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I once had Asgard’s “L’hirondelle”
album in my collection without ever knowing I should rate it in
between folk and rock. This, their second album most certainly
enhances where “L’hirondelle” left off with especially the electric
guitar adding extra rhythm and panache into the soft babbling whole.
No doubt the French singing extra underlines the folky feel whilst
from a musical point of view Asgard here delivers soft touches of
symphonic rock at it’s best. Flute, mellotron and some wonderful
guitar most certainly give it an interesting twist so hat this title
won’t be reserved for folk freaks only. However once different
voices start chanting the drinking-song ‘L’alouete est sur la
branche’ regardless of some nice synth interventions which remind me
of that other French band Alpha Ralpha it all comes down to
traditional folk in the end. The short instrumental ‘D’ou venez-vous
belle’ contains the kind of feel one would associate with Peru
before it changes towards a marching rhythm.
One of the main symphonic highlights
is delivered during ‘La petite hirondelle’ by means of bombastic
mellotron. ‘Ce soir François Villon’ tells it’s story based on a
slight Japanese intro before mighty mellotron roars it’s ugly head
again backed by some synth interventions. Throughout this album
Asgard delivers folkrock with several medieval references which
sometimes remind me of Malicorne or Tir Na Nog. ‘Le vent’ is
reminiscent for the French films during the seventies in the style
of “Bilitis”, melodic and with the occasional interesting (short)
synthsolo. The closing song is probably the most interesting of the
lot with a nice build up and gentle, fluid guitarplaying throughout.
Again the storytelling vocals are typical for the time of recording
thus putting a certain age on this album. Although this album sounds
dated however it most certainly remains an interesting find whether
you’re into progfolk or French bands in general. Of course the
quality of the recording is not high enough to have a very detailed
sound here as especially the mellotron tends to sound heavy in the
mix. Mainly acoustic and a little on the short side this lavish
re-issue should most certainly find it’s way to real collector’s of
the genre and knowing there are only 1500 numbered copies it most
certainly will be for those who are quick on their marks !
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