ELEONORE

I've listened to this one a couple of times now, so i think I'm ready to pass an opinion. Being an un-reconstructed Floydie, I was originally drawn to the Project by that element in their material and delivery. The content is much the same again here, but I detect a change in their style in this latest release, which seems to have a much heavier emphasis - I am reminded of the change in Porcupine Tree after their link-up with Opeth. So yes, you can still detect their Floydian roots but a switch into the direction of PT around the In Absentia timeframe.

As for a rating, essential it's clearly not - no new ground broken here - and much then depends on what you think of the previous albums. For me it's a 4, but I wouldn't fight anyone who said 3.

Considering the whole discography THE BLACK NOODLE PROJECT is not easy to catch for one prog music genre. The predecessor album 'Play again' was dominated by psychedelic elements - mainly caused by atmospheric mid-tempo songs with modest guitar work and compelling keyboards. This time reduced to a four-piece project (missing the keyboards) plus a new drummer they provide an album with the emphasis on guitar focussed heavy art rock - the psych proportion takes a backseat. You are coming across hard riffing guitars all over here - sometimes reminding of Steven Wilson.

But first of all - the album is telling a story and we are becoming aquainted with Eleonore, an orphan girl which is seeking for the land where her dreams will come true. This is adapted from a fairytale written by guitarist/vocalist Jérémie Grima. All the song titles are expressing a special state of mind and the lyrics are offered on a CD extra track in french and english language. The opener Sorrow is one of the longer tracks with twin guitar and Anathema leanings. The song would not fit to be highlighted normally - but only if you ignore this sorrowful psychedelic intermezzo provided with a melancholic touch which lets me really pay attention. Probably meant as a transition from the previous style - and true - you really have to search for something like that 'til the last song. Hope is trying to express an optimistic mood and convinces with good vocals whereas the depressive Fear starts with a dumb tone sounding like an echoed bass drum. The song is dominated by bass player Anthony Létévé afterwards.

And then Awareness begins to rock like hell expressing something like a spirit of optimism probably, musically near to metal in parts because of the heavy riffing guitars. This holds basically for the next songs. However - the closing Deliverance shines because appearing as an epic within the epic (or closing the epic) nearly expressing the whole album in a concentrated manner. A mellow song predominantly with floating parts headed by the acoustic guitar and the bass - but also provided with some heavy impressions of course.

'Eleonore' is not that spectacular - a quite good album with alternating elements - heavy and melancholic ambient. The psychedelic proportion has become a lot more discrete and deep-rooted fans of this genre should be attentive.

Innovative creation by this French outfit.

This concept album is a mix of two quite different styles - psychedelic rock and heavy metal. The former most often used in the passages containing vocals while the latter is used extensively in the instrumental segments of the compositions and in selected parts alongside vocals.

The psychedelic style explored is of the mellow variety; perhaps reminding a bit of PINK FLOYD but maybe even more of PF-influenced act THE FUTURE KINGS OF ENGLAND, while the metal parts made me think of bands as different as BLACK SABBATH, FAITH NO MORE and METALLICA.

It's not a mix of styles and expressions that will hold a universal appeal by any means; but for those who think this sounds intriguing it's certainly an album worth checking out.

I first heard from singer/guitarist Jérémie Grima back in 2005 at the time of their second album 'And Life Goes On..', and we were in regular contact for a while but lost touch after I moved to NZ. That may explain why it is only now that I am writing about this their fifth album, from 2008 (since this they have released a CD/DVD live set, another studio album, and a double disc of early demoes ? these are busy boys). Anyway, The Black Noodle Project have long been one of my favourite French prog acts and this was an interesting departure in many ways as before this album was recorded keyboard player Matthieu Jaubert left the band and wasn't replaced. The line-up therefore was just Grima, Anthony Leteve (bass), Sebastien Bourdeix (guitars) and Fabrice Berger (drums) ? yep, no keyboards.

Now back in Feedback #83 is said that the music was "where Pink Floyd has been crossed with Roine Stolt in a way that makes for an album that is extremely enjoyable and open". I also said that it was the finest French prog album I had heard since Mininum Vital's 'La Source'. So, with no keyboards it was obvious that this was going to quite a different sounding album to what I had come across before. The CD is a concept story of a small girl who lives in the forest with her parents and when they die she reads all of the books in the attic (of course) trying to find a way to get her parents back, but she finds a mysterious tome and the story starts there. Musically this is a dark album, with some heavy passages, but incredibly there is also a large amount of space and it is very much a band album with some wonderful interplay between the guys. Somehow BNP have managed to still provide what is very much a prog album, as opposed to a prog metal album, with a strong storyline and performances. There are still some elements of Stolt in the guitarwork, but overall this brings in much more Porcupine Tree and even The Pineapple Thief.

This is yet again a great album ? I just need to get hold of the others now. The website is available in both English and French, and is well worth a visit www.theblacknoodleproject.com