Erewan- Soul Is The Key - Progressive Voyages Review PV083
Erewan – Soul Is The Dream – Progressive Voyages Review PV083
Erewan are a French Collective headed up by Erewan himself who is aided in this musical venture by several notable French Progressive music artists including Alexandre Lamie , Xavier Boscher and several others. To make a Celtic inspired collection of songs that include gentle folk type songs along with more traditional Progressive Rock Music songs.
The album commences with the short instrumental track Greetings From Slumberland which has what sounds like Uilleann pipes playing in the mix. This certainly enhances the Celtic nature of the music, and makes an impressive opening to the album.
The Publicity for the album declares that Erewan hails from Nice and that his music draws from Rock, Progressive Folk and Celtic forms. His songs explore human nature expressing personal feelings and reflections on both Imaginary and real subjects, sometimes heavy sometimes lighter and at times contemplative.
Second track Fantasy World has a strong memorable chorus with a strong driving rhythm that is very powerful and effective. Xavier Boscher plays Lead guitar to this and he adds some real Rock presence to the track that makes a good impression, a really great track.
This is followed by the far gentler track Still Sleeping. This has a somewhat wistful tone to it and gentle acoustic guitar propels the song along before drums and bass join the sound. He is aided by the vocals of Dorothy Lorenzetti and the bass of Alexis Bletti, the guitar presumably by Erewan himself is excellent on this track he is a very fluid player as this shows clearly another winning performance here.
High Fever follows and this track begins with a repeating piano motif and a strong bass that accentuates and offers a counterpoint to the piano motif, this is joined by a strong powerful guitar line. There are a lot of subtle touches to this track as it grows in intensity with a great guitar line emerging from the mix. The piano returns once more with further powerful guitar and then the track returns to the High Fever refrain and to a further guitar line, again another strong performance and delivery.
This is followed by Salvador’s Window which is another gentle acoustic song, which talks of a woman at a window and what she sees from that vantage point. A good middle part with dynamic piano drums and thereafter a brief guitar solo that moves the song along.
Reaching You is next and this has good interplay between a flute and a strong electric guitar which has lots of energy to its playing. I like the crunch of the guitar here it is most impactful making a strong impression as you listen to it.
Revealing Walls is next and this track doesn’t really do much for me despite having some good dynamics in the sound, it doesn’t really make that much of an impression.
Blackening Sky however does beginning with a gentle acoustic guitar part with added fills that sound great. It settles into a solid groove and pace as bass and drums add emphasis to the sound, whilst in the background is a violin part and thereafter strong powerful guitar lines. This is a most interesting and entertaining song which really is well crafted and sounds glorious, simple but most effective and memorable.
There’s A Way follows and again simplicity is a strength in this mostly delicate song that is about being together again. This has great lyrics which point to returning to a sense and state of togetherness, heartfelt words indeed. Another strong track in which the chorus is very memorable indeed.
Title Track Soul Is The Key is next, this is the albums longest track at 8.22 in length. It opens with a graceful piano motif and keyboard support, drums and bass join to add to the sound which is simple and uncluttered. Alexandre Lamia adds powerful guitar to this track, a good guitar line in the middle section before a spoken word section is introduced, the song returns to the gentle piano motif to close.
Ain't A Farewell ends the album initially with acoustic guitar and penny whistle, which sound very effective especially when backed by string sounds presumably from a keyboard before bass drums and guitar join in what is almost a jig. It certainly is very merry and jolly it sounds really great. The track ends on an echoing guitar before a quiet refrain plays and the album ends as it begins with a heartbeat.
This is an album with many great songs, strong performance and great dynamics in the sound.
I found much here to appreciate and would recommend hearing this for yourself.
Info here: www.erewan.bandcamp.com
Author John Wenlock-Smith