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Nemo: Coma

It should come as no surprise, but much disappointment, that with a title like Coma the ninth Nemo album signals the possible end for this French Progressive collective, or at best, a period of self enforced hibernation. For fifteen years has this four-piece delighted and challenged with their French language led fare, a complex blend of ideas and attacks always leaving their followers satisfied and richer for the experience. Good though those previous excursions have been, Coma sounds like a band desperate to leave – or temporarily excuse themselves – on a high, the feeling of each and every stop being pulled out clear from the breadth and quality of material on show (and I only have the single disc version to hand, so can't pass comment on the two covers (Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin) and three new tracks which offer a further thirty minutes plus of Nemo on the double disc limited edition). Nemo have always operated somewhere between the Traditional and Symphonic Prog spheres and Coma is no different, a liberal sprinkling of Prog Metal seamlessly, if not over aggressively added as and when the songs dictate. Six tracks make up this "standard" edition, although with the briefest reaching over six minutes, there's no short changing going on and with each selection expertly manoeuvring across a host of styles and attacks, in a way, it feels like a more diverse and complete selection than most albums with double the amount of tracks. The chief feather in this band's cap, is the manner in which singer Jean Pierre Louveton weaves his guitar work intricately and precisely round Guillaume Fontaine's seductive keyboards, as drummer Jean-Baptiste Itier proudly punctuates the music through a variety of busy showmanship and deft percussive arrangements.

As all the best albums should, "Le Coma Des Mortels" gets Coma underway in enigmatic fashion, a powering riff building across strikes of snare drum, before the trademark of counterpointing that boldness against a considered burst of bass (across the album bass is shared by Louveton, Lionel B. Guichard and Olivier Long) and restrained keyboards already has you guessing as to which way things will go next. For Nemo are as likely to caress you with affection, as they are claw at your sense in disturbing desperation, "Train Fantome" and the instrumental "St Guy" keen illustrations of both. "Comaine" on the other hand is hauntingly jaunty, an almost sea shanty vibe given off early on, before tin whistle takes up that theme and gyrating guitars offer a completely different feel. Suddenly the song is urgent and darting, although the bulging keys never desert the melody, this being a key driver for everything Nemo produce. "Tu N'es Pas Seulz" oozes into a more melancholic situation, the beautiful vocal harmonies (please don't be put off by the French lyrics, the vocals are rather splendid) merely enhancing the bravery of this band as they resist the temptation to up the tempo, or intensity until the final throws of this near eight minute beauty. Leaving the splendid, grand Symphonic Prog of "Coma" to close this album out in quite stunning style, Louveton, Fontaine and Itier all given the freedom to stretch out, although crucially they don't abuse the opportunity.

If this is the final Nemo album, then this most underrated of bands have done themselves proud and dare I say, produced the crowning glory of an already impressive catalogue. Hopefully their period of rest proves merely temporary, for what Coma delivers is far too good to be allowed to slip away without a long and concerted fight.


Track Listing
1. Le Coma des Mortels
2. Train Fantôme
3. Comaïne
4. St Guy
5. Tu n'es pas Seul
6. Coma

Added: September 13th 2015
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Nemo online
Hits: 2725
Language: english

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