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LÉGENDES

Hecenia

Symphonic Prog


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Hecenia Légendes album cover
3.91 | 67 ratings | 7 reviews | 37% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 1989

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Hecenia (10:44)
2. Le Passage (12:46)
3. Le Grimoire (10:00)
4. La Vieille Femme Et La Chandelle (12:43)

Total Time: 46:13

Line-up / Musicians

- Jean-Paul Trutet / lead & backing vocals
- Thierry Brandet / Korg Polysix/ Poly-61, Mini-Moog, Ensoniq Mirage, drum programming
- Pierre-Yves Chiron / bass, lead (2) & acoustic (1,4) guitars

With:
- Daniel Trutet / re-recorded guitar solo (1,3,4)

Releases information

Artwork: Alain Robert

LP Musea ‎- FGBG 2036.AR (1989, France)

CD Musea ‎- FGBG 4157.AR (1996, France) Remixed with 1991 re-recorded guitar tracks (excl. #2) by Daniel Trutet

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
and to Quinino for the last updates
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HECENIA Légendes ratings distribution


3.91
(67 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(37%)
37%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(31%)
31%
Good, but non-essential (24%)
24%
Collectors/fans only (4%)
4%
Poor. Only for completionists (3%)
3%

HECENIA Légendes reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by ZowieZiggy
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars This French band released two confidential albums of which their debut was quite promising.

An orgy of keyboards fill your ears while listening to this album. Almost instrumental, it shows some great technical skills and some god chunk of passion as well. A complex and long opener ("Hecenia") sets the stage: multi layered and dominant keys, serious beat and even wild guitar at times.

A total contrast is reached with the pastoral and very much "Trespass" oriented "Le Passage". A super delicate opening reminds us of the good old early seventies. No more, no less. And you might know that I quite liked this period?But who wouldn't? " La Vieille Femme et la Chandelle" is made of the same mould and is quite OK as well.

Each song is over ten minutes of length which allows for good development of ideas. Some short vocal parts during "Le Passage" are welcome and bring some distinct French flavour to the whole. It is true though to admit that these keys are frankly "Genesis" oriented and that some more personality would have been welcome.

If you are nostalgic of a certain era, get this album: you will be transported into the heydays of prog music. There is also a deep "Ange" smell in here. Not in terms of lyrics, but soundscapes ("Le Grimoire"). Even if vocal are on the soft side.

Keyboards lovers will be delighted as well. But the similarities with Banks are a bit too much IMO. This is a good album which I rate with three stars.

Review by Atavachron
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars This highly competent four-piece takes a page right out of the symph playbook and centers around keyboardist/drum programmer Thierry Brandet, though frankly the standout here is guitar player Daniel Trutet who bleeds a sweet string. Thoroughly French in character and with an inescapable but, in this case, welcome Genesism, Legendes is a good-sounding set of very high quality material without that overproduced late '80s flash.

The instrumental title is killer heavy symph with plenty of everything; Trutet's pointed lines, Brandet's almost Wakeman-like juggling of Korgs, Moogs and Mirages and some pretty handy electronic drumming; bassist Pierre-Yves Chiron right in the pocket. 'Le Passage' meanders a bit at over twelve minutes but this band does the majestic thing so well that we'll wait-- and it pays off with clever arranging, changes, and a spiffy carousel ride at the end. These guys worked hard on this thing and it shows. 'Le Grimoire' picks up where cut two left off and is packed with marvelous altered textures and tempos, 'La Vieille Femme et la Chandelle' slower but works up nicely.

At first glance, Hecenia is merely another latecomer to the prog party with nothing new to say and an annoying preoccupation with Tony Banks, and perhaps they are. But unlike the typical Gallophile's reissue from Musea, this is one kick-ass band.

Review by BrufordFreak
COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars A late comer to the "classic" prog scene, I have decided to include this French band on this list as it could be construed as one of the early Neo Prog bands due to their sound being so clearly imitative of GENESIS. Leader/keyboardist Thierry Brandet's sound and style is pure TONY BANKS while the bass, acoustic guitars, and drumming are quite reminiscent of the palette of the other Genesis corps (though I also hear elements sounding like BABYLON, ELOY, NEUSCHWANSTEIN, and even NEKTAR--the former three of which I would include in the initial "club" of Neo Proggers). The sound here is wonderful--sure to engage any lovers of TONY BANKS/GENESIS music; where I have issues are with the development choices, length, and ability to keep me engaged.

1. Hecenia (10:44) (17.5/20)

2. Le Passage (12:46) (20.75/25)

3. Le Grimoire (10:00) (17.75/20)

4. La Vieille Femme Et La Chandelle (12:43) (23/25)

B+/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of progressive rock music.

Latest members reviews

5 stars HECENIA "Legends", in my opinion one underestimated and unknown album, at least is my impression when I saw the small reviews number (only 5 until now) and 38 ratings for an album released 26 years ago ! I recognize how are infinite the progressive rock "world", but I think due the 80's are c ... (read more)

Report this review (#1503559) | Posted by maryes | Friday, December 25, 2015 | Review Permanlink

4 stars My exploration of the prog rock world sometimes leads me to superb albums like this one. This one had been hidden away in a book case for far too long before I gave it some spins. I got hooked. This is Hecenia's debut album. Their first out of in total two albums. Which is a great shame be ... (read more)

Report this review (#287288) | Posted by toroddfuglesteg | Saturday, June 19, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Have to put my fourpennyworth in here. One of my alltime favourite albums, in any genre. A lot of classical cliches - lots of triplet runs etc a la Wakeman and Emerson, but a splendid sense of harmony and chord changes, relentless, almost corny builld-ups and releases of tension. The 80s keys ... (read more)

Report this review (#97528) | Posted by Paul Stump | Tuesday, November 7, 2006 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Magnificent blend of keyboards and blazing guitars- the quiet keyboard passages in-between the more rock oriented segments are sublime with great melodies. Romantic classical tendencies. Highly recommended. ... (read more)

Report this review (#3473) | Posted by | Monday, March 1, 2004 | Review Permanlink

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