dark reviews

Alcest - Souvenirs D’un Autre Monde (2007)
Prophecy Productions

This first full-length album balances these two sounds in a series of five slow-moving, majestic compositions. The songs are shot through with field recordings, children playing, the ocean, on low volume, as if heard half-asleep. The whole thing is meant to describe Neige’s fantasy world, a place he visits in dream.A simple description of what is going around here could be the marriage of Black Metal riffing a la EMPYRIUM, AGALLOCH or OCTOBER FALLS with fairish vocals, calming waterish drumming. The music has nothing to do with Black Metal but you can easily see that its composer surely is listening to thus music; note also the Neige is also a member of PESTE NOIRE a very good and different I could say Black Metal horde from France. "Souvenirs D’Un Autre Monde" has a dispersion of acoustic relaxing guitars and a female voice like you are close to a Nereid. Everything is colored white, the color of brightness, of happiness.Truly beautiful MUSIC!

8/10