Home Artist links Label link

Patrick Forgas - Synchronicité

Artist:	Patrick Forgas
Title:	Synchronicité
Label:	Musea Records FGBG 4437.AR
Length(s):	minutes
Year(s) of release:	2002
Month of review:	[05/2002]

Line up

Patrick Forgas - keyboards, percussion

Tracks

1)	Animus	7.20
2)	Anima	6.48
3)	La Persona	6.40
4)	Les Nombres	7.46
5)	L'Inconscient Collectif	7.04
6)	L'Ombre	6.23
7)	Le Soi	7.19

Summary

Patrick Forgas has been releasing music since 1977. First in his band Forgas, bringing a brand of jazzrock to the audience (also released by Musea), later as Forgas Band Phenomena (don't know these albums) and now he releases a more meditative album in a beautiful digipack.

The music

All the songs on this album are in a similar vein, with the keyboards dominating the sound spectrum. A good example is Animus, where the keyboards occur in many different styles: backdrop keyboards, xylophone like, string like and horn like. All these can be at work at the same time, but the music never gets harried or hectic, always breathing out a soothing atmosphere. Later on, the percussion sets in and the keys starts to dance a bit more. The overall sound is a bit cold, and the only references I could think of were 80ies TD and maybe a bit of Blenner.

Anima is more up-beat: percussion and fast piano throughout. The keyboards sound like voices and have a bit of a Ciani feel. Playful on the one hand, it is also a bit sluggish on the other. The percussion borders on jazzy, and stays the same throughout. The production is very clear and precise.

On La Persona the music is unmistakably similar to Between Two Worlds by Patrick O'Hearn. Understated melodies, lots of "low" in the music and a strong bass sound, slow build up and little variation. Nonetheless, one grows used to this kind of music, especially after a few listens. I do have to say that O'Hearns songs are way shorter.

Drip drip echoes, we have entered into a cave for Les Nombres. The music now has a classical tinge, reminding me of Satie and Karda Estra for something more contemporain. Sensuous with lots of string like synths and a bit of a Oriental feel. L'Inconscient Collectif has a nice theme and harkens back to O'Hearn again. L'Ombre has a nice atmosphere, but is at times a but tuneful. Le Soi adds nothing to the previous.

Conclusion

To me, Forgas was someone making a brand of jazzrock typical for the seventies and this album is kind of a surprise. It consists mostly of keyboards with some jazzy percussion added to it, all unobtrusively and tastefully brought to your ears. Some nice melodies, clear production, but beware: the references to O'Hearn and the like ought to make clear, that the music is way more electronic than you might think. Pleasant to listen to, but no more than that.