In early 2020, Lazuli released their ninth studio album, the concept album Le Fantastique Envol de Dieter Böhm. The album was well received by both the press and the public, and the band prepared for a successful tour to present the new material live to wider audiences. Enter Covid and exit tour plans for the French ensemble. In 2022, Lazuli gets a second chance, as Covid is finally coming to an end and the band is scheduled to play at the prestigious Night of the Prog (NotP) festival at St. Goarshausen on the Rhine. The show on 23rd July 2022 was to be recorded for CD and audio DVD to introduce the band to a larger audience, so we would be able to hear their unique sound and also witness their energetic stage performance.
And so it came to pass with the experienced Dutch team led by John Vis (Neal Morse, Unitopia, Mystery) who would be responsible for recording and editing this spectacle, the latter in close consultation with the Leonetti brothers. With their latest concept album about the fantastic flight of the German Dieter Böhm, the album would be played in its entirety and in the correct order, quite some feat, but not quite the gamble it seems to be at first glance. After all, the audience had already had two years to become familiar with the new music – which is clearly noticeable. It starts with the first notes of opening number Sol and ends with the last track of the album, the almost ten-minute long Dans les mains de Dieter. At the time of playing, the band had already completed a small tour in which the new album also played a major role, and it is obvious that we have here a well-rehearsed group of musicians, a well-oiled machine, who play their latest masterpiece with lots of energy, intensity and passion in front of an enthusiastic audience in the open air. These three elements, energy, intensity and passion, are also the most important ingredients for a successful show by Lazuli.
Vis and his team produce attractive and atmospheric images for the performance, with a large number of (un)manned cameras, which allows for subtle transitions between close-ups and overview shots – the images float by in calm alternation. The band starts in the late afternoon, so it’s still full daylight, which means more than enough light for video recordings, often a major concern for the people responsible.
What is noticeable with Lazuli is the enormous joy of playing and the mutual fun on stage. With a leading role for singer/songwriter Dominique Leonetti. With his crystal clear, characteristic high-pitched voice and his amiable appearance, he is immediately taken into the hearts of the audience. But new addition Arnaud Beyney also shines on guitar and bass with his agile stage presence. The contributions of drummer/vibraphonist and backing vocalist Vincent Barnavol should not go unmentioned, as well as the beautiful keyboard parts, especially on piano, and French horn by Romain Thorel. Finally, brother Claude Leonetti does what he always does, playing his self-made instrument in a professional manner as only he can. The sound is truly excellent, the typical music of the quintet can be heard crystal clear on both DVD and included audio CD.
The large section from Dieter Böhm is received with great enthusiasm by the festival attendants, the Beatles and slightly psychedelic influences in their unique version of rock music go down like a treat. With the highlights being the singing in Les chansons sont des bouteilles à la mer, the enchanting Baume, and the already mentioned Dans les mains de Dieter. The latter closing number again contains an absolute highlight: the solo of Beyney on his vintage Gretsch, accompanied by rhythmically clapping audience. The band are rewarded with a huge applause that lasts for several minutes. And then there are still quite a few songs to be played. The interaction with the large number of spectators present is limited: the language barrier forces Dominique to ‘danke schön’ and ‘merci beaucoup’, the motto is ‘let the music speak for itself’.
The second part of the show is filled with Déraille, with oriental sounds of the Léode, the light-footed Mirroir aux Alouettes, with piano and vibraphone and Les Sutures featuring Romain Thorel’s horn. Homo Sapiens, with a beautiful portion of slide guitar by Beyney, and Les courants ascendants, sung along loudly at the end, are the penultimate numbers of the show. The closing act is my personal favourite J’attends un printemps from the album Saison 8 with a full Freilichtbühne in unison singing, a moving and worthy end to the atmospheric performance of Lazuli. The daylight is fading as the show draws to a close and the lights are turned on for the last song which benefits from the full light show at the Loreley.
It is a pity that it took two years before this limited edition CD/DVD was released, undoubtedly a money issue. Which is why there is nothing to see/hear from the tenth, Dénudé and especially eleventh album Onze that have been released in the meantime, a pity. For that we will have to wait for the shows that will take place at the end of October.
[Editor update – here is the LINK to the live review which took place at Poppodium Boerderij on 26th October 2024].
All in all a great document of a highlight in Lazuli’s career, always taking it one step further, especially as a live act. In 2024 the band made its appearance once again at the very last NotP. Who said French and Germans don’t mix well?
TRACK LISTING
CD
01. Sol (4:40)
02. Les Chansons Sont Des Bouteilles À La Mer (6:33)
03. Mers Lacrymales (5:20)
04. Dieter Böhm (5:43)
05. Baume (3:36)
06. Un Visage Lunaire (4:24)
07. L’envol (3:20)
08. L’homme Volant (5:48)
09. Dans Les Mains De Dieter (9:00)
10. Le Miroir Aux Alouettes (6:10)
11. Les Sutures (7:48)
12. Les Courants Scendants (7:01)
13. J’attends Un Printemps (7:20)
Total Time – 76:50
DVD
01. Sol (4:40)
02. Les Chansons Sont Des Bouteilles À La Mer (6:33)
03. Mers Lacrymales (5:20)
04. Dieter Böhm (5:43)
05. Baume (3:36)
06. Un Visage Lunaire (4:24)
07. L’envol (3:20)
08. L’homme Volant (5:48)
09. Dans Les Mains De Dieter (9:00)
10. Déraille (5:45)
11. Le Miroir Aux Alouettes (6:10)
12. Les Sutures (7:48)
13. Homo Sapiens (5:02)
14. Les Courants Scendants (7:01)
15. J’attends Un Printemps (7:20)
16. Generic (3:29)
Total Time – 91:05
MUSICIANS
Dominique Leonetti – Vocals, 6 & 12 String Guitars
Arnaud Beyney – Guitars, Bass
Claude Leonetti – Léode
Romain Thorel – Keyboards, French Horn
Vincent Barnavol – Drums, Percussion, Marimba, Background Vocals
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Independent
Country of Origin: France
Date of Release: 13th June 2024
DISCOGRAPHY
Lorelive (2024)
Onze (2023)
Dénudé (2021)
Le Fantastique Envol De Dieter Böhm (2020)
Saison 8 (2018)
Nos Ames Saoules (2016)
Tant Que l’Herbe Est Grasse (2014)
4603 Battements (2011)
Résponse Incongrue A l’Inéluctable (2009)
En Avant Doute (2007)
Amnésie (2003)
Lazuli (1999)