martes, 27 de enero de 2009

XII Alfonso, o los baluartes del actual rock progresivo francés


Descubrí este grupo hace años gracias a una serie de intercambios via postal con fans de Mike Oldfield y fue precisamente con uno de ellos con quien entablé un contacto que perdura hasta hoy. Este fan, francés para más señas, es uno de los miembros integrantes de esta banda de rock progresivo: Philippe Claerhout.

Philippe me ha hecho descubrir un nuevo sonido dentro de la complejidad del mundo progresivo actual en el que predominan grupos de la talla de Flower Kings, Ayreon, Transatlantic, Tangent y tantos otros a lo largo y ancho del mundo.

La música de XII Alfonso es fresca, única, con ciertos ramalazos hacia otros músicos del momento y se inspira en la cultura no solo de su pais de origen, sino en la de otros, como en el caso de "The Lost Frontier", basado en el folklore inglés y la historia en torno al Muro de Adriano como ocurre en el primer tema del disco.

Después de éste, han sacado varios discos más hasta el que es, por ahora, su último trabajo. Un disco conceptual que rompe con la dinámica de trabajo de sus anteriores álbumes: UNDER (2008, Musea). Para mí, es un disco bastante conseguido y de una gran fuerza interior. No solo es el disco más progresivo de los publicados hasta ahora, sino que además contiene una denominación común para todos los temas del disco. Las guitarras de Philippe son contundentes, deliciosas, sinceras y comprometidas en cada una de las secciones de Under. No sobresale sobre el resto del grupo, sino que se amolda a la perfecta definición del trabajo en conjunto y consigue atraer al oyente hacia una nueva esfera en el panorama del rock progresivo actual. Hay momentos 'jazz' muy personales y muy conjuntados.

El momento más impactante es la sección "Under Atom" con samplers que nos dicen del lanzamiento de la bomba atómica sobre Hiroshima. La fuerza del tema es descomunal y refleja con acierto la lucha interior de la humanidad por librarse de esta inquietante amenaza.

En fin, lo mejor es que os hagáis con el disco cuando os sea posible y disfrutarlo en buena medida. Yo lo he hecho, gracias a Philippe por acordarse de mí. :D

(FOR ENGLISH READERS)

Some time ago, I discovered this group thanks to sharing cards with Mike Oldfield fans around the world, and had a deal with one of them that remains into actual days. This man, French to say, is one of permanent line-up member of this progressive rock band: Philippe Claerhout.

He made me discover a new sound betwixt complexity of modern progressive rock scene, leaded by sized grand masters like Flower Kings, Ayreon, Transatlantic, Tangent and so much more...

XII Alfonso music is quite fresh, unique, with slight ressemblance to another musicians of the time and inspired in native and foreign cultures, as happens with "The Lost Frontier", based on English folklore and Roman history, reflected on first track upon Hadrian's Wall.

After this, more records appeared in the market until it happen to appear their last, by now. A concept album that breaks development dynamic of previous recordings: UNDER (2008, Musea). For me, quite good enough... no, highly recommended of a beauty and strength never heard before. Their most progressive album ever published. Philippe's guitars are descriptive, hardy, sincere, compromising and even warm with acoustic guitars, or hard-hearted, humming, weepy and gentle with the electric ones. He rightly doesn't stand out above the rest of the group, he accomplish into perfect definition of XII Alfonso's ensemble unit. Their compositions keep listeners expectative and firmly watchful to constant changes of mood and harmony.

There are 'jazzy' moments that make us pay more attention. The most impressive track, "Under Atom", adds voices samplers giving a brief description ot the first atomic bomb dropping over Japanese town of Hiroshima on 8th August of 1945, making a dramatic scenification of that horrible event in human history. This theme has a remarkable strenght, intense and reflects mankind's inner fight against atomic threat.

The ultimate climax is occupied by "Under Dream", divided into two parts, an anthem dedicated to Martin Luther King, as the listener can also hear sampled extracts from his famous "I had a dream" speech facing Lincoln Monument at Washington in 1963. A touching and beautiful track. And a good farewell to listeners.

Finally, you better gotta buy it as soon as possible and enjoy it as I have done, thanks to Philippe for regarding me... :D


#############


DISCOGRAFÍA / Discography:

1993: CD single "Costa Brava Coast"
.........(Autoproduction)

1. Costa Brava Coast
2. Instant (extrait)
3. Le Mur D'Hadrien (this track is the basis for Hadrian's Wall Overture "The Lost Frontier")
4. Heresie

1996: THE LOST FRONTIER
.........(Muséa)
1. Hadrian's Wall Overture - 5'08,
2. Hello You - 4'18,
3. Mist - 5'06,
4. Minstrel's Tale - 8'27,
5. The Ghost's Song - 4'03,
6. Lazy Day In Haltwhistle - 3'32,
7. Back To Northumberland - 3'33,
8. Edges Of Empire - 2'29,
9. Diving Into The Coal Womb - 2'29,
10. Breathing, Scarcely - 5'49,
11. Wheels Of Change - 4'58,
12. Another Day In Haltwhistle - 2'17,
13. Heath - 5'14,
14. Revival - 3'50,
15. Thirteen Winds - 5'06,
16. Anthem - 4'48.

