French band Children in Paradise creates a fusion of prog rock/Celtic folk music that I wasn’t even aware I was missing. Their debut albumEsyllt (Isolde) is a richly layered composition. The lyrics are poignant & tell a human story while the music is filled with beautiful progressions. No cookie-cutter music here.
Kathy Millot aka “Dam Kat” has a voice like dark honey. Think Tori Amos, Enya, and Ani DiFranco with a side of Amy Lee & Pink. On Little Butterfly her voice creates such an aching atmosphere you can almost feel your heart break. The guitar progressions are electric blues–dirty, pining notes that strip my soul.
Gwalc’hmei‘s guitar flies through the melancholy of King Arthur’s Death. Vocals that speak of longing & promise balance the atmospheric prog.
I get comfortable with the music & mood when the delightful surprise of Loic Bléjean‘s uilleann pipes lilt into My Son. Countering this traditional Irish instrument is Gwalc’hmei’s blistering guitar riffs. This is honest-to-God rock n roll. Eddie Van Halen on his best day would find this challenging.
The Battle is a good piece but it rockets to the stratosphere of epic at 4:18- Guitar & uilleann pipes intertwine into an animal like no other. My jaw is on the floor…this ain’t your grand-pappy’s Celtic folk music.
Overall this is a remarkable debut album. The entire album is filled with soul–living, breathing music that will reach your innermost being. There are moments of pure prog bliss in these songs. I do find that the songs become just a mite formulaic by the end of the album. I know that about halfway through any particular song I’m going to find the heavy electric guitar solos. While this isn’t a bad thing I think that mixing up the song structure would have elevated this album to instant classic status. I recommend you grab this record; put it on & fall into the ancient Celtic world with a prog rock twist.
Band Children in Paradise
Info: Esyllt
Years: 2012
Info: France
Style: Progressive Rock
Tracklist: Mp3 VBR~230kbps
Info: 108 MB
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1.Little Butterfly
2.King Arthur’s Death
3.My Song
4.The Battle
5.Esyllt
6.Silent Agony
7.Don’t Forget Me
8.I’m Not Scared
9.Look Around You
10.I’m Alive
Gwalc’hmei : guitar
Dam Kat : vocals
Patrick Boileau : drums
Hilaire Rama : bass
Loic Bléjean : uilleann pipes & low whistle
Philippe Turbin : piano, keyboards
+ Guest : Pat O May, Guitar & Clotilde Trouillaud, harp
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