This is the first album from French musician Nicolas de Renty and titled Retour au Bercail.
It was sent to me via Nicolas and Bad Dog Promotions. You may have noticed from some previous posts that AC at Bad Dog regularly sends me releases from artists they manage with them sent either by AC or the artist themselves.
AC herself fronts up Bad Dog and her band – the rather excellent Nine Skies. You can read my review of their The Lightmaker here.
Anyway – as I say. I received Retour au Bercail a few days ago from Nicolas, for which I thank him. His name isn’t familiar to me though there was a helpful brief bio sheet in the with the CD.
This tells me that this is a “French one man project’s first album” and that it presents an anthology combining jazzy improvisation through deep atmospheres ranging from the mediative calm of the 70s to the hammering of black metal.”
Nicolas is originally a drummer though has studies classical composition and lyrical singing whilst continuing with his drumming. He has multiple influences ranging from Gregorian chant to extreme metal which take shape in his own compositions.
This album is a solo effort bar some guitar and bass on one of the tracks.
After reading the above in the bio sheet I had no idea what to expect when first listening to the album. So what do I think to it?
It’s not an easy listen at first. It takes a while. Those bits in the bio about jazzy improvisation, deep atmospheres and Gregorian chant are on the money.
The eleven minute opener is a grower with lots of crisp jazzy drumming (Nicolas proves to be a fine drummer) bookended by sections of what I’ll try to describe as progressive symphonic opera……! Have I just made up a new genre of music?
The orchestral/symphonics are quite striking is are the operatic style vocal. Found myself being drawn in further the more I listened to it. Check it out for yourself:
The album follows in a similar style as Nicolas expands on those multiple influences. Whilst I’ve never been in to opera, and again after more listens, I have been getting quite in to whats on offer over this album.
I find it quite a relaxing listen and it flows together well. Those aforementioned metal influences crop up from time to time for example on the track with the additional guitar and bass – Tranquenard and Metallifuge is short and punchy.
The initial couple of spins were hard going with me thinking there’s no way I’ll get in to it as it’s so far removed from what I’d normally go for – however perseverance has paid off and whilst it is different I do like it and I suppose you can say my musical horizons have been expanded a bit as a result.
Check it out for yourself and see if it might hit the spot for you.
Digital version on Nicolas’ Band Camp page (where you can have a listen too) here:
https://nicolasderenty.bandcamp.com/album/retour-au-bercail
And I found a CD version here:
https://ftf-shop.com
Thanks for Nicolas and also AC at Bad Dog for sending it over to me.
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