LÉDA ET LE CYGNE

Marginally better than SINFONIA DELLA LUNA, if only because the band integrated their influences a bit better here (i.e.: no obvious plagiarism). The keyboard sound is still unbelievably lush (the obvious attraction here), the drums are still used sparingly and Nakamura's arch, clipped singing style is still rather annoying.

Oddly, the track everyone considers the high point of this album-"Edmond's Old Mirror"-is for me the low point. The electronic drums playing a hip-hop beat almost throughout is beyond tacky, and completely inappropriate for what they were obviously going for with the piece. It improves somewhat when the violin solo begins, but the damage has been done.

Much better is the lovely "Salomé", with its rich, evocative textures. Again the Enid/Sky parallel applies, even more so as the album ends with a gentle reading of Ravel's "Pavane pour une infante défunte".