Philippe Claerhout: Guitars,
François Claerhout: Keyboards programming,
Stephane Merlin: Keyboards,
Caroline Lafue: Vocals,
Mickey Simmonds: Keyboards,
Laure Oltra: Texts,
Bernard Auzerol: Bass,
Laurent Dupont: Bass,
Dan Ar Bras: Guitar,
Thierry Volto: Drums,
Caroline Monteil: flute,
Laurent Sindicq: bass
Thierry Moreno: Drums, percussions.


'The Lost Frontier' is the first album of the French band 'XII Alfonso', led by the founding brothers Phillippe (guitars) and François Clairhout (keyboards programming), with guest musicians among them the well known French ( Britain) guitarist and band leader 'Dan Ar Bras'. The record is a concept album inspired by the 'Wall Of Hadrien'.

The album is mostly instrumental apart from three vocal tracks featuring singer Caroline Lafue and evoking 'Mostly Autumn'. The tracks are linked by sound snippets that evoke the history of the 'Wall Of Hadrien' and it's region : riding horses,roman soldiers in a tavern (?),a descent into a coal mine, a train, evoking together with the titles more or less the history of this part of Scotland.

'XII Alfonso' plays on this record a gentle form of melodic prog with celtic influences.The melodic material is quite poor, most tracks lack tension and over the top the programmed synth layers sound thin and cheasy, especially the bag pipes 'imitation' on 'Back to Northumberland'. The best moments on the record are the acoustic tracks like 'Lazy day in Haltwhistle' or 'Another day in Haltwhistle' for solo acoustic guitar, reminding Anthony Phillipps athmospheric playing or 'Wheels of change' with a jazz influenced solo lead guitar and nice flute playing. The weakest tracks are 'Heath' & 'Revival' approaching new-age muzac.
(C) ProgArchives.com


1998: Baja prog thème
.........(Tape, 1 Title)

1999: BAJA PROG
.........(Live in Mexico 1998, 2 Titles) (Muséa)

2000: Best of "Un voyage en progressif vol. 5"
........(1 Title) (Muséa)

2000: ODYSSEES
.........(Muséa)
1. Eclipse - 7.26,
2. Odyssée - 5.58,
3. Lithophonia - 3.09,
4. Message 95 - 4.15,
5. Tomorrow - 1.43,
6. Ou vont les amants - 7.43,
7. La révolution des oeillets - 8.25,
8. Nil - 2.56, Invisible links (part 2) - 4.30,
9. Tout Passe - 4.35,
10. Noria - 5.07,
11. Le dernier voyage - 2.11,
12. Dominique Larrey - 8.26,
13. En Castille (live 10/10/98 with Jean Luc and Thierry Payssan) - 4.40.

François Claerhout: Keyboards, programming, lithophones, rainstick, jaleos, percussions
Philippe Claerhout: Acoustic guitars, electric guitar, bass, vali, lithophones, vocoder, e bow, keyboards, chapman stick, kora, balaphone, percussions
Laurent Dupont: Bass
Laure Oltra: Lyrics, voice
Judith Robert: Vocals
Antoine Tome: Vocals
Stéphane Rolland: Electric guitar
Michael Geyre: Keyboards
Thierry Moreno: Musical glasses, drums, percussions, lithophones
Philippe Rougé: Lithophones, flute
Stephane Merlin: Keyboards
Bernard Ozerol: Bass
Sandrine Rougé: Vocals
Mickey Simmonds: Keyboards
Dan ar Braz: Electric guitar
Julio Presas: Electric guitar, bass, vocals
Tito Correa: Lyrics
Lionel Gibaudan: Bass
Stephane Barrincourt: Electric guitar
Jean Luc Payssan: Mandolin, bass pedals
Thierry Payssan: Organ.


My opinion is that french band XII Alfonso is half-decently covered and rated...

Under the Claerhout brothers (displaying guitar and keyboards mpain input), they have achieved all along their five recordings a high level of musicianship and integrity, if not total originality. Unlike most of the french progsters, there's no Zeuhl or Ange's clone to be found, rather a stylistically inclined link to celtic and other western part of France traditions. So it's accurate to feel some ressemblances with Mike Oldfield and Camel for instance. Folk ingredients, few delicate songs in and overall instrumental work, musicianship devoted to the melody more than performance, attention to the general climate of the whole recording are qualities XII Alfonso share with their most famous british counterparts. While the two brothers form the core of the group, there is a lot of instruments and a long list of guests to be found on any of the records, so, if i choose Odyssées over any of the other records i enjoy equally, it's because of his immediate appeal, his perfect production, and within his 70 + minutes (which is the norm for them) a perfect summarizing of the seduction of XII Alfonso.

