I am a massive fan of this unique French outfit’s last two albums. However, on Here Comes the Sun, they have mellowed out significantly. While that is somewhat disappointing after the doomy progressiveness of the previous two releases, viewed in isolation, this album is still a fine achievement and a highly enjoyable listen.
The ambience inherent in this album came as a real surprise, and after allowing the album to take hold and grow on you, it becomes a beautiful listening experience. The first three tracks provide the greatest contrast. Immersion becomes quite grandiose over the course of its five minutes, while Fog is a dreamy wash for half its running time, before building nicely to a rather satisfying climax. Gone up in Flames is almost bluesy, and features some subtle sax (which makes a return on the album’s closing number, a cover of George Gershwin’s Summertime).
The Drifter is even gentler than the opening tracks. You kind of expect the album to lift a notch at some stage, but it never really does. And that’s perfectly okay; this album is more about the mood and the atmosphere than it is about pounding heaviness. This is definitely an album for more open minded lovers of progressive heavy music. Once you get past the fact that it is not a heavy album and let the unique delights wash over you, you’ll find that Here Comes the Sun really starts to shine.
BY ROD WHITFIELD
