FRANCK CARDUCCI: The Answer (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Franck Carducci is beginning to make a name for himself in the contemporary progressive microcosm, whether French or European. The artist, who has been making steady progress since his first (true-false) album, has extended his field of visibility to reach the top with praising reviews coming from magazines such as the prestigious Prog. In addition, he is known for his extensive artistic performances and customary kindness under his famous hat.

But underneath this hat and this joie de vivre, aren't there fears linked to the evolution of the music industry, which makes and breaks artists as it pleases? What could be better than mythology and progressive rock to describe these fears related to the star system.... Because Franck, as a great lover of myths, has taken as his starting point that of Arion, a kitharode (zither) player from ancient Greece, one of the first super musical stars, to transpose it to our present time. The career of a musician or more broadly of an artist who runs after the love of the audience is often made of ups and downs, adulation and rejection.

Our multi-instrumentalist bass player begins his story with the consecration with a '(love is) The Answer' in which the incantatory choirs illustrate the cries of the fans who worship the Arion of modern times. After an introduction in which the group uses the didgeridoo (an Aboriginal musical instrument used since the Stone Age), the piece is gradually built with acoustic guitars that give way to pretty keyboard layers close to Banks. But where does the success of this imaginary artist come from? You need a hit that finds its personification in 'Slave To Rock'n Roll' that recalls the hits of Poison from Alice Cooper from the 70s and 80s. Everything is included in it, including the killer axe solo, stretched out to impress the gallery without imitating the style.

After this relatively luminous departure, the transition to the darker side of the story takes place with 'Superstar', the main piece of "The Answer", which is simply incredible in its coherence and progressive evolution in the purest tradition. We find in this title the doubts that gradually gain Arion (Franck) who becomes jaded. The first phase remains optimistic, then after a part sung with softness and accuracy by Mary Reynaud, the title darkens towards more darkness in which the superstar finds himself alone with a more plaintive song very well interpreted. Without leaving time to catch his breath, follows 'The After Effect' more rhythmic with a disturbing bass, with an almost schizophrenic and sometimes a little false double-headed vocals as if to accentuate this beginning of perdition which end on piano notes to make the transition with 'The Game Of Life'.

This track adopting a more classical piano-vocal-copper form constitutes a welcome and terribly sensitive breath in which Franck Carducci lets his emotions show through, with a little disillusionment, becoming fatalistic about the final outcome now very close. The fans' cheers gave way to a more intimate atmosphere probing the torments of the fallen artist. This isolation will lead him to the 'Asylum' which takes the form of a sublime blues rock of confounding effectiveness with sharp riffs, amazing female choirs and magnificent keyboard touches. It must be said that for this album, Franck worked with none other than Derek Sherinian who brings this rock touch to the synthetic atmosphere of the compositions. At the end of the track, the musicians let go completely in a totally unbridled atmosphere in which Franck gives his musicians all the latitude to express the madness that eventually takes over Arion.

A few nice bonuses are added to the vinyl version of the album, including a very beautiful ballad ('Beautiful Night') with an irresistible, almost ghostly melody in the Moody Blues spirit. If we can interpret the concept of "The Answer" as the personification of Franck's feelings about the passing of time, the fact of being an artist and his future, the album leaves the door open to any other imagination. It is also where the magic of progressive rock lies, that of imaginative, lively and brilliant music. This album contains a little of this magic and confirms Franck's talent to bring to life this genre that is dear to us. - Official website

FRANCK CARDUCCI

THE ANSWER

AUTOPRODUCTION

ROCK