Nine Skies new album, The Lightmaker, is full of all of the beauty and majesty of 80s progressive rock, warmly gift-wrapped for arrival in the 21st Century! The album will be released on September 18th, 2023; on the Independent Creative Media Producer label.
“The Lightmaker tells the story of Rudy, who is now living his 1001st and final life. The album retraces some of his existences through the view of several characters and the introspection of these various incarnations which undoubtedly encourage reflection on the human condition”. “The album is dedicated to Eric Bouillette, a former band member who passed away”.
The band Nine Skies include: Alexandre Lamia, on guitars and piano; Anne-Claire Rallo, on keyboards; David Darnaud, on guitars; Alexis Bietti, on bass. Johnny Marter, on drums; Achraf El Asraoui, on vocals on ‘The Architect’.
Nine Skies have welcomed an impressive list of guest artists including: Riccardo Romano, on vocals on ‘The Explorer’ (2); Martin Wilson, on vocals for ‘The Dreamer’ (3); Adam Holzman, on keyboards on ‘The Chaotic’ (4); Arnaud Quevedo and Laura Piazzai, on vocals on ‘The Chaotic’ (4); Kristoffer Gildenlöw, on vocals and bass on ‘The Lost’ (5); Choir on ‘The Wanderer – Interlude’ (6), including 50 people who took part (names list on the booklet); Charlie Bramald, on vocals on ‘The Haunted’ (7); Marco Minnemann, on drums on ‘The Architect’ (8); and John Mitchell, guitar solo on ‘The Architect’ (8).
“Intro: An Fánai”, is one of the best songs on the album. It sets the stage so well. Cold winds blowing and then soft acoustic guitar and keys. You can almost see and feel for Rudy, standing in the valley of poppies, with the cold north winds blowing from the surrounding mountains. Then the bells and warm music enter, and treat you to music sounding like you are part of a movie soundtrack. The perfect way to greet your return to a new Nine Skies album. Over 2 minutes of atmospherics, which really set a nice tone for the opening of The Lightmaker.
“The Explorer”, is my favorite song on the album. I’d like to think of myself as an explorer…at least…in dreams…“I am the Explorer!” Riccardo Romano sings. We are all explorers…and it is never too late to explore…the meaning of life and why we are here! The piano is wonderful companion, as he sings. Soft piano notes, with background atmospherics and synthesizers. Romano sings, “I’ve always searched for more. I found a new path now. I found a new home. The mountain of hope is outlined”. The acoustic guitars are wonderful. Over 6 minutes of progressive music pleasure. At times, I cannot help feel that this is a direct tribute to Eric Bouillette; who now journeys beyond the time and space of Earth and its mortal boundaries.
“The Dreamer”, is another of my favorite songs on the album. Martin Wilson picks up the vocals after a stunning stringed instrumental opening. The piano piles on more warmth to add to the wonderful atmospherics. He sings some of the album’s best lyrics, “I once heard the moon flirting with the stars, plotting against the sun. I warned the rainbow, and I told her to just run. Help illusions to cross the bridge of hope. That’s what I do. That’s what I know”. The symphonic sound is stunning. Three straight powerful songs making this album one of the best I’ve heard this year. The guitar soloing on this and the last song are very impressive. Over 8 minutes of prog heaven!
If there was a song, I had trouble with, it is “The Chaotic”. Then again, I’m a Libra and we hate chaos. This one opens with soaring, hard electric guitars. Then more metal guitar strings grind away the soft pleasant opening that the band had just created, in the previous three songs. But life is chaotic, whether or not we want it to be. Arnaud Quevedo and my good Internet friend, Laura Piazzai, redeem the song with excellent vocals. The aim of the song is to show us how chaotic the world has become with all of the advanced technology we have created with our hands. It has interfered with timeless cycles that have occurred on Earth, that now lie in doubt for the future. Cycles, like life and death, and Earth’s ecology are changing, and changing quickly. AI allows us so many possibilities and at the same time, maybe less freedom and dignity. What used to be taken for granted is no longer stable. Adam Holzman’s wonderful synth and keyboard solo is well-placed, taking me back to those wonderful Tony Banks and Mark Kelly eras. But the nasty ole electric guitars of chaos return to stir things up, just like Kansas’ “Magnum Opus”, ‘gnat attack’, section.
