Parallaxe - Parallaxe


Year of Release: 2003
Label: self-released
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 54:36:00

Finding a good vocalist is not an easy task, and I have noticed that there are quite a lot of bands that decide to leave it that way and bring their music without vocals. In June 2000, guitarist Alex Andrini and bass player Béa Amani formed the band PaRaLLaXe, with drummer Nicolas Barzacchini, and started to write some songs. After some concerts, they realised their sound missed something. Not vocals, but keyboards, so they teamed up with the classically skilled keyboardist Matthieu Huck, and that was a wise decision. Unfortunately drummer Nicolas left, but they found a good replacement in Bruno Fellonneau and together with him they finished their first, self titled demo.

One of the first songs they wrote, was "Acousmatique," a song which gives you the definition of PaRaLLaXe: high quality songs with a good balance between the instruments and captivating keyboard arrangements, not too technical that it becomes "musician's music." On the contrary, the music is very enjoyable to listen to. I could not imagine how "Acousmatique" would sound without keyboards, as in the version that made it to the disc, keyboards play an important role in this song, especially in the, almost easy listening, piano solo, which sounds a bit cheesy, but somehow fits perfectly in the music. The songs are quite long, all 6 minute plus, and varied, with up tempo songs, such as "Paradoxe," and laid back songs, with some Jazz/Fusion influences, like "In Extremis" and even a fairly epic song, "Indian," which is over 17 minutes!

Because of the classical background and influence of Matthieu Huck, the songs form an almost impossible blend of progressive rock and easy listening, where the guitar brings in the rock parts and the beautiful keyboard / piano arrangements bring in the easy listening elements. And yet they manage to refrain from cheesy clichés, but bring very melodic prog rock, with tremendous skill and enjoyment in their play. It would be great to see them live.

With this self titled debut demo, PaRaLLaXe has delivered a very good album, which will most definitely appeal to fans of instrumental music. But I think anyone who enjoys progressive rock, will be able to enjoy this release. This is one album that shows good music does not always need a voice. They are still looking for a label, and I hope they do find one soon so that they can continue and bring us more of this enchanting music.

Similar bands: Djam Karet, Taboo Voodoo, Liquid Tension Experiment

[This review originally appeared July 2003 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]


Tracklisting:
Acoustimatique (8:19) / Paradoxe (8:49) / In Extremis (7:26)/ Y2K (6:25)/ BWV Fantaisie (6:04) / Indian (17:30)

Musicians:
Alex Andrini - guitars
Béa Amani - bass
Matthieu Huck - keyboards
Bruno Fellonneau - drums

Discography:
Parallaxe (demo) (2003)
Soundtrack (2007)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin FR

Added: May 25th 2005
Reviewer: Marcel Haster
Score:
Artist website: www.parallaxe.org
Hits: 1907
Language: english

  

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