of the greatest song i've ever heard, seriously! You will sure note the strong Fusion inspiration for this one, from the first note of the guitar and the timing of the drums. The guitar of Charles Goubin plays some very deep notes full of expression, he had a great sense of creativity and composition (i read that Charles Goubin has died in a car accident in 11 july 1979) and the solos are amazing, even if they're a little shorter. The bass line and the drums are something excellent, they play a very hard parts that pulsate in the hearts of those how listen and leave an undeletable sing in their minds. Probably this song has been recorded in live playing in studio, there is some minor errors that i've noticed, but the result it's something amazing! The cd goes on and then we have Rasputine, a strange track i assume. There is not the same energy of the first track but the result is not bad at all! Even with dissonant or dark chord this band keep a great sound! Theme pour un swing immaginare it's a very creative song! It's very fantasious track, this shows that this band can be very various. Remind me some 80's tv series but hey, there is a great keyboard and guitar work and there is a very catchy rythm accompained by a great bass line! Overall, this song it's great Now we're going to take a little break, Air de famille (which means family resemblance in French) it's a quite calm and relaxing song. There is a great use of Rhodes piano (with phaser effect i assume) and synthsiezer that create a good atmosphere, the other instruments complete a picture of a good and genuine song. Ode de mars starts with a calm phrase with a good choise of notes, than this song become different, becoming a bit darker. An inteligent use of the guitar and Rhodes in this track, a great and complex timing with drums. It's not my favourite song, but i have to admit that there is a great job behind it. Aux images it's another song that make you understand how this band had great capabilies! It's really different from the rest of the album. Something really really calm, with acoustic piano, synthesiezer and a very very quiet percussion work that will also close this song. Just a good song that create a very calm and relaxing atmospehere. Then we close with Amphiteatre Magique, which begin with a misterious riff and synthesiezer filling the atmosphere. This song have got some choir too which create a powerfull atmosphere and synths have good sounds too.

In Soleil Zeuhl cd there is also some bonus tracks, comings from Foetus, but i think i should review those song appart, Nicolas II ends with Anphiteatre Magique, so i think we done!

In conclusion this album it's bomb! I think this band had a very personal sounds, it was a real disgrace that guitarist died in a car accident, this band maybe deserved a great future. I recomend this cd to every fan of Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report, Magma, Area, Yes, Gentle Giant and jazz rock in general! This it's a real undiscovered masterpiece, if you see this cd for a good price, don't think a second, just buy it!

PS: I'm sorry for my English but i'm italian, it's not perfect... I forgot! The cover art it very beutiful!