MOTEUR!

It is very strange that in less than three years, a band can sound so different. Their main song writer and inspirator is still on the command with his brother. The other three musicians being frequently replaced. This had no effect for the brilliant "Guet-Apens" but on "Vu D'Un Chien" the tendancy for a harder sound was already introduced.

This will even more true with "Moteur!". The opening number is almost hard-rock. Galaxies away from the great "Capitaine Coeur De Miel" for instance. Pityful. "Saga" is another rock song with a very dominent bass playing, somewhat sci-fi lyrics as well for this rather average song.

One of the very few nice song from this album is "Rien N'Est Trop Beau Pour Toi". At least it features some nice keys, which reminds that Ange was a great symph prog band. Unfortunately, it is the shortest track of the whole only clocking just over two minutes.

A full rock FM one with "Mourir, Souffrir". It is really hard to believe. Of course, another great prog band produced also a crappy album in 1981 (you remember "Abacab" I'm sure). This one is on par. Extremely poor.

The mood for "Touchez Pas À Mon Ciné" is blues-jazz. Very strange for an Ange composition as well, but at least we escape the awful atmosphere of most of the other songs. There will even be a good guitar solo. The lyrics, which describe the movie industry (from the soundtrack to the director) are also above average.

"Détective Privé" is a pure hard-rock song. At times, I wonder if this album was not a joke. But a very bad one. The jazz-rock mood for "Un Autre Jazz" is similar to "Touchez Pas À Mon Ciné". A bit harder but OK as well (although it has not doing to do with the Ange will all have loved).

After another useless "Moi, Pas Idiot!", the second good song of the album "Assis!" is another quiet one which breaks with the hard-rock oriented style of this release. It even reminds some of the great Ange songs. Unbelievable ! The only symphonic track here.

The whole album surrounds the universe of the film industry (the concept), lyrics being hard at times against the whole stardom system.

If "Vu D'Un Chien" could be still catalogued as an average album, this one is truely miserable. Very little to be remembered. By far the worse Ange album so far. It hurts me to give such a low rating to an album from this once superb band.

But if you have read my previous reviews, you know that I have rated no less than three of their albums with five stars : their debut one "Caricatures", "Au Delà Du Délire" and "Guet Apens". So, there is definitely enough work to chose from to discover this band.

Avoid this one by all means. It can not even be found for cheap. One very little star. This is poor French rock music. Stay away from it is my only advice.

Moteur! from 1981 was an interesting album and I feel the most fair rating would have been 2,5 but 3 is unfortunately too much. Allready the cover makes us wonder what this is. Earlier Ange's cover's were fascinating and the 1980' record was the same. This album shows some sad member's and my feeling is that it's uncomfortable.

Is there anything left of old Ange? Yes the vocals partially are similar: dramatic and expressional. But without proper instrumentation, without the screaming organs it's not the same. I can recommend two tracks on this record which has some of what was so fantastic with Ange: "Touchez pas amon ciné" and "Moi pas idiot". They have a little mot scenic approach and a darker soundscape.

What's wrong then? They don't play bad but the unpersonal 80s bass for example and the modern keys aren't interesting. I feel very much that I miss old Ange. It's not wrong to change direction. Why do "Cimetière de Arlequins" again when it's allready done"? I feel this is quite lame and insufficient. A disappointment. But I look forward to se what has happened to next record.