progressive rock / spleen rock
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If you're a regular reader of this webzine, you've probably already noticed that I'm a sucker for genre-combinations and blatantly crossing genre restrictions. So when I read the biography for this French band, I got immediately interested. It mentioned bands like Porcupine Tree, Archive and Linkin Park, quite an unusual combination if you ask me. However, there's even more going on on this album.
The Morganatics hail from Paris, France. According to the biography, the band is all about alchemy and has become more than a band for the members, it's become their way of life. The album does indeed sound like that; five individuals who found each other, entered a rehearsal studio and let the chemistry take over. The result is an excellent modern rock album with influences from metal, progressive rock and a touch of electronics.
The opener 'I'm a mess (but I'm free)' is actually a first highlight and a brilliant piece of rock music. The earlier mentioned band have clearly left their mark on The Morganatics. Strong vocals, powerful but melodic guitars and quite energetic drums represent a well-attuned band, a band that obviously witnessed some musical magic in the studio.
I know this feeling of chemistry very well from my own experiences in bands back in the days. Once in a while someone starts playing a riff, the rest of the band joins in and suddenly they all have goosebumbs and a joyous shudder over their spines. Maybe a tear of absolute joy presents itself, knowing the band has just created one of their masterpieces.
'Cycy Stardust' could be one of the songs where they felt this emotion because it is a fantastic song. Here indeed the electronics of Archive are very present, along with a great atmosphere and enchanting violins. 'Fucked Up Serendipity' continues with this amazing sound. Here the band also incorporates a bit of a shoegaze feel and a hint of Pink Floyd in the opening segment.
By now I'm halfway through the album and I realise this might indeed take some time to grow. The progressive nature of 'We Come From The Stars' is not easyly digestible sing-along rock music but slowly grows upon the listener. 'My Uncomforter' for example is a solid trip-hop song that suddenly turns into a blast of a rock festival wake up call. For a song that opens nice and quiet, this one incorporates some of the heaviest grunge-distortion on the album. Headbanging is allowed and so is dancing.
'As Blackbirds Say' is another highlight, a twelve minutes lasting epos which incorporates all the necessary elements to maintain a high level of listening pleasure. Dispite being an extremely long rock track, it has a enough variation to stay strong and enjoyable.
It's not easy for a progressive rockband to maintain the same high level of quality throughout the entire duration of an album, but The Morganatics successfully did it. 'We Come From The Stars' is a very strong album, excelling in variation and a tremendous live-feel. So once again, I hope I can catch this live one day. If they are as convincing one stage as on CD/file/whatever, I can see them growing towards a similar status as their influences. They really deserve it...
Serge
The Morganatics hail from Paris, France. According to the biography, the band is all about alchemy and has become more than a band for the members, it's become their way of life. The album does indeed sound like that; five individuals who found each other, entered a rehearsal studio and let the chemistry take over. The result is an excellent modern rock album with influences from metal, progressive rock and a touch of electronics.
The opener 'I'm a mess (but I'm free)' is actually a first highlight and a brilliant piece of rock music. The earlier mentioned band have clearly left their mark on The Morganatics. Strong vocals, powerful but melodic guitars and quite energetic drums represent a well-attuned band, a band that obviously witnessed some musical magic in the studio.
I know this feeling of chemistry very well from my own experiences in bands back in the days. Once in a while someone starts playing a riff, the rest of the band joins in and suddenly they all have goosebumbs and a joyous shudder over their spines. Maybe a tear of absolute joy presents itself, knowing the band has just created one of their masterpieces.
'Cycy Stardust' could be one of the songs where they felt this emotion because it is a fantastic song. Here indeed the electronics of Archive are very present, along with a great atmosphere and enchanting violins. 'Fucked Up Serendipity' continues with this amazing sound. Here the band also incorporates a bit of a shoegaze feel and a hint of Pink Floyd in the opening segment.
By now I'm halfway through the album and I realise this might indeed take some time to grow. The progressive nature of 'We Come From The Stars' is not easyly digestible sing-along rock music but slowly grows upon the listener. 'My Uncomforter' for example is a solid trip-hop song that suddenly turns into a blast of a rock festival wake up call. For a song that opens nice and quiet, this one incorporates some of the heaviest grunge-distortion on the album. Headbanging is allowed and so is dancing.
'As Blackbirds Say' is another highlight, a twelve minutes lasting epos which incorporates all the necessary elements to maintain a high level of listening pleasure. Dispite being an extremely long rock track, it has a enough variation to stay strong and enjoyable.
It's not easy for a progressive rockband to maintain the same high level of quality throughout the entire duration of an album, but The Morganatics successfully did it. 'We Come From The Stars' is a very strong album, excelling in variation and a tremendous live-feel. So once again, I hope I can catch this live one day. If they are as convincing one stage as on CD/file/whatever, I can see them growing towards a similar status as their influences. They really deserve it...
Serge