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Progressive Rock CD Reviews

Isabelle Olivier

Impressions

Review by Gary Hill

This is an unusual set. Musically it sits between art music, jazz and classical. In terms of instrumentation, other than electronics and drums, it’s all classical all the way. Isabelle Olivier herself plays harp, so that’s a rather unusual lead instrument. The music other than the closer is all based impressionist art. That closing title track is an exploration of a John Coltrane piece. However you label this, it is, by definition art music. It also feels important and manages to entertain at the same time.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2025  Volume 4. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2025.
Track by Track Review
Fleurs de soleil

Jazz and classical music merge on this track. It features harp, but also piano and more. It’s intriguing and potent.

Eclats

World music and more merge here. This is unusual, but also captivating. It gets into some zones that call to mind traveling.

A pizzicato life

This is short and a little on the weird side. It’s also cool and very artsy.

Cezanne

Coming in sedate and building out gradually, eventually becoming inspired and powerful jazz with a lot of classical built into it. It continues to shift and change from there.

Bike

Piano gets things underway here. This has a nice energy and a lot of classical music built into it.

An opening

This is experimental and very artsy. It’s pretty free-form and very cool.

Open a window

This is mellow and pretty. It’s quite dreamlike in a lot of ways.

At night

Now, this is totally freeform and experimental. As strange as it is, it’s also compelling.

The boating party

I love the vibes and moods of this track. It has a lot of style and charm. It grows nicely.

Fog on the lake

The unique and experimental angles are definitely present here, too. This is short, but quite interesting.

Forlane

Coming in more melodic, classical and jazz styles merge on this number. It does turn more freeform in some of the frantic jamming later.

Evanescence

A mellower and quite pretty piece of music, this is a nice respite.

Wrong colors

The frantic jamming that brings this in makes me this of King Crimson somehow.

Tango

More experimental and freaky stuff ensues on this one. Yet there are also hints of melodic world music and other moments where it gets more grounded.

La Gare

This is another track that lands in the freeform zone. It has some non-lyrical (or at least non-English language) voices, too. It’s quite an intriguing cut that grows outward as it evolves.

 

Impressions
The closing title track comes in mellow and spacey.
 
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