COLLECTION D'ARNELL-ANDRÉA

Their last concert in Belgium dated from 2008 at the Gothic Festival, so it was a great pleasure to see Collection d'Arnell-Andréa perform at the Magasin 4 in Brussels! Founded in 1986 by Jean-Christophe d'Arnell (main composer, writer, piano/keyboards), Pascal Andréa, and Chloé St Liphard (vocals), this French band from Orléans has always been one of the favorites of the Belgian "gothic" public in the darkwave/ethereal/heavenly voice style. Their music is reminiscent of Dead Can Dance, And Also The Trees (a band they supported many times), Cranes, Cocteau Twins, Love Is Colder Than Death, Rosa Crvx... On the stage of the Magasin 4, the band was present in its complete lineup, that is with an ensemble (a "collection") of seven musicians, including violin, cello, keyboards, guitar, bass and drums.

During the first songs, "Les champs, Demain" and "The Coming of Believes", both from the band's last album "Vernes-Monde", I must admit that the sound was a bit chaotic, which is normal when you have to play new songs and mix so many live instruments. Luckily, things got quickly into place with "Verdun", "Deafening Breath", "L’Aulne & la Mort" and "Les Cendres-Lisières", all coming from the fantastic album "Villers-Aux-Vents" (1994). As usual, Chloé was wearing a sober black dress and was moving with grace and discretion about the stage, with her enchanting voice leading us into the band's dreamy world.

Back to the last album with "D’autres Voix Que le Vent", "Au Chevet des Faunes", and "The Wan Plain", showing a perfect continuity and consistence of style. Video's were projected on the screen behind the musicians with the band's typical romantic and old-fashioned images, featuring obsessive topics like death, history and nature. Then it was time for three songs from the album "Exposition Eaux Fortes Et Méandres" (2007): "Into flowers", "The Monk On The Shore" and my favorite CDAA song: "The Long Shadow" (see video below). To finish the concert, the band played "The Spirits of the Dead" and "Before I Die" from The Bower Of Despair (2004) and the title track from "Vernes-Monde".

As a whole, it was a wonderful concert. Combining cellos and violins with synths, droning drums and heavenly vocals, the band managed to create a dark and mysterious musical world, close to dark-folk and its neo-romantic melancholy. 26 years after its creation, the band is still in great form and continues to produce high quality albums, partly thanks to the support of Prikosnovénie, the well-known French darkwave label.

Before Collection d'Arnell-Andréa, the public had the opportunity to see A Challenge of Honour, a martial/ambient project from The Netherlands, who were playing one of their last concerts (http://www.achallengeofhonour.com/). Before them, Skeptical Minds, from Belgium, convinced with their female fronted gothic metal music, which you can discover on their last album "Skepticalised". Note that Skeptical Minds will play in Athens, Greece on 26th May together with Epica (http://www.skepticalminds.com/).

Congratulations to the organisors, Mad About Music, for this great (and eclectic) evening!

Check the pictures of the event by Gregory Lecrivain!

Philippe BLACKMARQUIS
17/05/2012