“The Lost”, has an Ayreon feel to it, which I like. Kristoffer Gildenlöw, from Pain of Salvation, sings lead vocals. He has sung on some of Arjen Lucassen’s projects. This is a deep, dark plunge into a lost land and time. We all go through these stages in life. But most of us do not want to hear about them again. But we do learn from them. If not, we are guaranteed to repeat them. 9 minutes of tragedy. If you want it!
“Interlude: The Wanderer”, is a short choir production; which helps lift the production out of the hole dug by the chaotic and the lost. Full of atmospherics, keyboards and soft bass and electric guitar. Over a minute of peace after all that tragedy.
“The Haunted”, is the longest track on the album. It opens with bright keyboards and atmospherics, before electric lead guitar joins in. Charlie Bramald sings lead vocals on this piece. He sings, “Intoxicated by the flavors of life. I’ve decided to dance. Take your place. I’ll tell the tale. A whisper on the wind”. The electric guitar soloing is wonderful and eerie. This has a very, early Pendragon-feel to it. The acoustic guitar solo towards the end is absolutely fantastic! Charlie Bramald speaks the following, “ I don’t panic. The sun always ends up rising. Aren’t we all the same? Are we so different in the end? In our nature, our being, and our dreams. Through our tears, we are the builders of hopes. The traders of tears. I feel like a mystery box. Floating on the violent shores of life”. A wonderful Pendragon, “Paintbox”-like ending to the album’s longest song, at over 11 minutes.
“The Architect”, is another one of my favorite tracks on the album. At one time in my life I wanted to be one. But the kind they are talking about here, does not plan the construction of buildings. This architect builds life, or different plans for journeys through life. Achraf El Asraoui sings, “I spent my life building to fill. Like an irrational fear of the void. But what is real? What will remain when I’m gone?” The fear we all have; will we be remembered? Where do we go in the afterlife? Will everything we have ‘built’, fade away?” A powerful song, with equally powerful lyrics, that beckons us to examine both our fate and what have we done within the time given, on this Earth. Marco Minnemann, plays drums and John Mitchell, has a wonderful guitar solo on this, the second-longest track on the album. Of course, Eric Bouillette’s wife, Anne-Claire Rallo, closes the album, with a wonderful keyboard solo.
“The Lightmaker” is an amazing tribute to a dreamer…and the mystery of life explorer…in all of us! It is dedicated to Eric Bouillette, whom I was fortunate enough to have interviewed for Solace Supplice’s album; before his passing. I do believe this album includes some of the thoughts he must have shared with his wife, Anne-Claire Rallo; who plays keyboards. It is a passionate and powerful, piece of contemplation music, for each of us. We should head the words written here and make sure, like the Architect, we don’t leave anything behind undone. We all go through these stages, The Explorer, The Dreamer, The Chaotic, The Lost, The Wanderer, The Haunted; and our entire life is self-planned; as we are the chief Architect of our lives; after childhood. Enjoy this, close to an hour of music with headphones on, or in the car on the drive to work. It will remind you to continue to make the most of your life, daily. We only have so long on this planet, and we have to make it count. Start by listening to The Lightmaker!
Thank you, Anne-Claire Rallo! I think Eric is smiling down on you, after this amazing creation!
Track List:
1 Intro: An Fánai (2:38)
2 The Explorer (6:08)
3 The Dreamer (8:01)
4 The Chaotic (7:18)
5 The Lost (9:12)
6 Interlude: The Wanderer (1:27)
7 The Haunted (11:25)
8 The Architect (11:18)
The Lightmaker was written and produced by Nine Skies. The album was mixed and mastered by Alexandre Lamia Style. Progressive rock vocals on ‘The Dreamer’ recorded by Andy Rowe Country, France/UK .Vocals on ‘The Haunted’ recorded by Dom Bennison. Artwork by Anne-Claire Rallo, Alexandre Lamia and Steve Anderson. Lyrics by Anne-Claire Rallo.
Website and Social Media Links:
https://linktr.ee/nineskies Linktr.ee
www.facebook.com/nineskiesmusic
https://nineskies.bandcamp.com
www.youtube.com/nineskiesmusic
https://bad-dog-promotions.teemill.com/nineskies
You Tube and Music Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/user/NineSkiesmusic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWANu5TyVB0