au-delá des ombres
| Format | CD |
| Country | Canada |
| Recorded | 2002 |
| Issued | 2002 |
| Label | Ipso Facto |
| Cat no. | IF 2009 |
| Playing time | 46:10 |
| Reviewer | Rikard A Toftesund |
| ERE G au-delá des ombres |
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Quebec-based Ere G is lead by vocalist and songwriter Robin Gaudrealt who also plays bass, guitar and keyboards. The group joins the wave of fascinating recent French-Canadian names like Miriodor, Hamadryad, Nathan Mahl, Interférence Sardines and Dagmähr, whose company Ipso Facto now releases Au-delá des Ombres.
Compared to these artists, Ere G has more in common with older progressive bands from Quebec, with backbone groups like Morse Code, Opus 5, Etcetera, Pollen, Conventum, Maneige and Harmonium. Especially the spheric, symphonic folkrock of Harmonium has put its mark on Gaudrealt without preventing the music from appearing very personal. Because harmonically, this is far more sophisticated and intelligent than the average modern prog in the same vein (i.e. Cast, Turquoise, Finisterre).
Instrumentally, there are orchestrations made by various analogue synths, Mellotron samples (extremely well executed), six- and twelwe string guitars, flute and violin, with less emphasis on rhythm instruments. Several of the basically accessible songs are melodically strong and has dream-like qualities that constantly produce goosebumps (La Traversée, Infantes, Ardeur Ternie), everything is performed with careful consideration of the "pure" esthetique (French lyrics, for one), and the record as such is devoid of pretentious banalities.
Extremely well done by a band of this kind in 2002, and heartily recommended.
© 2003 Tarkus Magazine