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TAAL is a French band from Poitiers, which name was STRATUS before. Its first album "Mister Green" (2000) happened as a sort of musical earthquake in the current musical panorama ! Emphatic keyboards and PINK FLOYDs like sound effects, harsh and distorted guitars in the style of KING CRIMSON, an inspiration that goes from neo-classic to circus music, and some musical deliriums reminding of Frank ZAPPA Here is what makes the musical style of those nine mainly instrumental tracks. We can find here sense of humor, complexity, extravaganza, some often dark ambiences, and more than anything else an absolute originality. Surrounded here and there by saxophones, violins, cello, flute and clarinet, TAAL creates a music both refined and almighty, between jazz, classic and rock. A musical revolution ! With Skymind (2003), TAAL brilliantly demonstrates that they can do it again, and even better ! From now on enlarged to about ten musicians among which a string quartet, the line-up literally blows the worlds mind ! This second album re-takes the elements of the first one, but pushes them further, both as far as the themes complexity and the whirling deliriums are concerned. In spite of all the references mentioned above, there is no doubt that a TAAL "sound" was born. A Gypsy violin is now present in the music, in total contrast with the guitar riffs that sometimes remind of a KING CRIMSON-like heavy-metal. As for the English lyrics, they are both more affirmed and more assured than before. Dont look further to find your nominee to the album of the year, youve now found it !