Indel - 2019 - Bitterness

(48:00; Indel)

Pascal Indelicato (composition, piano, orchestral programming) was in the progressive rock band Indelspeen with Nicolas Mourachko in the Eighties, and then in 1998 they formed Silver Lining with Thierry Sportouche. It was Thierry who recently sent me this 2019 CD where Pascal has somewhat revived the old name, and is now playing alongside Claire Mathilde Dufour (violin, electric violin), François Zampa (bass) and Bertrand Moulin (drums). I must confess and say it has been impossible to find anything out about this band, as apart from a few minor mentions on French sites they basically have no presence on the web. At least I have not been able to find any, and that is a real shame as this is one of those unusual albums, something which is obviously scarce and rare which is also worth listening to.

François and Bertrand set the platform, and it is up to Pascal and Claire to take the lead, and Pascal is often content to allow his musical partner be dominant. We get a mix of numbers from light symphonic prog to songs such as “Apologia” which is commences as  rippling piano and delicate lifting violin. I don’t know who provides the wonderfully restrained electric guitar solo, but it is just perfect for this, and this song alone raises the question as to why this prog band were not more well known. Given their invisibility I am guessing this is their only album, and that we are unlikely to get another, and with it not being listed on Discogs there are very few indeed who have ever heard outside of a close few, probably all based in Lyon as that is where Pascal is originally from.

That is a shame, as here we have an instrumental progressive rock band with a powerful combination of melody and space, and this album has been a real joy to listen to.    

Kev Rowland, November 2024