Pryzme are a French prog band built around the nucleus of guitarists and singers Dominique Blanchard and David Chollet. Their latest album True Stories…And Other Lies is their first since 2021’s Four Inches, and is a step forward in terms of composition and execution. Now ably supported by Lucas Planque on drums and backing vocals and Benoît Toquet on bass and backing vocals, they are a more streamlined and assured proposition.
The album begins with a presence, a mechanical ambient presence which erupts into a fiery full band crescendo for a few moments before we launch into the first proper song, Earth Song. Sound effects, snatches of news reports relating to climate breakdown indicate the direction we are heading in lyrically, and musically we are in David Gilmour territory I suppose, with relaxed emotive guitar lines somehow underlining the plight of a beautiful planet being ravaged by extraordinary weather events. The track unfolds in an insistent but unhurried way as is typical of Pryzme. The guitar interplay is the essence of the band, whether it is intricate picking interlocking and meandering, or gorgeous relaxed chords underpinned by the rhythm section, or soaring lead guitar scoring across the sky in arcs of sound. It’s all about the guitars.
Green Eyes is a case in point; it features all these aspects in a slow building and relaxed piece, with lovely yearning vocal harmonies, some nifty acoustic picking, culminating with some exceptional lead guitar from both players in an explosion of emotion. End of the Anger in contrast is a bit more complex and urgent, and includes a brief but entertaining a cappella interlude in the style of Yes, a device they’ve used before! It absolutely works, and is a stand out tune. The vocals, although clear that they are singing in a foreign language for them, are appealing and blend together with some style. Indeed, on Never Again, there is a great scat section with guitar and voice in harmony before the guitar takes over to solo in an incendiary manner. Here the guitars riff against each other, and the heavier style is more reminiscent of Rush than anything else.
Silent Place ends the record, beginning as the whole album did with the ‘presence’ and developing into something of a tour de force. Again, the guitar interplay is paramount and holds the listener in rapt attention as Chollet and Blanchard do what they do best. Their style is tasteful and full of texture and colour. At no point does showboating take over, even when emotions run high. Restraint and technique is the order of the day, and it’s fabulous to hear perfection in what can be quite demanding sections. They make everything sound natural and deceptively simple. Seven minutes in to this twelve minute track, the band subtly shift gear into an almost funky pocket as the guitars rev up once more for a big finish. It builds into a symphonic climax before an energetic outro. It is a thoroughly satisfying piece with dazzling dexterity coupled with admirable restraint. As ‘the presence’ fades away once more, we are done. I’m left with a smile. Pryzme have crafted an album of guitar-centric prog without all the widdly bits which can become a bit tedious when overdone. Melody, texture and tone colouring real songs with flair. Yes please, more like this.
TRACK LISTING
01. Echo Of Silent Place (1:09)
02. Earth Song (7:49)
03. End Of The Anger (8:46)
04. Green Eyes (11:05)
05. Reality Of Dreams (7:20)
06. Never Again (7:54)
07. Silent Place (12:12)
Total Time – 56:17
MUSICIANS
David Chollet – Guitar, Vocals
Dominique Blanchard – Guitar, Vocals
Benoît Toquet – Bass, Backing Vocals
Lucas Planque – Drums, Backing Vocals
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Independent
Country of Origin: France
Date of Release: 30th May 2025
LINKS
Pryzme – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | Instagram
