01	L'Autre			Paroles et musiques: Gilles Coppin Arrangements: Philippe Di Faostino			06:37
	02	Le Retour Du Bouffon			Paroles et musiques: Gilles Coppin Arrangements: Philippe Di Faostino			06:26
	03	Neurotic			Musiques: Gilles Coppin Paroles: Geraldine Le Cocq			04:54
	04	Sheherazade			Paroles et musiques: Gilles Coppin			10:23
	05	Coma			Musique: Stephane Kerihuel Paroles: Gilles Coppin			05:06
	06	Araignee			Paroles et musiques: Gilles Coppin			05:25
	07	Le Festin			Paroles et musiques: Gilles Coppin			07:55
	08	Carnage			Musique: Philippe Di Faostino et Gilles Coppin Paroles: Gilles Coppin			06:55

Jean-Philippe Brun: violon, chant (2, 7, 8)
Gilles Coppin (Mr. Paul): claviers, back vocal (2)
Philippe Di Faostino: batteires, percussions
Stephane (Steph) Kerihuel: guitare, chant (5)
Emmanuel (Manu) Martre: basse

Halloween - Le Festin

Released: 2001
Label: Musea
Cat. No.: FGBG 4365.AR
Total Time: 53:45


Reviewed by: John "Bo Bo" Bollenberg, July 2001
Halloween has been going strong for quite some time now. Since the early eighties they've tried to deliver a captivating and original whole, which sees the violin of Jean-Philippe Brun playing a very important role. Often compared with international giants such as VDGG, UK and a bit of Kansas, the violin together with the dissonant sounds of Gilles Coppin’s keyboards tries to uplift the dramatic feel. It’s no easy meat these French musicians offer us this time around, yet in their own way they once again try and make it a "festin" (a feast).

Singer Geraldine Le Cocq, who marvelled on albums such as the concept based Merlin and the crystal-clear live album Silence Au Dernier Rang, this time lends her voice to five songs, whilst the rest of the vocal input comes courtesy of Brun. Whilst the French language often seems to be a big handicap within this music, the female singing seems to solve this problem. The music of Halloween often contains a dark atmosphere that certainly comes by means of the long sounds of the violin. In “Sheherazade” I have to think of the way Jean Pascal Boffo incorporates world music into his own style. Strangely, here Boffo has done the mix of the album. The song “Araignee” (French word for spider) tells the story of the cleverness of the spider which seems like creating a web inside the music. It’s all done with an ear for high detail and technical craftsmanship yet I do miss the soul of the music which results in Le Festin being a long way from the likes of Merlin and Laz.

More about Le Festin:

Track Listing: L’Autre (6:37) / Le Retour Du Bouffon (6:26) / Neurotic (4:54) / Sheherazade (10:23) / Coma (5:06) / Araignee (5:25) / Le Festin (7:55) / Carnage (6:55)

Musicians:
Jean-Philippe Brun - violin, vocals
Gilles Coppin - keyboards, backing vocals
Philippe Di Faostino - drums
Stephane Kerihuel - guitar, vocals
Emmanuel Martre - bass

Guests:

Geraldine Le Cocq - vocals

Discography

Part One (1988)
Laz (1989)
Merlin (1994)
Silence Au Dernier Rang! (1998)
Le Festin (2001)




Halloween [France]
Part One (88), Laz (90), Merlin (94)

One of the very best new French bands. While Laz their second has been hailed as a classic by some, I wouldn't go this far. It is excellent, but has some rather dull moments that leave this one hanging a bit short. If you didn't like it, than don't bother with their first either!

Crimson influenced french band that has a penchant for creating eerie tunes, sometimes with frightening-sounding vocals. The first album was merely OK, but the second one Laz really rips: Check out the track "Iron Mickey" on side two for proof true. One of the better current french bands.

Halloween is one of the newer French progressives, contemporaries of bands like Minimum Vital and Tiemko. I have their 1990 release titled Laz. Their influences are varied, but I do hear some Pulsar. Perhaps the band took their name from Pulsar's classic album, Halloween. There is some excellent, contemporary guitar playing, as well as excellent keyboard work, vociferous violin, and tasteful bass. In addition to the Pulsar, there is, at least superficially, some similaries to Minimum Vital and especially Tiemko's excellent release, Ocean. For the most part, however, the music sounds pretty original to my ears, often being very atmospheric in nature rather than solos against a backdrop of instrumentation. I believe the vocals are in English but they aren't found very often. Very well done and highly recommended.

Merlin is a superb third production from this French band. Hear four excellent musicians share violin, guitars, basses, keyboards, lute, drums, percussions, vocals. Also add participation by two string quartets (strings and winds) as well as guests on voice and flute. This impressive production offers inventive music and a variety of arrangements that range from chamber music to heavy symphonic, to jazz-rock fusion. Medieval themes are developed in music, song and words (in French) in the format of a captivating suite. The richness of this music dictates sustained attention by the listener. -- Paul Charbonneau


Le Festin
Halloween(France)
1.L'Autre (6:37)
2.Le retour du bouffon (6:26)
3.Neurotic (4:54)
4.Sheherazade (10:23)
5.Coma '5:06)
6.Araignee (5:25)
7.Le festin (7:55)
8.Carnage (6:55)

total 53:45

Musicians
Jean-Philippe Brun Violin,Vocals
Gilles Coppin Keyboards,Backing vocals
Philoppe Di Faostino Drums,Percussions
Stephane Kerihuel Guitar,Vocals
Emmanuel Martre Bass
Geraldine Le Cocq Vocals
Antoine Buyomard Backing vocals
Sophie Bellard Backing vocals




*Le festin - 2001*
Jean-Philippe Brun - violin, vocal (2, 7, 8)
Gilles Coppin - keyboards, back vocal (2)
Philippe Di Faostino - drums, percussions
Stephane (Steph) Kerihuel - guitar, vocal (5)
Emmanuel (Manu) Martre - bass

Special guest:
Antoine Guyomard - back vocal (7)
Sophie Bellard - back vocal (5)

Very very special guest:
Geraldine Le Cocq - vocal (1, 3, 4, 6, 7)

Tracks:

1. L'Autre 6:37
2. Le retour du bouffon 6:26
3. Neurotic 4:54
4. Sheherazade 10:23
5. Coma 5:06
6. Araignee 5:25
7. Le festin 7:55
8. Carnage 6:55