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Atoll - Illian - J'entends gronder la terre     CD (album) cover

ILLIAN - J'ENTENDS GRONDER LA TERRE

Atoll

Symphonic Prog


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erik neuteboom
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars In the Seventies Chris Beya was a member of Atoll, a progrock band that played a major role in the French musical scene ("L'araignee mal" is their best record). In the early Eighties Atoll split up and in '89 Chris Beya and his own band recorded "L'ocean". A long time it remained silent around Beya but in 2003, out of the blue, Chris Beya resurrected Atoll.

In the same year they made the album "Llian, j'entends gronder la terre" (my translation: Llian - I can hear the earth rumbling). It's a conceptual story about Llian, a traveller on the borders of time and space. He is witness of the intolerance, barbarism and the suffering of our civilisation with all its paradoxes and anachronisms. He is not able to interfere or to change things (Llian has a lead of 8000 years) but he can give some coded signs. Unfortunately it seems that the human being refuses to listen in a world where good and love battle against bad and hate. Multi-instrumentalist Chris Beya and his band have succeeded in capturing the climate of the conceptual story by offering 14 alternating, melodic and tasteful compostions: dreamy, romantic, bombastic, classical (flute and acoustic guitar) and even AOR (catchy and polished) with fine vocals (including female chorus). But the focus is on Beya's strong guitarplay with not only lots of fiery electric guitarsoli but also beautiful work on the acoustic guitar. And the keyboards are worth mentioning, from soaring and orchestral to bombastic.

Chris Beya has not made a very original or earthshaking album but it sounds pleasant and mature with an important philosophical message, "en francais".

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Posted Wednesday, August 17, 2005 | Review Permalink
ZowieZiggy
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars Between 1979 and 2003, "Atoll" (or best to say its great guitar player Christian Beya) has released...two studio albums. For this one, he called his mates from the last studio recordings (the weak "L'Océan") and here we go for another "Atoll" adventure.

The prog sound of their debuts turned to full rock music in the late seventies and this mood will prevail here as well. Still this album is substantially better than its predecessor (but this is not difficult). To summarize, it is good French rock, with some prog touch I would say.

The opener "Illian", being one of the proggiest of all. "Au secours de vos jours" is a bit mellowish at times, but Christian will produce some killer guitar riffs of the best vein to highlight it. I would even say that the singer has improved drammatically (but in forteen years, he has had plenty of time to mature of course).

Since, there were three guest musicians, "Atoll" will even deliver a fully classical track : pastoral, almost a madrigal-type of song. But "La Légende De La Foręt" is not for me..."Comme s'écoule un fleuve" is hopefully totally different. Dark song with a good narration to start, this song also features some Eastern influences. "Atoll" frequently has added this aspect in their music and the result is rather acceptable. Great keys for a fabulous and rhythmy middle song. This is "Atoll" at his best, really. How nice is it ! The highlight of this album.

Pastoral and aerial mood again during the title track which is again more narrated than sung, but that's alright. It's an ecological warning. If we don't pay attention, the earth might remain quiet ... for ever. This is of course a message that is even more actual today.

There are no weak track so far (except "La Légende"), and even if "Un Nouveau Départ" is not their greatest song ever, it is pleasant to listen to and do not denotes from the whole. "Le Miroir De Tes Yeux" starts with a gentle acoustic guitar instrumental opening. The whole of it will be on the soft edge of their repertoire. Nice background flute and subtle keyboards. Almost "Trespass- esque". A tranquil and beautiful song.

"Quand Le Monde Se Met A Chanter" is one of the only pop/rock songs here (reminds me a bit of "Indochine" - another French rock band) and it is a bit behind the level of the other pieces. Still, the guitar...The last number (also two parts) is a bit heavy in its finale. I wish that "Atoll" would have produced another good symphonic one, but it won't the case.

Although the symphonic side is hardly to be noticed on this release, it is a good rock album. Even if highlights are scarce, the whole album is pleasant. A relief after the disastrous "L'Océan" and a good return to business from this band. It deserves your attention; no doubt. it is their best album since "Tertio". Three stars.

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Posted Saturday, August 25, 2007 | Review Permalink

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