Gimmick Productions 2024
Destinations
Gallic adventurer finds literary vectors and proper voices to define a fresh plane of existence for his melodic exploits.
With sense of place imbuing all of Patrick Broguière’s albums, a simple logic might dictate that “Destinations” should be no different – only it is, which also feels rather logical. While the original scope of the Parisian instrumentalist’s records, sculpted on the other side of the millennial turn, demonstrated a certain geographic slant, his 2023 comeback platter "A Secret World" signaled Broguière’s desire to explore inner microcosm as well, and the pieces on offer here shine a light and cast shadows on imaginary terrains as a further set of steps from the past and into the future. More so, if Patrick previous effort showed a human interface via programmed vocals, these seven wonders see genuine singers emote fantasies over his keyboards and guitars.
Legends and literature playing a major role in the aural tapestries these tunes paint with stunning details, even though lyrics per se are not as important as phonetic textures the four guest warblers contribute to a freshly fashioned pop-sheen of the French master’s arrangements on such enchanting epics as the piano-rippled “The Land Of Elves” and hypnotically tribal “Desert Voices” whose folk-informed chamber soundscapes and exquisite lace are deliciously vibrant. And while heavy riffs sometime come to underpin the waves of ivories and six-string strum, “Rockland” takes metal-minded heaviness to the fore of its infectious, dance-inducing groove and female-to-male, soprano-vs-tenor dynamic, “Hyperion” unfolds a medieval symphony, a madrigal and a futuristic flight in front of the astounded listener. However, the organ-steamed “The Final Prophecy” solemnly leads synthetic woodwind down the cathedral aisle towards the chime of carillons, whereas the nature-focused “Dreamland” weaves an acoustic mirage that’s augmented with Eastern motifs and spoken word, and the hymnally soaring “Last Destination” proposes a final ride over the spellbound ground.
A majestic journey, “Destinations” will require repeated spins to reveal all its layers. A rewarding experience!
*****
