The Black Noodle Project - 2020 - Code 2​.​0

(44:18; Progressive Promotion Records)

Track list:
1. Acte I 6:37
2. Acte II 4:44
3. Acte III 5:52
4. Acte IV 6:19
5. Acte V 6:18
6. Acte VI 7:38
7. Acte Final 6:50

Line-up:
Sebastien Bourdeix - guitars, keyboards, bass, vocals
Fabrice Berger - drums
Anthony Leteve - bass
with:
Sandrine Bourdeix - vocals
Clement Bourdeix - vocals
Leon Burghgraeve - vocals


Prolusion.
French band The Black Noodle Project have been around for a couple of decades by now, and have been a creative and active band from the early phases when it was more of a solo project and through the later stages when this venture became a bit more settled and band-oriented. At the time of writing they have explored their brand of progressive rock on nine studio albums. "Code 2.0" dates back to 2020, and was released through German label Progressive Promotion Records.

Analysis.
While the earlier albums I have encountered by this band by and large have been exploring more of a psychedelic and cosmic direction with cues to Gilmour-era Pink Floyd as something of a defining feature, on "Code 2.0" these are landscapes the band have chosen to step away from. Whether or not the material here falls in under a progressive rock definition or not is possibly a matter for discussion among some progressive rock fans too, as the landscapes explored on this occasion are a tad more one-dimensional than what you would expect from a band with a progressive rock reputation.

The mostly instrumental songs here tend to follow a pattern where the compositions opens up in a gentle manner, and then explores this more careful segment with a lesser degree of development prior to moving over to a more powerful and usually guitar riff driven arrangement that have a more distinct development in terms of an increase in the level of intensity. When this section reaches its final most intense peak the song will conclude on a gentler note.

This is a pattern often used by bands operating within the post-rock tradition, and like the post-rock bands The Black Noodle Project does explore these patterns with a bit of variation and flexibility. What we do not get in this case are the subtle nuances and variable details that can make post-rock such a transfixing tradition to explore. The music here is pleasant enough by all means, but it is an exploration of two snapshots rather than being a journey through two different landscapes or a journey from one landscape to another. An interesting broader picture that lacks the intriguing details when you start zooming in.

The concluding 'Acte Final' strikes me as a creation markedly more interesting than the rest of the albums due to this composition being a bit more fleshed out. We have vocals present, instrument details that add a dreamladen and mystic atmosphere to the proceedings, and we have three different landscapes that are traversed rather than two. And with more details audible in the arrangements, or perhaps just more interesting details. The end result is that this one song is more interesting and more striking than the rest of this album.

Conclusion.
The Black Noodle Project as of 2020 is a band exploring landscapes that for me at least are rather less interesting than the ones they have conjured and traversed on earlier albums. The moods and atmospheres are appealing and compelling, but also more static and monochrome in a way. Beautiful landscapes but lacking in actual movement, at least until the final song comes along and adds those details missing elsewhere. I'd hazard a guess that those who will find this production most intriguing will be post-rock aficionados, due to the instrumental nature of most songs and the manner in which they develop. If material following a post-rock approach but without following the actual post-rock style sounds interesting, chances are good that you'll find this album to be an interesting one.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, January 2023

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063609795174
https://www.progressive-promotion.de/