Symphonic for sure, the music clearly comes from classically trained musicians, and yet one can feel the energy inherent to rock idioms, in rythms and development. Clever they are for sure as well: any of the records benefits of the cohesion of a unique thematic path, based on artistic or historic topic. For "Odyssées" it is to be found on the great achievments of human mankind. The opening, with over 7 minutes in time, takes us on a space journey, portraying the american lunar missions of the 70's, mixing an array of synths with the recorded sounds of the the astronauts, alternating spacious sounds with rythms pulsations creating a captivating sense of motion. "Lythophonia", at the other end, takes us back to the beginnings, offering what could be the music of the cavemen. "La Révolution des oeillets" finds us aboard the first vapor machine trains; if not revolutionary in treatment, the idea of the railroad horsepower pulsing gives this other long piece a very efficient sound over which a nice guitar soloing trade licks with an effervescent acoustic piano. "Larrey" is a tribute to one of the first surgeons to bring medecine up to the front, during Napoleonian wars, and so on.Otherwise while the music is cleverly arranged and produced , there are a lot of small musical interludes, solo acoustic guitars ala Steve Hackett, peaceful piano, sparse songs with mostly female guests on vocals. A captivating while dreamy result that truly reach deeply into my musical soul...

Overtly recommended for those who enjoy the aforementioned artists, Anthony Phillips' work and most simply stated intelligence and subtility in art over raw energy or performance. Give me five!
(C) ProgArchives.com

2003: THIS IS
.........(Muséa) A live cd recorded in France and Mexico in 1998. It features 16 tracks (extracts from "The Lost Frontier", "Odyssées", "Monet" and 2 medieval tracks with Jean-Luc and Thierry Payssan of Vital Duo)

Track list : Breathing scarcely / Mist / Hadrian's wall overture / Minstrel's tale / Back to Northumberland / Heath / La dame de Mantoue / Chanson de Trouvere / Lazy day in Haltwhistle / The ghost song / Giverny / Journey to the winter's country / Wheels of hange / Another day in Haltwhistle / Anthem / Eclipse

Line up: Caroline Lafue: Vocals / François Claerhout and Lionel Fortin: Keyboards / Thierry Moreno: Drums / Lionel Gibaudan: Bass / Stephane Barincourt and Philippe claerhout: Guitars / Jean-Luc Payssan: Mandole, Theorb / Thierry Payssan: Organ.


At once we shall tell, studio this album to name difficultly - more likely this alive performance, we can hear an applause and exclamations of spectators distinctly. Style of an album - фолк with elements of fate and medieval subjects, a mandoline, a flute. Beautiful quiet vocal Caroline Lafue, fine arrangements, meditative mood - here basis of an album. Celtic intonations are brought by guitarist Dan Ar Bras. " This Is " is the name of preliminary not let out concert album of 1998. It is possible to note very much the high quality of record unusual for concert albums. The album can be put 4.5 stars and probably unique lack - its duration. Even for progressive groups duration of albums 79 minutes not often meets. (C) ProgArchives.com

2008: UNDER (Muséa) - NEW ALBUM

01. Under Lifetime
02. Under Evolution
03. Under Knowledge
04. Under Progress
05. Under Memories
06. Under Knowledge
07. Under Bark
08. Under Atom
09. Under Sky
10. Under Bark
11. Under Lifetime
12. Under Stones
13. Under Dream (part 1)
14. Under Dream (part 2)

Line-up:

Françoise Claerhout: Synths, guitar, gamelan, samples, Yemen musical stones, percussions, pan-flute.
Philippe Claerhout: Takamine acoustic guitar, PRS electric guitar, electric bass, bouzouki.
Michael Geyre: CP80 piano, Ondioline 1935, accordion, vintage synths.
Thierry Moreno: Snare and percussions on tracks 1, 4, 8, 9, 11.
Dominique Caubet: Fretless bass Fender on tracks 1, 3, 6, 8.
Fabien Lo Cicero: Fretless bass FX on tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.


XII ALFONSO COLLABORATIONS:
With Dan Ar Braz: On "The lost Frontier" and "Odyssées"
With Mickey Simmonds (Oldfield, Fish, Camel): On "The lost Frontier", "Odyssées"
and "Claude Monet" With Ian Bairnson (Kate Bush, Alan Parsons): On "Claude Monet"

PROJECTS:

2001: CLAUDE MONET (Triple CD to be released in 2001, Muséa)

CLAUDE MONET - Volume 1
1) Chemins dans les falaises,
2) Je vous écrivais, giverny,
3) Un jardin qui ne ressemble à rien,
4) Des saisons sur les toiles,
5) L'échappée belle, conflits,
6) Les beaux jours de giverny,
7) La fanfare rouge,
8. Le fantôme de l'île aux orties,
9) Les cathédrales immergées,
10) L'oeil cannibale, antibes,
11) Les arcanes de l'air bleu, errances,
12) L'âme de l'hiver.


LINKS:

- Web actual del grupo
- Nueva web oficial (aún en fase de construcción)
- Musea Records
- ProgArchives.com (Biography and reviews)

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