Detailed Reviews [Edhels - 1981 - "The Bursting"]

Line-up: Marc Ceccotti - lead electric & acoustic guitars, keyboards, percussion; Noel Damon - keyboards, bass pedals, drums (on 3) & percussion; Jean-Louis Suzzoni - lead & rhythm electric guitars.

With: Sandrine Brisson - violin (on 2); Philippe Peratonnere - lead keyboards (on 4); Jacky Rosati - additional keyboards (on 4).

Prologue. It's turned out that Edhels's very first recording finally saw the light of day only in the beginning of 2001. Composed, performed and recorded precisely twenty years ago "The Bursting", however, doesn't sound like an archaic work. Musically, this highly original work is as different from the Edhels albums to follow as each of them from the others, and such a phenomenon is typical for the most creative artists only. Despite the fact that Edhels's music isn't too complex, while moderately complex, the band led by Marc Ceccotti was able to discover new musical horizons with each new album during the two decades of its existence. Any experienced Prog-lover should appreciate such a unique creative way.

The Album. Entirely instrumental, like the first three Edhels albums released officially, the band's real debut album "The Bursting" compositionally is on par at least with the band's first official work "Oriental Christmas". However, I haven't heard on the band's following albums such a mind-blowing, virtuosic and tasteful playing of the acoustic guitar that Marc did on Russian Puzzle (why have you stopped doing so in the future, Marc?). Believe it or not, but I think that even the two Mighty Steves (Hackett & Howe) were always proud of themselves when they demonstrated such guitar acrobatics. All the three tracks with the hints to Classical Music in their titles really contain the motives of European Symphonism in their structures and Edhels (Symphony No 1) is especially filled with them. This is probably the only track on the album with a total domination of keyboards throughout, whereas other compositions present as the main solo instruments either both guitars and keyboards (tracks 2,3,4,6) or just various guitars - with keyboards playing mainly chords (a 'side-long' Russian Puzzle). Guest keyboardist Philippe Peratonnere shows miracles of soloing on L'Etrange Quete. Imagine instrumental pieces of The Alan Parsons Project being composed, arranged and performed on a higher level of complexity and musicianship and you'll have an idea of what this (fourth) track is about.

Summary. As well as in case with the latest Edhels album of 1998 (see the review below), I am sure that it is necessary to release officially such a unique document taken from an era of the decadence of Progressive as "The Bursting". If properly distributed, this, one of the strongest progressive albums of the beginning of the 'dark decade' of the 1980's would be a real discovery for thousands Prog-lovers from all around the word. And I myself feel happy to have a possibility to review the albums of Edhels and many other underrated or unnoticed bands instead of routine praising (even) the excellent yet already far-famous performers.

VM. May 5, 2001