Year : 2023
Style : Progressive Metal
Country : France
Audio : 320 kbps + front
Size : 124 mb
Bio:
Born of Noelle and Michel Lalu, musicians from the ‘70s French progressive act Polene, Vivien Lalu has released a surplus of recordings through an array of different bands and projects since 1997, as the keyboard player for underground black/doom band Time For A Change. At the turn of the millennium Lalu played keys for two underground progressive metal bands from Paris, Sad Warden and then Mind's Orchard, and in 2002 was hired by Hubi Meisel (ex-Dreamscape vocalist) to compose and record the keys for his solo album EmOcean, the following year doing the same for Meisel’s sophomore album Kailash, both of which were released by Lion Music.It was at this time Vivien Lalu begins recruiting his own associates from major prog and metal bands -- some of which he shares time composing music alongside in progressive metal act Shadrane -- and forms his own solo project, LALU. The first full-length Oniric Metal was released on Lion Music in 2005 and began an entirely new chapter for this composer and his insatiable need to create mind-expanding, cinematic music.These accomplishments helped Lalu to begin securing score and soundtrack work for film and television; over the last few years he’s written many cues for the orchestral soundtrack for the Warner Bros movie Seuls Two, for the show Science X made in association with Lucasfilm Ltd. Additionally he joined the production team behind Laszlo Jones in order to assist the recordings and production of Banana Nation (Universal Music Group). He’s composed many soundtracks for French television, music and sound effects for Neko Entertainment, worked as a sound designer for Ubisoft Entertainment and much more.After collaborating with Shadow Gallery for a song on their Digital Ghosts album, and working with Canadian drummer Chris Nalbandian for his Paralysis of Analysis solo album -- recording all keys and sharing solos with Derek Sherinian and Alex Argento -- Vivien finally settled in and began work on the second LALU opus. Handling all composition and songwriting duties, as well as all keyboards on the massive production, Vivien weaved the cloth of the new album with vocalist Martin LeMar (Mekong Delta), bassist Mike LePond (SymphonyX), guitarist Simone Mularoni (DGM), drummer Virgil Donati (PlanetX), the album’s parts recorded in several countries including the United States (Los Angeles and New York), Germany and Italy, produced by Lalu in his own studio, and mixed at Boumbox Studio in Paris by Yan Memmi (Dio’s Lock Up The Wolves, Marcus Miller’s The Sun Don't Lie, etc.). Additional contributions from Jens Johansson (Stratovarius), Joop Wolters (Shadrane), Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Marco Sfogli (James LaBrie), Mike Andersson (Cloudscape) and Peter Wildoer (James LaBrie) were also carefully built into the album, the final product boasting over fifty minutes of exceptional, massive cinematic, atmospheric metal Lalu has dubbed, Atomic Ark.Sensory Records signed LALU immediately upon hearing the opus, and has excitedly confirmed the release date for Atomic Ark for September 6th in Europe and September 10th in North America.
Album:
Lalu has announced the upcoming release of fourth album "The Fish Who Wanted To Be King" on October 20, 2023. Lalu will be accompanying singer Damian Wilson on his "One Knight Only" European tour, a celebration of his 30-year career as a frontman. During the tour, the band will revisit songs from Wilson's time with Lalu and other bands such as Ayreon, Landmarq, Threshold and many more.“I never make the same album twice, let alone the same song twice”, explains keyboardist/founder Vivien Lalu. “With this latest project, I wanted to approach things differently, adopting a process that mirrored the dynamics of a band. Taking a seat behind my synthesizers and occasionally a piano, I began recording my ideas while playing basic drum patterns on the keyboard. These initial recordings served as a blueprint for the songs. I would then share these initial drafts with my longtime collaborator of 20 years, Joop Wolters, who skillfully crafted the guitar and bass parts. Our collaborative approach fostered a sense of freshness and adaptability throughout the process. We had the freedom to trim or expand sections as we felt necessary, allowing each member to express his creativity to the fullest. The ultimate aim was to grant everyone involved complete artistic freedom in his respective role. This approach fostered a sense of unity and cohesiveness. By embracing this collaborative process, we achieved a sound that—in my humble opinion —truly reflected the collective efforts and artistic contributions of each musician. It was an opportunity for everyone to shine and bring their unique talents to the forefront.”As singer and lyricist Damian Wilson continues, this is an album concept that draws inspiration from the spirit of the original pioneers of Dada, who vehemently opposed war and ridiculed the power structure of the time. It challenges conventional notions and delves into the realms of hierarchy, accountability and adaptability. Continuing the narrative from the previous Lalu album "Paint The Sky", this album delves deeper into the utopian aspirations of its travelers. However, their pursuit takes an unexpected turn as they encounter The Blockchain, a digital platform of absolute transparency and accountability. Within this realm, every aspect is meticulously defined and any deviation swiftly flagged. Unbeknownst to the travelers, the very survival skills that once propelled them forward are now turned against them, leading to manipulation, entrapment and eventual destruction fueled by their own fears. "The Fish ..." serves as a poignant reminder of our collective dependence on adaptability and the ever-evolving nature of our existence. As we reflect on the past to gather wisdom, it is the exploration of uncharted territories and the wonders of our own minds that hold the key to unlocking our future.”Lalu is a musical project originally founded in 2004 by French composer and producer Vivien Lalu, son of Noelle and Michel Lalu (members of the ‘70s French progressive act Polène). "The Fish ..." is the second album for Frontiers and the fourth album overall from the band, released under the partnership between Vivien and Frontiers, and is creatively and production-wise a major step forward if compared to the previous albums. Musically, this album sees a contemporary approach to a progressive rock thread which was mostly developed during the ’80s and that now has developed also after the explosion of progressive metal. With a line-up that now is stronger and more cohesive that ever, again with singer Damian Wilson (ex-Threshold and regular collaborator of Arjen Lucassen), Joop Wolters on guitar and bass, Jelly Cardarelli on drums and sharing keyboard duties with Matt Daniel, Vivien Lalu and friends have managed to create a fabulous final product that combines intricate melodies, thought-provoking lyrics, and awe-inspiring performances. Technically flawless, and emotionally touching the new album has a story to tell and asks to be enjoyed quietly and with love from passionate listeners!
Line Up:
Damian Wilson - Vocals (2020-present) - See also: Headspace, Star One, ex-Computer Mind, ex-Unwritten Pages, Arena, Damian Wilson, Maiden United, ex-Threshold, ex-Stream of Passion (live), ex-Landmarq, ex-Rick Wakeman
Joop Wolters - Bass, Guitars - See also: Joop Wolters, Shadrane, ex-Arabesque, ex-Marcel Coenen, ex-Elysion (Nld)
Vivien Lalu - Keyboards (2003-present) - See also: Shadrane, ex-Hubi Meisel, ex-Mind's Orchard, ex-Sad Warden, ex-Time for a Change
Jelly Cardarelli - Drums - See also: Disconnected, Adagio, ex-Klone (live)
Matt Daniel - k, hor, piano
Tracklist:
01. Forever Digital
02. The Fish Who Wanted To Be King
03. Deoxyribonucleic Acid
04. Is That A London Number
05. Amnesia 1916
06. A Reversal Of Fortune
07. The Wondering Kind
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
