Independent Release
Review by Matteo Bussotti
Transbohêm classify themselves as World Prog Metal, which is a pretty ambitious definition, if you ask me. Nonetheless…it’s the most correct one! Sincerely, I’ve never heard anything like this before, their sound is unique; you’ll find metal, with frequents changes of tempo, rhythm and atmosphere, passing from prog metal to arabian music, for example. This album is very challenging to listen to, simply because it always keeps your attention at a high level. Claire, the singer, doesn’t actually “sings” she pretty much adds to the general atmosphere with her vocal abilities, creating a very suggestive result. In my previous reviews, I said multiple times that you would or wouldn’t have like a certain album because of its particular genre. “Dèserts” is very strange, but…you cannot like it, even a little bit; it’s so full of things you’ll surely find an aspect of it you’ll like, it may be the arabian, almost “funky” middle part in “Hun’s Parade” or the powerful metal intro in “Caravan”, you’ll surely find something (or all) entertaining. And…I think this is the biggest compliment I can give to any band, to have a really catchy, “world” sound which can appeal to everyone, despite being very particular. Being for the most part instrumental, it may be difficult to get exactly the theme for every song, and so I’ll write them here for you, just like the band explained them, to make you better understand all the subtexts behind every songs (because they deserve to be known, they’re beautiful): “Caravan” refers, with its sound, to the peregrinations beduins do in the desert (nonetheless it’s the “title-track”) and they defined it as an “acoustic trip”. Very appropriate.
“Circles” also refers to Sahara, Indian and arab music. “Ecoute Petit Serbe” is a song of peace about the 20th century Balkan wars, a very delicate and beautiful theme. “Hun’s Parade” refers to the Barbaric Invasion, and, after the middle reggae part, the last bit of the songs recalls a muezzin calling out people during a ceremony. The last song, “Flam”, is “just” a tribute to Flamenco. As you can see there’s a lot of things they want to say, even though they express them without words; another elements which clarifies the excellence of this band. Maybe, in their future releases, they’ll need a more “definite” sound, because sometimes this polyhedric side can turn into something more chaotic, and sometimes Claire has a very, very small part. I’m not saying she should be constantly under the spotlight, but maybe more vocal parts in the songs could only make them better.
So, in conclusion, Transbohêm have to define and develop their sound, sure…but if these are the premises then I guess they’re going to be one of the most interesting bands in the years to come. Keep up the great work, Transbohêm!
Rating – 75/100
Tracklist
- Caravan
- Circles
- Ecoute Petit Serbe
- Hun’s Parade
- Flam
Line Up
- Claire Lafage – Vocals
- Yves Corvez – Guitar
- Jean-Marc Gobat – Keyboards
- Christian Bocande – Bass
- Emmanuel Blattes – Drums
Links