After APHRODITE'S CHILD, VANGELIS and SOCRATES during the Seventies, Greece is once again waking up to Progressive rock. The leading band of this new generation, LA TULIPE NOIRE is a classically composed quintet. This talented line-up performs a refined and quiet progressive rock that develops baroque and solemn melodies. Singer IMA's clear and pure vocals can remind of that of Virginia ASTLEY. K. SAVVIDES's guitar sounds like David GILMOUR's whereas ALIX's keyboards weave quiet layers that marvellously complete precious and melancholic themes. As for the rhythm section, assured by drummer Nick KASSAVETIS and bassist HYDE, it is definitely solid. Leaving somehow aside the MARILLION inherited influences, "Faded Leaves" (2002) could develop an original sound, while keeping the assets that made the success of their album "In The Gates Of Dream" (1996) and "Shattered Image" (1999). Quickly pick this rare flower, it will nicely decorate your secret garden devoted to Progressive rock... Many artists in the Progressive rock sphere borrowed from HOMER's "The Odyssey", quite particularly in this beginning of the New Millennium. But who else could pay a better tribute to the most famous epic of Antiquity but a Greek outfit ? LA TULIPE NOIRE thus took the challenge on the basis of contemporary writer Konstantinos KAVAFIS' writings, particularly his poem entitled "Ihtaca". This results in "Nostimon Hemar" (2006), a concept-album lasting about 70 minutes and respecting the canons of typical Progressive rock as MARILLION or PENDRAGON established them. Standing on this basis, the musicians put all their personality and originality in these eleven pieces, achieving a really successful result.
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