BIENVENUE AU CONSEIL D'ADMINISTRATION

OK this is not my favourite sub-genre within such French Progressive/Space Psychedelic rock scene of the seventies,but probably it deserves a superior score, cause the present re-issue from Musea Label is not bad!!"Benvenue..." is their fourth album, before that kind of "testament" entitled "Gorlitz", introducing some very interesting music features inside their avant-garde stuff!!Actually every new album is able to make their style more captivating, in comparison to their early works, even though the present work always maintains such an experimental and interesting mood, like in the past.The concept is based upon the novel by Peter Handke:of course Claude Lesko- the actor from the theatre-is the main narrator of the present music act (otherwise he has been member of such Compagnie du Théatre de la Satire in France for some years,being a remarkable artist...) and he gives the whole "opera" an important contribution.Nevertheless,in respect of such theatrical act, Pulsar can not modify the original text and the plotter of the story in the same time:so- as for this reason only- the output is controversial!! In fact, except on some irritating moments of "Punk" music, the stuff of Pink Floyd and some works by Vangelis as well probably represent their main "font" of inspiration, but I don't know why they have not chosen a precise direction in the last phase of their long career!!Moreover their music is a bit "compressed" inside such a "narrow" theatrical scheme, where Pulsar can not invent anything diverse in their music passages.Never mind, the work is worth checking out at least, especially if you like the present style of "Space rock"!!

I have rather appreciated each "Pulsar" albums so far. A great space-rock adventure by all means.

But I have never been able to enter into this story (even if French is my native language). I suppose that anyone who does not understands French must be completely lost in this maelstrom of noises for half of it.

The story combines a personal drama (the lost of a young child ran over by a car of high executives) and a board of directors meeting of the same executives' company. The whole being held in a supposedly frozen world.

The lyrics are recited and the music has little to do with the great atmospheres available on their three previous albums. The mood is a lot jazzier, noisier. Fully and too much Crimsonesque to my taste.

Lots of spoken introductions combined with tasteless music is the mix you will get here. No more great epics either (only one long piece of music is available). Just a collection of short (to very short) numbers without feeling nor emotion (except "Chanson Populaire De La Neige" and the last few numbers).

The immoral message from the chairman who is only sensible to the good progress of the company being the leitmotiv of this storyboard. Rather thin. At times, some good "Ange" inspiration is perspiring ("Futurs Antérieurs").

The first time I reviewed this album for myself some three years from now (and which have lead to my decision to make them public a year ago) I rated it as "NO". On my scale, this means one star. I have listened it back a few times since then and at the time of posting my review on PA the last attempt was not very much convincing.

One of the very few great musical moment is "Silence D'une Petite Fille". A beautiful and symphonic instrumental track. At last some emotion! But almost four minutes of great music out of these ultra long seventy ones (well, just short of, actually) is not a big deal.

The last songs of this album are better. "Croisière" (Cruise) has a definite folk mood, but at least we got rid of all these terrible jazzy and noisy experiences. "Perte De Vue" brings us back to their spacey approach, even if it is monotonous and the "sung" part is very close to the mood of a Buddhist monastery.

The last track is a long and spacey instrumental. Ambient music like "Tangerine Dream" might offer. I guess that a band like "Lands End" must have listened to these types of albums as well. This track should have been at least cut by half. Almost seventeen minutes of the same sort of note(s) is a bit too much.

Two stars and by far their weakest album so far.

01. Il Fait Froid, Ici ...

The initial partization of the themes, the introduction of new elements, we are in 1981 and hear this is scary. A strange sound in the bottom, bass keyboard and flute in a convergent and hypnotic state, varied vocalizations that although the lack of words are typically French. It's also good to hear that the drums from Victor Bosch is not 'contaminated' with the sounds of the prolific but not so great 80's. After 2 and a half minutes appears the shy guitar of Gilbert Gandil in a hypnotic riff. Highly hypnotic!

02. a) La Femme Au Bout Du Couloir

Continuing the 'story' the first part of this second track brings a sax (I think) a very nice melody, a strange riff, while Claude Lesko gives us an impeccable narration. Gilberto's guitar starts a beautiful melody with good keyboards in the background giving a highly peaceful atmosphere and spatial.

02. b) La Tempête, Encore

An inconsistency Fusion, Rock urgency and a desperation to be expected!

02. c) Accident-vision

Something medical Ithought. A weight, more 'hard', and an enigmatic end...

02. d) Cri

To the last part already started a very convincing and serious way, thanks to the bass parts who gives a birth to it and is also played by Gilbert.

03. Epreuve No.2

A groove, a hell of a percussive fingering, bass and drums in a non-stop rhythm and keyboards making beds and beds to lay down in. And the sax is just the cherry on this 'cake'.

04. Mirage De Neige

Piano with echo and a 'bubblegum' riff (those that you find yourself singing along), an ethereal atmosphere, the stories that gave the record a genial climate and a lot of hypnosis.

05. Sous Le Ciel Courait Où La Tempête

This is where 'New Millennium' the opening track from DREAM THEATER's Falling Into Infinite (1997) is all about, only at the DREAM THEATER song John Myiung plays a Chapman Stick, here it's a crazy synth loop. Bass in one of those grooves that even if you could simply play for 2 hours the same riff (laughs), with simple drums but I love this style of playing drums. Soon after the guitar appears at times heavy and at the end full of reverb, almost an acoustic guitar.

06. Précautions Oratories

The narrative hides what will come. A Rock full of will, that after the first bar use the 'Wish You Were Here' way of playing (you know in the beginning where it seems that the sound comes out of an old radio?) To stay even better. Someone very angry yells at you! And the band leaves you wanting more.

07. La Luge Et La Limousine

I'm enjoying this narration thing at the beginning of songs and then immediately burst into a Space Rock full of 'floating sounds'.

08. a) Energie-saga

Narrative. And then a groove of those robots-like, like the KRAFTWERK, but human. Stop and narratives. Really Robot.

08. b) Chanson Populaire De La Neige

After our 'Forrest Gump' speak, the track becomes a delicate and simple ballad full of feeling, almost a Japanese melody (or something like that, I'm sorry but I'm not good in etnics).

08. c) Dernier Avertissement

An outcome for a story!

09. Futurs Intérieurs

This thing of narrative rather than vocal on the records is sensational, gives a genial climate to the album. Suddenly a wonderful melody invades the headphones, very good indeed. And almost at the end the vocalise. Great stuff!

10. Silence D'une Petite Fille

A lullaby (laughs) in beautiful melody. Hard to describe the peaceful passing of it.

11. Croisiere

Pierre Imbert gives an enhanced sound with the Hurdy Gurdy (I imagine that is it laughs) with a beautiful melody that reminds me of the Scothish bagpipes.

12. Perte De Vue

In an opening melody that reminds me of the old Chinese, these guys had a huge influence! Even in their vocalizations, once more peace of mind throughout the song.

13. Melodie Boreale

The epic of the album. Its more than 16 minutes are beautiful and enigmatic, reminded me a lot to what PINK FLOYD was going to do almost 15 years later (in the The Division Bell album). Animals, founts, colors, worlds! A complete trip to the senses.

Undoubtedly magistral and different in every way. Even more that it was recorded in 1981. Genial!