LA MAISON DE FLORE

Second self-released album for this Belgian combo, coming from the South of Brussels having started out some 4 years ago, a sextet that came to attention with their very spectacular theatrical shows and a very original and dramatic music, while always remaining fun and light-hearted. Indeed we are light years away from the sombre chamber prog of Present and Univers Zero, and this is rather good news for the Belgian scene, which is flourishing with a new wave of prog groups, of which AmAndA is one of the brightest hopes. While the Flemish groups seem to stick to formulas and signing in English, on the Walloon side, some of the groups (AmAndA a.o.) don't hesitate to develop some more unusual sounds and dare singing in their native tongue, which gives all the more force to the originality of their music.

And AmAndA is indeed original, coming more as a concept on the mysterious and elusive character, to the point of intriguing everyone with their question: "Qui Est AmAndA?" Don't look yet for solutions in this album, since the group concentrates on a delicious blonde girl called Flore (AmAndA's sister? Lover? Best friend?) sprawled all over the album, including a superb slipcase and on the disc itself. So blond an animal, that her blond mane inspired of some of Belgian's most famous brews (hopefully tasting like them too ;-), Flore could even make us forget AmAndA.

AmAndA's music is resolutely modern, some might even hear it close to neo-prog: there is a bit of that, but also so much more. Indeed the music oscillates between a solid symphonic prog ala Genesis or Ange, without sounding retro either, laced with a solid dose of crunchy guitars (almost metal) and highly entertaining vocals ranging from the operatic to the whispering, riveting us to our seat (especially the Latin passage of Sontes Latent), begging for more and prayer for relief at the same time.

The main spirit of AmAndA is FUN, so their music reflects that, remaining happy even in the dramatic moments where they pull a few spine chills from the listener, even if the subject of the lyrics can seem trite. And AmAndA also has a very pop side as well, reminiscent of the greater Queen, 10 CC or The Sparks, even sporting art rock looks; their pop facet even taking a bizarre synthetic rhythm at times. But the guitar duo will never allow it to digress from the rock aesthetics, while the keyboard duo will reinforce prog "topics".

Likely one of the most original albums to come in the new millennium from Belgium (I'd even say Europe), La Maison De Flore is sometimes astonishing (even astounding) by the flawless execution, and even non-French speakers should enjoy this highly entertaining storyline in great part due to excellent vocal works.

Amanda is a very intrsting young progressive rock band from Belgium who reached at number 2 album in 2007 named La maison de flore. The band is a sextet playing , at least for me, a combination of eclectic moments , symphonic arrangements and here and there some neo prog elements added make from this second album a truly great album in this field. Theatrical music sung in french and ocasionaly in latin, this album is quite pretencious in places, but very well played and composed, solid and tight musicianship grace the album from the first to last note. Geting from almost dark passages where the keybords had a main role with solid guitar chops to a more happy atmosphere Amanda did a great job here. When listen to this album , similarities comes in mind with Ange, in some parts maybe Gnesis, but also some neo prog elements are present but not sounding like other bands from this genre either. The story of the album is around Flore, the blonde girl from the cover art in combination witht he music sung in french, this album get a special stus in moder progressive rock scene, maybe not only from Belgium but in general. Very underrated band IMO, this second release needs a better view for sure, one of the most pleasent album I've come across lately. 4 stars for sure, fans of the bands mentioned above with an eclactic sound overall might try this band because worth it.

01. Voila! classic intro before a voice in French, yes...there I am thinking of William; energetic tune ah aha which pulses and gives enthusiasm, the voices with grandiloquence, choirs, hold a heavy riff in the distance and a sound which has no equal, something from elsewhere 02. Te Quitter (Prologue) everything is marked, the beginning guitar arpeggio and a phrased voice to bring us very gently, very gently but with force on 03. Te Quitter with suave pop rock intonation and voice on the same ratio; soft and nervous, a chorus that goes to the opera and a guitar solo with the AOR pop atmosphere at the start; but don't expect to stay in this musical groove, the energetic chorus delights the ear, the guitars of Saaam and Xavier imprint a singular air which comes out of progressive blinders; here it's playful, it's dynamic and the final guitar leans towards hard dynamite; the final piano solo adds to the daze 04. Blonde arrives, the operatic tune follows, on a Gary NUMAN, the angelic choirs give Thierry a solemn, pompous air on a Bertrand CANTAT or a Christian DECAMPS it's up to you to check the box... but be careful not to make hole; but where does the sound actually go? A baroque rock genre, guitars that lean towards hard soft, fine melodies with a taste of ARRAKEEN, an invitation to escape, to laziness, to wander 05. Des Choses Equivalentes (Intro) this beautiful intro, soaring, on a VANGELIS, a TANGERINE DREAM from the 80s, a neo-classical melody with sound effects, voice-overs, oriental, non-Corsican choirs, in short the French voice is used as an instrument and brings this extra that many French-speaking groups have not been able to/know how to integrate into their music; on the tangent of a classic opera, yes

06. Des Choses Equivalentes changes the mood with a nervous sound, a punchy rock riff and this tortured voice like that of SPARKS, between dance and theatrical rock; the synth laid at the start lets its scales go before launching the guitars for an unprecedented progressive decline; even more this orchestral break between dancing new wave with a fresh rhythm and classy symphonic pop, unique 07. Sontes Latent an ambulance in a musical note, that's the intro; a vocal in Latin to sow discredit, Gary still in the background; the chorus with again the heavy and fatty riff which attacks the ear and prevents it from finding the air, the sound... what does it look like... to AMANDA easy though; a chorus on a NUMAN-SPARKS fusion with a touch of QUEEN, does that suit you? Prog as we have not yet explored the contours, keep THERIONs away 08. La Maison De Flore and this hit with 'We will rock you' in the intro; air difficult to grasp and Thierry drives the point home by using for this last long title, almost 10 minutes, the intonation and air of the great William SHELLER, yes again; open Flore's house yes I understand French now... I can even push the door; break with solemn piano, choirs; go for another break with the classical, symphonic orchestration then on prog metal and the basic keyboard which dares to release its solo; finale which goes from the soft and cutesy melody to a harsh guitar solo, remember what NEMO did so well in their time, also in French.