EDHELS |
| After a musical
background that started at the Monaco Academy of Music, then a joint
venture with Roger Grosjean, at the time director of the Monaco Jazz
Conservatory, as well as the founding and direction of local groups,
Marc Ceccotti created at the beginning of the 1980's the group EDHELS,
together with Jean-Louis Suzzoni, a class mate from the music academy. Somewhat comparable to the Marco Polo ship, EDHELS sails in deep and colourful oceans, not dropping anchor in the same port for long, just enough time to create an album describing their imaginary travels. The first crew consisted of Marc Ceccotti, Jean-Louis Suzzoni, Noel Damon and Jacky Rosati. With this first formation EDHELS recorded 3 albums which were produced and distributed by the French label Musea. Oriental Christmas (CD FGBG 4007) in 1985 Still Dream (CD FGBG 4001) in 1988 and Astro-Logical (CD FGBG 4031) in 1991 In 1993 Marc Ceccotti recorded M.A.S.C., a solo album produced by Mellow Records in Italy. Noel Damon decided to leave the group after Astro-Logical and a new crew was formed with the arrival of Jean Marc Bastianelli on keyboards, vocal and percussion. The second crew consisting of Marc Ceccotti, Jean-Louis Suzzoni, Jacky Rosati and Jean Marc Bastianelli recorded in 1977 the album Angel's Promise (CD FGBG 4220 AR), again produced and distributed by Musea, this album was the first with vocal tracks as opposed to earlier albums which were essentially instrumental. In the same year 1997, EDHELS is cited in length and more than once in an encyclopædia published by the oxford University of New York, under the heading "Rocking the Classics, English progressive Rock and the Counter Culture" by Edward Macan. The author surveys and analyses in his work the trend 'Neo-Progressive' and he stresses the influence of EDHELS, the only French group, in his opinion worthy of a mention in his study. He is indeed; very flattering in his comments on the principal tracks of tracks the albums the group have recorded. The albums opens with 'The Lord Of Fire', the first of many instrumentals, a powerful and dramatic track full of atmosphere and tension. The instrumentation is first class with a solid rhythm section consisting of drums, bass, percussion and keyboards; this is the ideal backdrop for the stunning lead guitar that consistently runs over the top. Breathtaking!!! The following track entitled 'Tension', starts off fairly quietly with keyboards sounding like someone whistling (not in a conventional sense, you would have to hear it to know what I mean), but it's very beautiful, but nevertheless it is still highly intricate and complex. Anyway, carrying on from the keyboards the sound then gradually builds up to a powerful guitar solo. Some of the music on this track to me has a slight eerie edge to it and towards the end there's some military style drumbeats and choir voice sounding keyboards. The third track is 'IQ27'; this is another fairly mellow track with some lovely keyboards, drums and percussion. A slight Gong influence here for me. This is the first track with lyrics, and for me the vocals are very passionate and emotional. Although I must say, I don't understand some of the lyrics. Sometimes frightening a Fusty Lizard He's Looking After The Secret He's Looking After The Secret" There's also some more superb guitar work too. The next track, which is also the title track 'Angel's Promise' starts off with some atmospheric keyboard sounds superb drums, bass and percussion and then this acts as a backdrop for some stunning lead guitar work. A beautiful track and although an instrumental is also full of passion and emotion. 'Guinevre's Regrets', starts with Fanfare type keyboards, helped out with some superb guitar work, but when the vocals come in the music then changes direction. Melanie Stracey handles the vocals on this track and I can tell you, she's in no mood to be messed with. you should have cut off your own. Bloody Lancelot of Camaalot rot in hell.......forever!" It's a kind of strange track, changing themes quite often, quite melodic at times, going into more of a funky rhythm when the vocals come in. There's also some excellent bass and more stunning guitar work. The sixth track is 'Noah's Ark', another instrumental that starts off with some mellow keyboard, but not very long after changes direction and goes into a medieval fanfare type of theme. Using a bit of imagination you can just see those knight going into battle. Another change in direction now as the music goes more into an atmospheric/ spacey kind of sound with some stunning guitar work, but underlying there still is this medieval battle theme going on in the background. (Well, that's my interpretation, anyway) The next track is 'On The Borderland Of Sleep'; this track starts off with some atmospheric sounds which is quickly followed by some acoustic guitar, then a short lead break. Then Jean's emotional vocals come in whilst there's some intricate acoustic guitar being played. It's a kind of slow, hypnotic track that plays on the use of words, that kind of puts you into a trance and draws you into... 'Lights Being Messages', another track that starts off fairly mellow and a track that is full of atmosphere, almost ambient at times. For the next 71/2 minutes you are treated to many changes in direction incorporating many different influences such as jazz and blues and there's even a heavier side to Edhels music at one stage. The ninth track is 'Tales Of Mr KA', this is another strange track with a slightly heavier guitar sound which then fades after a while to some nice keyboards, back to heavy guitars, then a change in direction to a Japanese sounding keyboards sequence and a narrated passage by Jacques. The narrated passage is slightly distorted and at times sounds more like a growl, it helps to have the lyrics at hand to follow the narration along. Once again I would have to say that this track has a strange lyrical content. The next track is ' Life, Life' a short acoustic track is done in a similar vein to Steve Hackett (Genesis), you can also hear the sound of birds. The following track is 'Gentle But Not Giant'; a track that manages to cram a lot into it's allotted time of just over four minutes as it changes from theme to theme. A track full of atmosphere with influences such as Frank Zappa and Manfred Mann's Earthband. The twelfth track is 'And To Think I Loved You So Much' and is a fairly mellow track or at least starts off this way. Gradually building up with some superb guitar and percussion work that helps to raise the tempo until finally getting to a triumphant finale. The album closes with the longest track on the album 'Visions And Meetings', which is a nine-minute instrumental. This track starts off fairly quietly and with an atmospheric/spacey type of theme. It then gradually builds up in volume and the clever use of multiple keyboards. The sounds are very subtle with flashes of guitar and percussion here and there. It's a strange track as it never seems to go anywhere, it just seems to flow along and you are carried with it and at the end you are wanting more... This is the first Edhels CD, I have ever listened too and it leaves me wondering what their other albums are like, I know as soon as I get chance I will be getting them and if you are looking for some good progressive rock to get into then you need look no further especially if you like instrumentals, but these are instrumentals that are full of atmosphere, passion and emotion and they certainly did it for me. Edhels can certainly play their instruments and come up with some highly complex arrangements that will leave you begging for more. Highly Recommended!!! Angel’s Promise (FGBG 4220.AR) is released on Musea and should be available from all good prog outlets and mail order companies. Musea. 68 La Tinchotte, 57117 Retonfey, France Fax: +33 (0)387366473 Website : http://www.id-net.fr/musea Contact Edhels through Marc at 24 Bd d’Italie, Monte Carlo, Monaco 98000 Email: mceccotti@compuserve.com Website : http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/MCECCOTTI |