Chance - Escape to horizon - 2000
intro
The discovery of this project leaded by Laurent Simonet must be considered more than a pleasant surprise. Simonet takes charge on it of drums, bass and keyboards. He perfectly dominates those three instruments– emphasizing on my point of view the last two- leaving quite clear that his musical education must be placed within the most classical symphonic. "Escape to Horizon" is an instrumental CD where music roams in such a natural way that is far from being forced. Rhythm changes occur by means of transitions and where you must do nothing but let yourself go leaded by the beauty of the composition. References? Rick Wakeman and Camel from 75 to 79, with some electronic elements fully in the style of Tangerine Dream.
review
"Aquatic Fiction" (14:08), is probably the most interesting track of the album where Simonet teach us a lesson of "savoire faire" playing keyboards. He leaves strings in the hands of Roine Stolt, who alternates the acoustic and electric guitars in a praiseworthy contribution knowing exactly how to fit to the concept pointed by Laurent Simonet. You never have the feeling to be listening to Flower Kings’ leader. That’s a song which bursts with happiness and vitality and which presents a tremendous end that spreads throughout the minutes giving the impression of being endless, slightly like the extensive instrumental development that Supertramp’s "Crime of the Century" ends with.
"Illona" (7:53) begins with a rhythm leaded by the heart beats and the crying of the composer’s daughter. Then, it is gradually surrounded by pervasive veils in the style of Tangerin Dream giving way to a simple composition of great quality where it is easy to find the feeling and tender of a father. George Pinilla’s acoustic guitar sounds free-and-easy on it.
"From Here to Infinity" (11:23), is another of the songs with strong Camel’s environments and where once again, Roine, becomes the great Latimer. It begins like "Lunar Sea" with the countdown for an space launching, developing afterwards in environments parallel to "Ice" and finishing with a guitar "in crescendo" completely wonderful. It is difficult to define
"The Dreaming Zone" (4:57), with a dreamy beginning, keyboards move on a dynamic close to Rick Wakeman’s "White Rock" wave. It is a simple and pleasant piece.
Immediately after we find "The Time Human Machine". The collaborations in this suite are in charge of Jean-Luc Payssan and Patrice Barret- acoustic and electric guitar respectively-. It is divided in three different parts: "This Mystic Time" (5:18), with an Spanish guitar beginning followed by a melody in the style of Kitaro, making a way through new concepts that finish in electric guitar developments. "Past to Present" (9:26) is a very well done track where we can find again Camel’s memories and where electric guitar shows up in those moments full with energy and vanishes giving way to calm. "Bridge of Souls" (10:39) leaves again a good taste in the mouth with melodies where dialogs keyboards- guitars alternate with a moving soundtrack- style end.
conclusion
This is a valuable CD, that took more than three years to do, where it is astonishing to think that just one person could have done it almost as a whole- just guitars are played by guest artists- and which will delight those lovers of detail and late seventies symphonic.