Having made a decided step additional into conventional prog territory with 2022’s single-track, 20-minute idea mini-album Babel, Lesoir are maybe eager to forestall any such labels sticking to them on Push Again The Horizon.
The Maastricht five-piece’s sixth album goals way more squarely for the world rock jugular from the outset. They clearly imply enterprise – they enlisted seasoned Oasis and Robert Plant producer John Cornfield in addition to longtime Muse affiliate Paul Reeve to work on this document.
They absolutely assist Beneath The Stars speed up right into a high-octane, wind-in-the-hair singalong, with Maartje Meessen’s plaintive tones generally taking over the timbre of an Annie Haslam or Maddy Prior. The title monitor and Fireflies have a booming, immersive swell to their sound, energised by stabs of Ingo Dassen’s metallic riffing.
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With bombastic strings and choral accompaniment becoming a member of the throng, at instances Push Again The Horizon veers near symphonic steel territory – albeit with none try at soprano vocal gymnastics.
However then simply when a tempo break is required, You Are The World frames a wistful, moody lament with nervous, stuttering rhythms, earlier than Meessen steps up the emotional ante once more as craving turns to one thing extra passionate and angst-ridden.
Higher nonetheless for individuals who favor a much less linear strategy to songwriting, the startlingly titled The Drawer Of The Chest In The Nook Is Empty presents a vocal part-whispered, part-sung as Meessen sings, fairly curiously of how ‘he locations his hand on my inside safety.’ It makes for a extra dramatic, edge-of-the-seat expertise that appears all of the simpler once they as soon as once more burst into pomp-rock flame, and the guitars howl on the moon in direction of its conclusion.
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Lesoir’s versatility isn’t doubtful by this level, however they will’t resist a Wagnerian crescendo. Therefore the ruminative instrumental Aeon is a neater pay attention at first, hung round a summery guitar determine, earlier than as soon as once more the storm clouds collect.
Their intuition is at all times to complete powerfully when potential. That’s mirrored within the movement of the album as a complete, and the ultimate trifecta of tracks. What Do You Need From Me’s agitated vocal builds in energy to return out combating, as a sonic squall grows round it. Following that, As Lengthy As Your Ladies Smile rides out on a thunderous Nightwish-style blast of turbocharged melancholy.
Lastly, the quiet/loud energy ballad Why I Stand Right here Now closes proceedings with a rush of emotional defiance. Broad strokes for essentially the most half – however once they’re this skilfully utilized, resistance is futile.
Push Again The Horizon is on sale now through V2.
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