If only the songs were as gorgeous as the artwork surrounding the physical product. A phantasmagoria of Dave McKean-inspired surreal imagery, there is a similar "what? feel to the many genres heard on this album. Really the work of one man from Tours, France, there are many ideas floating around here but its hard to grasp them all in just one sitting. Most are quite beautiful, especially the post-rock-inspired serenity of "Derriere LEcran, but others raise an eyebrow in their "everything and the kitchen sink approach, like the Eastern European flourishes of the circus-like "Subaphonic. While most are instrumental, sometimes you get the odd flash of Ez3kiels vocals, like on the oddly soulful "At the Day, or on the supremely weird "Lethal Submission, where Nosfell Labyalas operatic voice mixes with a scratchy guitar solo. Its all a bit mad, and while it doesnt seem to work entirely there is an obvious eccentric genius at work.
(PIAS)Ez3kiel
Naphtaline
BY Chris WhibbsPublished Jul 19, 2007