HECENIA - LA COULEUR DU FEU - 1994

HECENIA introduces the listener to an original, romantic and lyrical music built upon somptuous and sophisticated developments. Thierry BRANDET is a real keyboards virtuoso, a genius in the same vein as Keith EMERSON or Rick WAKEMAN, with a true and personal inspiration. Let's note that Jean-Paul TRUTET (Vocals) and his brother Daniel (Guitar) were once part of ELOHIM. "Légendes" (1989) revealed HECENIA as a master of new French Progressive rock music: made of GENESIS-like classicism and YES-like complexity, it also revealed a true personnality. New guitar parts were added to the original LP version, which improve this great moment of pure Progressive rock music. Note that the second album, "La Couleur Du Feu" (1994) is completely instrumental, driven by an excellent harp player. It can be placed between EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER, DEJA VU, GENESIS and the famous classics (WAGNER, BACH, RACHMANINOFF), with a touch of best of ATOLL.
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Classical instrumental symphonic rock. Far from the theatrical ANGE or MONA LISA style, or from the melancholic PULSAR tunes, HECENIA is in the French vein of the elegance and beautiful melodies as, i.e., WURTEMBERG.

There aren't guitars (the arp gives a delicated flavour, instead) and the music is driven by the modern keyboards sounds, enjoyable 100%. All tracks are very fine, but both longer ("Dialogue H2O" and "Les Jardins", this one a 24 minutes suite) are standing out. A brilliant album.
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