PASIONES

Many years after releasing their first two great albums, the excellent French label Musea is now releasing another Cos album, but in their later career, with this very Spanish-tinged Pasiones (subtitled New Fanstasmos Aus Brussel - Esperanto for New Fantasies From Brussels). From the Early days, only Schell remains but he is well surrounded by other well-known Belgian musician and a superb (and beautiful) Spanish falsetto singer Ilona Chale sometimes sounding like Nina Hagen and Nicolas Fiszman - who played bass on the only album this writer have produced, so far - providing a very African touch. Cos was always fairly successful in Northern Spain (Pais Vasco and Catalunia), so it was little wonder that soon or later, their passions would erupt and they did in a quite stunning way.

Musically, we are very much in the 80's, not that far away from some of the better new wave bands (my fave Talking Heads) but also very close of King Crimson of the moment. Yes, I did say new wave or funky new wave b ut if you love the two afore- mentioned group, you will not be disappointed with this one. African touches, German New Wave sounds, Frippian guitars beds are among the elements that make up this concept album about the Spanish Civil War that would lead to 40 years of Franco dictatorship. This passion for Spain was existing as soon as Cos released their first album in 75 around the death of El Caudillo and they toured the regions rather extensively as Spain was entering an artistic fervour. Already the previous Swiss Chalet album had touched the subject, but now the concept had come to fruition. The story of three Republican soldiers (the good guys in that war) out on a quick leave in Barcelona from the war front reveals many enjoyable moments and reach Cabaret music heights at times.

As so often the case with Musea releases, the disc comes with many bonus tracks, including a short concert in 82 in southern France (the music presented there is very similar to this album and a few tracks are from the Pasiones album), a demo track and from what I gather a non-album single also well in style.

If you love the third Crimson era with Adrian Belew and Talking Heads, this album will make you climb up your living room walls, tear your window curtains in howling and delirious musical orgasms. Only waiting For Musea to release the other yet unreleased albums so I can howl to the moon.

This album is the last full album as the result for them. The music character that they were doing and the idea might be gradually advanced from the part that can be listened in an initial work attended with development and absorption.

The music character to accompany the age appears remarkably in this album. However, the music character that they originally had and the sensibility change shape and are expressed by this album. As for it, the part where the idea and the sensibility of Daniel Schell of the leader of this band were reflected as a result might have worked.

Part where flavor of opera was added with civil war of Spain as theme. Or, it is partial of the song expressed by using various languages. Pascale Son that was another face of this band has already left the band. United flavors have been approved by the album for them as a clear concept album.

Part of original melody and sensibility united with their initial works. The influence of Zao and Magma and the influences , for example, the music of Canterbury might be gradually absorbed to their music characters and develop an original route.

The original music character that they had done had existence as Cos enough at this time. However, their sense of accomplishments might have had the flavor that had already enchanted the listener as a result by the album of this fifth piece. The music characters of men who always changed shape with the work and had offered it to the listener might have had shape to finish the activity almost by this album. They absorbed a variety of music characters and had already had an original music character. It was at first to the formation of them. And, they kept always evolving to the attainment to the content of this album.