GENS DE LA LUNE

Voila, I like this !!

This French band was formed by Francis Decamps. A legend from Ange and his own solo career. A legend with several classic, genre defining albums under his belt. It seems like Gens De La Lune is the new outlet for his ideas and music. This is the debut album from this band.

I am only familiar with Francis Decamps first album and the first Ange albums. Gens De La Lune is operating in the same landscape as both acts. Theatrical songs based symphonic prog in the French folk music tradition. Don't expect any long solo runs on keyboards, moog or mellotrons here. There is none, in fact. Instead, this album serves up some great melodies and a great sound which will bring tears of joy to fans of Francis Decamps and Ange. Including my now watering eyes.

The musicianship is first class. The same can be said about Francis Decamps vocals. He has lost nothing during the last...... gosh !!! .......... 40 years. How does he do that ? Please email me the GPS coordinates for the fountain of youth he is drinking from, please. Me too will have a drink.

The music is dominated by keyboards and guitars in equal measures. But most of all; by Francis Decamps excellent vocals.

The opening song C'no Peran has some incredible bagpipes too. Yes, bagpipes is actually a French instrument too. From Bretagne, if I am not mistaken. And the Basque area in Spain too, I hasten to add before I offend someone. C'no Peran is actually not the best song here. Satanas is an excellent pastoral, folk rock inspired hypnotic song with Francis Decamps excellent vocals and keyboards. That's the best song here by far. But the standard of the songs here is frightening high.

In short, this is a great symphonic prog album in the best French tradition. Add their two albums to your collection of Mona Lisa, Atoll, Oniris, Magnesis, Francis Decamps and Ange albums. The band Gens De La Lune can now be added to this list too. Voila !!!!!!!!!

4 stars

After a decade or so leaving Ange, their long-time keyboardist Francis Décamps was again infected by the prog virus and decided to form Gens De La Lune in mid-00's, after meeting with singer Jean-Philippe Suzan.Named after a myth linked to a village near Hericourt, which was set alight a night with fullmoon, the band included also original Ange drummer Gerard Jelsch, James Kaas on bass and Damien Chopard on guitar.In 2008 they make their first live appearance and the following year their eponymous debut was released independently.It features the presence of Motis' Emmanuel Tissot and Florent Tissot on mandolin and flute respectively, Eric Murat offers vocals in two tracks and Christian Girardot appears on bagpipes in the opening piece.

With ''Gens de la lune'' you can admit that the modern French Prog scene is alive and kickin'.The album is a Neo/symphonic tour-de-force of bombastic keyboard parts, melodic tendencies, impressive atmospheres and French lyricism, having evident links to the legendary sound of ANGE, albeit the modern flavor is all over the place.The singing is extremely theatrical, the keyboards are inspired by the vintage stylings of the 70's and the songs' structure contain elements of Folk Music, Singer/Songwriter echoes, Heavy Rock and Symphonic Rock with the later being the driving style.There is no evidence of Decamps getting stuck in the 70's, although the organ and sampled Mellotron/strings' parts are omnipresent, some tracks even contain some multi-layered synthesizers, while the familiar ANGE attitude of passing through acoustic lines and poetic textures is still present.The music becomes often quite grandiose, based on the great orchestral keyboard intros, while the guitar work is very diverse, offering both nice solos and angular riffs.Very flexible material with theatrical branches, which is sure to become a real pleasure to watch on stage.

Nice comeback by this talented French keyboardist and his new ensemble.Poetic, French-flavored Symphonic Rock with efficient keyboard and guitar parts.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.