ARRAKEEN - PATCHWORK - 1990

Unlike some reviewrs say about this debut CD from french band Arrakeen, I think their work is very orginal. After all, who else blend together brit neo prog with traditional french music? Not folk, but the traditional "chanson franceise". The results are awesome, very fine music with great guitar and keyboards interplay and a distintive female singer. The vocals are in french which seems to fit better to their style than english. Too bad the band only produced two CDs before they break up. Anyway, if you're a neo prog fan you can't miss this one and their second CD Mosaique. Highly recommended


This is actually an EP by one of the most underrated neo prog bands in the history of progressive rock...This EP contains 3 studio tracks and a live one,in which Steve Rothery contributes with a guitar solo...It was released in 1990 and the musicianship is just excellent!

So,to create decent neo prog you need mostly a good melodic guitarist and a sufficient keyboard player...Well,this band has it all...Behind the keyboards we find Eric Bonnardel who plays amazingly his role without having to be extremely bombastic...Sylvain Gouvernaire is a fabulous guitarist filling the tracks with its melodic guitar play and the great,emotional solos ala Steve Rothery...Maiko's vocals are just a paradise...Strong performance that fits greatly with the thrilling atmosphere of the album...MARILLION,CLEPSYDRA,ARENA or even RENAISSANCE fans will a have a great time listening to this...Other progressive rock fans should also check this album out definitely in my opinion...A great music creation by a short-live legendary band which deserves at least 4 stars!Highly recommended!
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