French Canterbury Scene/Progressive Rock/Zeuhl project Masal was founded in 1973 and it interprets the music of French composer Jean Paul Prat. The new album “Siempre” was released on December 08, 2024 and contains 6 tracks ranging from 3 to over 18 minutes in length, in which numerous artists with a valuable wind section participate. The album opens with “TGV Pour Paradis” is one of the tracks extracted as a single with video, immediately immersing us in the intricate sounds of the record. A solid and elaborate rhythm section with a supporting bassline that gives body to the track, the piano creating phrasings with the horns in the melodies. Between virtuosity and technical passages the band mixes Jazz Rock, Canterbury and modern traits, bringing back the atmosphere of the 70s in a fresh and modern context. Rhythmic and engaging, the track sees the woodwinds take centre stage, thus enhancing the presence of the guests right from the start. In the second part, the lead guitar takes the sound into more Progressive territory. We are at one of the longest tracks on the album, “Feu,” which is over 10 minutes long. The track opens with solid and elaborate Jazz Prog textures, with those Canterbury Scene reminiscences and that French touch that characterised the 70s scene. Through the long instrumental textures, the band develops complex woodwind-keyboard-guitar phrasings enriched by a rhythm section with an intricate structure and continuous tempo changes. Fundamental is the contribution made by the woodwinds, the true trademark of this track, with rich and sophisticated solo interlacing and beautifully crafted melodic lines. Between Zeuhl and Canterbury the piece flows, taking advantage of the long duration in its entirety to develop the band’s musical concept, with quality ideas and an absolute level of technique. The album’s shortest track “Danse De L’eau,” which nevertheless exceeds 3:30 in duration, interweaves fine clarinet work with a fresh, modern rhythm section. A good and pleasant mixture of traditional Jazz sounds, offered with a modern and personal touch. “Isami” is an epic over 12 minutes long, opening with a more Progressive, Symphonic and dreamy atmospheric sound with intertwining piano and wind melodies. A long acoustic track that shows another facet of the band, still very refined and technical, but with a dilated Symphonic sound. A pleasant journey through sounds and melodies different from the band’s classic style, which again manages to surprise in a positive way, leaving us with very good feelings at the end of the track. We come to the longest track on the album, “Des Flots D’eau Vive,” an epic over 18 minutes long that opens in the style of the previous one. A dreamy interweaving of piano and flute characterises the intro of the track, and then evolves like the previous one with more acoustic, symphonic sounds and an orchestral style. The band finds the point of union between Zeuhl, Avant-Garde and a touch of Classical Music, enhancing the compositional and performing technique of the artists involved. As the title implies, “La Marseillaise” is the French anthem proposed in a Jazz key, with a melancholic touch and wind instruments as protagonists. Developing an intense and virtuoso solo, the track evolves the central theme of the piece and takes us to the disc’s finale. An album that explores different sounds between Canterbury Scene, Jazz Rock, Zeuhl and forays into Prog and two long Symphonic tracks. Elaborate and complex textures characterise the long instrumentals that make up the tracklist, enhancing the compositional and performing technique of this project. A recommended listen for all lovers of the more Jazz and Canterbury sounds of progressive Rock with references to Zeuhl and a markedly 70s imprinting with a very personal and original character.
Tracklist
01. TGV Pour Paradis (4:51)
02. Feu (10:09)
03. Danse De L’eau (3:32)
04. Isami (12:26)
05. Des Flots D’eau Vive (18:28)
06. (4:11)
Lineup
Jean-Paul Prat / Piano, Keyboards
Jean Prat / Drums, Percussions, Xylophone (1,2,3,5)
Vincent Brizoux / Alto, Soprano & Barytone Saxes (2,3,4,5)
Philippe Bussonnet / Bass
Norbert Galo / Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Mandolin (1,2,3,4,5)
Emmanuel Prat / Keyboards (1,2)
Baptiste Ferrandis / Guitar (1,2)
Olivier Bodson / Trumpet & flugelhorn (1,3,6)
Antoine Colin / Trumpet (1)
Jan Eggermont / Tenor, Soprano & Barytone Saxes (1,2)
Marc Godfroid / Trombone (1,2,5)
Toine Thys / Bass Clarinet (2)
Eva Debruyne / Oboe (3,5)
Yann Lecollaire / Clarinet (3,5)
Stefan Bracaval / Flute (5)
Paul Hanson / Bassoon (3)
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