Search - Ange :: Par Les Fils De Mandrin

An excellent work

Hubert Potts | Austin, TX USA | 01/21/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Nice album - speaking musically only. But much greater if you understand the language and the culture: this work is an archetype of classical French culture, with tremendous spiritual depth (like Genesis' The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway). The work is so insightful and quintessential that I have often mused that the original Cirque du Soleil concept (a somewhat-psychedelic saltimbanco troupe) could have come from this album."

EXCELENTE GRUPO FRANCES

RICARDO ESCAMILLA ESPINOSA | MEXICO, DISTRITO FEDERAL Mexico | 05/06/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Este disco es una pieza musical de alta calidad en el rock progresivo, innovador y te atrapa. Cómpralo cuanto antes! Si deseas conocer un poco más de mis gustos..."

Alternates spacey and heavy passages

Jeffrey J.Park | Massachusetts, USA | 09/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Released in 1976, this album by the French prog band Ange features the aggressiveness that characterized much of their 1973-1975 output, yet it is tempered by a spaciness that was not found on earlier efforts. The lineup on Par les fils de Mandrin is the same as on previous albums, and as such features Christian Deschamps distinctive vocal style (vocals in French), along with the unusual organ sound, heavy rhythm section, and hard electric guitar work that is characteristic of the Ange sound. However, this album shows them incorporating French folk music, along with the heavier use of synthesizers and acoustic instruments, which lends the album a somewhat softer feel. For the most part, although the album starts off pretty heavy, things generally start to quiet down a bit starting with the third track Ainsi s'en ira la Pluie. From here on in to the closing 9'44" mini-suite Hymne a la Vie, things alternate between quiet and heavy passages, with Atlantis "Les Geants de la 3e Lune" as possibly the quietest piece on the album. Interestingly, Christian Deschamps has backed off somewhat from his aggressive vocal style and his approach is so relaxed at times that there are points where his delivery lapses into spoken word passages. All in all, I would have to say that this is an excellent Ange album and might be the best place for newcomers to start their exploration into the world of Ange. Other great Ange albums include Les Cimitieres des Arlequins (1973); Au dela du delire (1974), and Emile Jacotey (1975)."