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Priam 3 distances / irregular signs (Musea, 1998)


Priam, a French instrumental quartet named after the King of
Troy in the Greek legend of that city's fall, plays melodic
prog rock with ethereal synth breaks.  The songs on 3
distances / irregular signs are arranged into three suites,
each with three parts. 


Soaring guitar melodies move seamlessly into melodic solos and
back to composed figures, dominating the languid, occasionally
melodramatic prog rock.  The guitar almost exclusively takes a
forefront role, playing single note melodic lines mixed above
the other instruments - there is little traditional rhythm
guitar or chording.  In a soft contrast to the drive of the
prog jams, eerie background synth passages or muted clean
guitar often chatter for several minutes as the lead guitar and
keyboards slowly build into the next song.  The classical
guitar interlude of "signs beyond the euphrates" provides a
similar contrast as the synth breaks, but with a more natural
feel. 


The soaring guitar passages give the music a cinematic or epic
feel that occasionally borders on ponderous, due to the
constant use of this lead style.  Priam keeps their
instrumental prog rock fresh by not cycling the same
verse/chorus patterns endlessly.  They repeat key themes two or
three times in a song, but the individual themes are often
developed at a slow rate and lack a memorable character to
differentiate them from each other. 


The guitar assumes a large burden with the forefront melodic
role, and the playing meets this challenge very well.  The
drumming solidly backs the rock sections but lacks a subtle
touch that would much better compliment the mellow passages.


Priam's 3 distances / irregular signs entertains but
rarely ascends above a background listening level due to the
similar sound and unremarkable melodies.  


Reviewed by Scott Andrews [sha3u@Virginia.edu].

Lineup: 

chris casagrande:  guitars

laurent lacombe-colomb:  keyboards

bertrand hulin-bertaud:  bass

emma.m:  drums




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