CHRISTIAN DÉCAMPS & FILS: LE MAL D'ADAM

The name of Christian Decamps shouldn't need any further introductions.Born in August 1946 in Hericourt, he became one of the milestone figures of French Prog over the years, forming Ange at the end of 1969 along with his brother Francis.With the band he released no less than six albums before the end of the 70's, more or less defining the French Symphonic Rock scene and influencing numerous groups.In 1979 he found his own solo combo, Christian Decamps et Fils (Christian Decamps and Sons) with Claude Demet on guitar and Gerald Renard on bass, who were both members of Ange at the time.Rest of the band were Mauro Serri on guitar, J Frieden and J. Migaud on piano and Jean-Marie Schreiner on drums.First album ''Le mal d'Adam'' was released in 1979 on Phillips.

''Le mal d'Adam'' sounds as a good transitional work of the Ange style, which was leaving the symphonic, progressive hints behind for a straight and sometimes poppy Rock sound entering the 80's.The album contains 10 compact songs with Decamps voice in evidence in one of his familiar, ultra-expressive performances and it is led by a good dose of rockin' grooves and solos with some proggy vibes around.Additionally you should forget about Ange's rough and dark productions, the sound here is clean and the production is top notch.Some keyboard parts are very interesting, despite the limited space for instrumental moves, part of them are still grounded in the dreamy atmosphere of ANGE with light symphonic underlines and a few grandiose orchestral textures, other exercises appear to be closer to acts like GENTLE GIANT (there are even some funky runs to be found) and ATOLL with a more tricky way of performing.As a whole ''Le mal d'Adam'' remains an accesible Rock album with an intense lyricism, evolving from theatrical singing to poetic vocal arrangements, it contains a good bunch of quirky executions on instruments, but it much more optimistic and less atmospheric than any of Ange's previous albums.At any rate, this was a different Decamps' project and apparently the man was flirting with the rising era of more upbeat and less complicated music, while he still respected his past as a monumental musician of French Prog.

Lyrical Art Rock with ANGE references.Likely to please all fans of French Prog and tight, well-composed Rock music.Recommended.