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Nemo: Barbares
 Nemo put the ice in cool, plain and simply I really dug this release, Nemo reminding me slightly of Prog Rockers The Flower Kings with one big exception, TFK don't have French vocals. Quite a change from the Heavy Sh#t as my wife calls it that I constantly have blasting in my car. She really digs the stuff with Cookie Monster vocals NOT. I tell her it helps me relax but she looks at me like I'm crazy, maybe, but I can't get enough. I'd go crazy much sooner listening to the majority of commercial rubbish out there. But, like most of the folks here at Sea of Tranquility, I do enjoy Progressive Rock or any band that pushes the boundaries and tries something different.
French band Nemo has five previous releases under their belt so to speak and has toured Europe and the USA with some of the biggest bands in the genre, such as the aforementioned Flower Kings and Adagio. Sure, I can't say I understand what Jean-Pierre Louveton's singing about being French but who cares, the music is just so fresh and appealing.
Six, yes six tracks is all you will find on their new studio album Barbares, but don't despair as it clocks in at over an hour so there is plenty of music, the splendid title track alone is over 25 minutes. Nemo's latest has some quirky moments, during the many instrumental performances. Their compositions aren't just an assortment of solos slapped together, they flow smoothly in and out, their fine performances captured in impressive clarity. Prog Rock fans don't let the lyrics put you off, especially when the music is the star here.
Track listing:
1. LDI
2. 19:59
3. Le film de ma vie
4. L'armée des ombres
5. Faux semblants
6. Barbares
Added: May 26th 2013
Reviewer: Scott Jessup
Score: 
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 3613
Language: english
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Nemo: Barbares
Posted by Steven Reid, SoT Staff Writer on 2013-05-26 07:14:24
My Score:
It was back in 2009 that French language outfit Nemo delivered their sixth blast of neo-prog goodness, using Barbares as a way to really flesh out their sound with an expertly executed slice of modern day, yet 80s inflected progressive rock. Although they also displayed more than a smidge of pop sensibilities and jazz fusion sprinkles. Barbares continued the Nemo trend of combining striking, almost graphic novel like art work with socially aware lyrical themes and music as likely to find them puffing out their chest in bombastic fashion, as quietly pulling at their listener's heartstrings.
For some the very fact that Jean Pierre Louveton employs his native tongue across all six lengthy tracks on this album, will be enough to have them sighing in resignation. However those willing to take a leap into another language will be richly rewarded through tightly constructed songs that still somehow feel airy and light as they tackle some intricate themes. Once you become involved with the ranging music laid out on the like of the angular, yet melodic "L'Armee Des Ombres", or faintly Fish era Marillion infused, "Faux Semblants", you discover that the instrumental interplay between Louveton (vocals/guitars), Guillaume Fontaine (keyboards/vocals), Lionel B. Guichard (bass) and Jean Baptiste Itier (drums) makes up for any lyrical misunderstandings. The vocal talents of Louveton and Fontaine ably taking on the air of another instrument in the Nemo arsenal. "19:59" adds a metallic harshness not fully apparent elsewhere while never quite tipping into full on prog metal. Some beautiful harmony vocals playing against the riffed up guitars quite wonderfully; employing piano to take on the main themes, as it does on much of the Barbares album. Something even more apparent on the epically proportioned (twenty five minutes fifty nine seconds) "Barbares (Parties I a VII)" - a theme so grand it continues for another twenty five minutes on the band's 2011 album Revolu$ion. This stretched out format finds Nemo right at home, adding poised acoustic segments to tin whistle refrains, via harsh piano attacks and distorted guitar expulsions. Drummer Itier also finds a new freedom here, constantly ducking and weaving against the roaming bass work of Guichard to great effect and without ever feeling like the end results come close to style over substance.
I must admit that Barbares (along with Revolu$ion) has been my first brush with Nemo. Based on the expertly constructed and stunningly executed themes it contains, this is a band who deserve far greater acclaim than has currently come their way. Hopefully we see more new music from this well kept French secret soon. If we do, I'll be the first in the line to sample its delights.
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