Label: Nil records

Tracks:

1. Acte I (36:16)
2. Acte II (26:42)

Musicians:

• David Maurin - prepared guitars, flute, gong, bass clarinet
• Samuel Maurin - bass, stick, voice, Aegyptian incantations
• Benjamin Croizy - synthesizers, mellotron, church organ, Hammond organ, ano, MS 20, timpani
• Frank Niebel - drums, percussion

Guest musicians:

• Roselyn Berthet - vocals, ethereal voices
• Eric Vedovati - vocals
• Samy Cyr - ethereal voices
• Anne Cayrol - cello
• Hervé Franconi - soprano saxophone
• Francois Pernel - harp
• Audrey Casella -narrator

Attention to this excellent French band, Nil, and to this third selfproduced work, "Quarante Jours sur le Sinai", because it's another remarkable work of 2003.

Nil, has a contemporary prog French band sound. This lugubrious and enigmatic characteristic feeling of the French bands is present notably, in this album. The band that comes to my mind when I listen to Nil is Seven Reizh, but also some of XII Alfonso, Taal, Xaal or Halloween, and even the 70's band Shylock. And neither references to more classic bands as Dead Can Dance, King Crimson or Gentle Giant are absent.

But, apart from the mentioned references, I would like to compare this "Quarante Jours sur le Sinai" with two albums I think can be useful to understand how Nil sounds. There are two classic works of last decade, Miriodor's "Jongleries Elastiques", and Anglagard's "Epilog". I think that the present work also achieves an apparent perfectly arranged complexity, a variety of sounds and continuous sudden changes, and the contrasts between beauty and torment. Those qualities seem to relate it with the previously mentioned albums, but it doesn't mean necessarily that sounds very similar to both of them.

"Quarante Jours sur le Sinai" is a concept album, which was recorded live some years ago, between 1999 and 2001. But it is not the typical live compilation, but a recording of unreleased compositions, without public, and with a studio sound, subsequently arranged. The album is divided into two acts, tacking half an hour each one, formed by 29 cuts. There are indeed different tracks inside both acts, so by no means we should think about monotonous on having thought that the booklet refers to only two long tracks.

Inside the album we find a group of very varied tracks where we can find all kinds of progressive sounds, from symphonic rock, to RIO, through prog-metal and ambient. It is a work full of color thanks to the stylistic variety, though with a dark feel. It would be absurd to emphasize tracks, so all of them are fragments of the same unit. I just can stand out the enjoyment of getting lost among the multiple sonorous labyrinths which Nil offer to us in this great work.

Seeing this band live has to be an experience to not forget. Hope they show their faces here in Barcelona, so they are near, but it is necessary to assume that it is difficult.

Rating: 8.5/10

Ferran Lizana