NOSTIMON HEMAR (E)

Four years have passed since the third album Faded Leaves (2002) by the Greek progressive outfit La Tulipe Noir saw the light of day. Guitarist Kontakis left the band after thirteen years, right after the release of Faded Leaves. His successor Pertsidines had other obligations before he could join the band. Even more important, drummer Nick Kassavetis had some nasty health problems that required half a day of surgery and a long recovery, so this hiatus was forced upon the band. Fortunately it seems that they are back stronger than ever with this latest offering. An odyssey as only a band from the country where this name came from could realise. Although the song titles are according to the time when hero Odysseus went astray and eventually found his way back to Ithaca, the lyrics by the contemporary writer Kavafis are not: this concept album is therefore meant to be an allegory to Homer’s Odyssey. Words like machine guns and even a fragment of one of Adolf Hitler’s speeches are proof of this. The music is in the vein of the seventies style of progressive acts like Eloy, Novalis and so on. Some influences of Marillion in Calypso also can be distinguished. Difference of course with the bands mentioned is that La Tulipe Noire have the female vocalist Ima. Her steady, clear and sometimes a bit aggressive voice is the band's trademark. Therefore the band reminds me of the first albums by Solstice (UK). Guitars have the sound of those on albums by the German outfit Ramses, the bass by Hyde is a bit pumping, drums are subtle and elegant and the keyboards provide tasteful layers but especially the organ brings back memories from thirty years ago and back! Not all the melodies are catchy, but throughout the album most of the tunes are very nice. Because of the somewhat backdated sound and the obvious intention to play music from 25-35 years ago, this album is not amongst my favourites since I like the genuine stuff better. But surely it’s a good thing progressive rock is alive in Greece as well.