Nine Skies – «5.20»: A Dream Beyond Horizons

🔸 Coming up next June 4th is «5.20», brand new opus from French progressive rock band Nine Skies. As they did on their last output, this upcoming album will be guesting some prog royalty musicians like Steve Hackett, his bro John Hackett, and vocalist Damian Wilson. Joins us to find out what it’s like to live a dream beyond horizons!

«This acoustic and very intimate opus takes us on a journey using the spellbinding charm of the string quartet, from the captivating melodies to mysterious and more introspective overtones of the album.» [Nine Skies]

Pre-order «5.20» at Bandcamp

Featuring…

• Aliénor Favier / vocals
• Eric Bouillette / guitars, mandolin, violin, keyboards, arrangements
• Alexandre Lamia / guitars, keyboards, arrangements
• Anne-Claire Rallo / keyboards
• David Darnaud / guitars
• Achraf El Asraoui / vocals, guitars
• Bernard Hery / bass, fretless bass
• Fabien Galia / drums, percussion
• Laurent Benhamou / saxophones

With:

• Steve Hackett / guitar solo (2)
• Damian Wilson / vocals (9)
• John Hackett / flute (7)
• Cath Lubatti / violin, viola
• Lilian Jaumotte / cello

1. Colourblind

«I like to believe
Somewhere a place exists,
A land far from distress,
Released from the embrace of pain,
Where the world wouldn’t be insane,
Where the world wouldn’t be insane»

🔸 Sweet guitar melodies like a stream dancing its way down marks the pastoral opening for 1. Colourblind. Soon the band joins coming from all sides. Vocals remind me of Steve Hogarth, though from a distance. The acoustic train keeps going on, gaining momentum along the way. Skilful sound builders, Nine Skies waive notes through the air in a rich, creative, thoughtful tapestry. Sometimes, I get echos of world music, of stories untold from old, waiting to be told to eager audiences.

2. Wilderness (feat. Steve Hackett)

«Unfaithful and undeserved
The stars are way too far for us
But they aren’t the only ones
But they aren’t the only ones»

🔸 Highly lyrical and melody-driven, 2. Wilderness shines with a light of its own, that makes it really enjoyable from the very beginning. Steve Hackett’s guitar is always a wonderful addition to any album. Sporting a beautiful electric guitar solo, this track is like an eerie journey through mysterious, dream-like worlds.

4. Golden Drops

«Catch the golden drops
As if they were tears of joy,
Golden rain in the sky,
Surrounded by red clouds»

🔸 The majestically simple and minimalistic musical proposal called 3. Beauty of Decay works like a wonderful interlude. 4. Golden Drops feels like we’re entering the «One Thousand and One Nights Stories» book. There’s also a charming Italian Middle Ages flavour all about it. A mystifying and compelling piece, with a dark, mysterious vibe, where the strings take it to the next level.

5. Above the Tide

«A majestic crow
Wanders above the tide,
Through the blurry clouds,
Darkening the sky»

🔸 There’s a strong storytelling feeling all through this album. Music is enticing and highly descriptive. With some darkly spoken words, 5. Above the Tide is a strong ethnic, cinematic cocktail of suggestive images.

7. The Old Man in the Snow (feat. John Hackett)

«Wise, wise but alone,
The old loner is far from home,
White, white and pink,
This landscape, really bleak»

🔸 On 6. Dear Mind, acoustic piano and guitar walk hand in hand through a very cinematic interlude. And here comes another house specialty, 7. The Old Man in the Snow, featuring ethnic percussion, flowing, ethereal melodies and dreamy vocals, and guesting John Hackett for dessert. Melody is extremely beautiful and compelling. A very tasty musical delicacy for connoisseurs.

8. Godless Land

«A land without water
A sky without clouds
Days without sun
And nights without moon»

🔸 Cinematic and with a tinge of sadness, 8. Godless Land takes the listener through a carnival of emotions.

9. Porcelain Hill (feat. Damian Wilson)

«I remember the hill,
Perched above the village,
Hidden through clouds and haze,
Overlooking the gods whispering»

🔸 Coming closer to the end of our journey, we come across another strayed traveler, Damian Wilson, whose powerful, energetic voice lights the road to 9. Porcelain Hill.

11. Smiling Stars

«When I look at the sky
I can see your eyes
When I stare at the stars
I don’t see any goodbye
A thousand of smiling stars,
smiling stars»

🔸 After 10. Achristas, another cinematic, minimalistic piano interlude, we reach the end with 11. Smiling Stars, a melancholic piece, starting sad but soon building up momentum to an intense, sorrowful crescendo, and sporting a beautiful solo sax that says farewell to us.

• Source: Nine Skies