SQUARE THE CIRCLE

The least we can say is that "Rousseau" is not a very prolific band. Three albums in seven years ! From a quatuor of musicians releasing pure instrumental music in their early days, they have been through serious change in their line-up for this record : some guests musicians (three), new members (three) and existing members even changing from instruments. I wonder if it was all that necessary.

Anyway, here we are again for a pretty decent album. Maybe that the beauty of their first two albums won't get reached that often, but still I like it very much. Songs as "Magical Moments" (and its reprise as closing number), "Avenue Du Printemps" which is my fave on this album (a wonderful flute oriented and peaceful track) even "Timeless" which even features a very pleasant guitar break, the very harmonious "Winter's Tale" and its emotional acoustic guitar is also a nice piece music.

Each of these songs are fully in-line with their previous efforts.

The title track has a spacey mood. It's the first of this type in their discography. Not too bad I have to say (except the last thirty seconds). The only good track featuring vocals is "As If Painted" with Dieter Müller on the lead. It is a very soft song with, again, a brilliant flute interlude. I really like these moments.

There will some blunders as well, but not too many "Fade Away" featuring vocals sounds as much as a Camel sung one. Same neutral (boring ?) toneless voice but nice musically. "Isle Of Wight" is of the same caliber. Both songs feature Ruppik on the lead (he was the one who apeeared already on their previous album but he did substantially better on those ones. He really sounds poor here.

"Masquerade" (you don't invent these things, right ?) is again a sung piece. Rockier (or tempting to sound so), pretty bad indeed.

Three stars.