Frant1c - A Brand New World -English Version

Self-Production

Known for her involvement with the Progressive Rock band Nine Skies, Anne-Claire Rallo now presents us with A Brand New World, the debut album of her solo project, Frant1c. To accompany her on this journey, she has surrounded herself with some of her loyal companions from Nine Skies, as well as a few distinguished guests.

A Brand New World tells the story of Charlie and Hope, the two main characters who have spent their lives together. One day, Charlie wakes up alone in a devastated world, completely different from the one he knows. Finding himself without his soulmate for the first time in his life, he embarks on a quest to find her in an unknown and hostile world. Throughout his journey to reunite with Hope, he makes discoveries and encounters new people, prompting us to reflect on various emotions and questions that are as universal as they are personal.

The concept of A Brand New World, born out of the grief following the loss of the late Eric Bouillette, is directly linked to the emotions Anne-Claire experienced due to this tragic event. The album serves as a cathartic tribute, a bright homage to her companion who left too soon.

The album opens with the superbly dreamlike intro "Prologue (The Awakening)" Piano and violin combine to create a melancholy melody, over which a male voice invites us to ponder the capabilities of the human mind. This is followed by a female voice urging Charlie to wake up ("Wake up!"). This introduction sets the emotional tone that will accompany us throughout this musical experience.

"Come Back to Earth" adopts a more dramatic tone, partly created by the electric guitar's plaintive wails, which seem to merge with Charlie’s pleading voice. For Charlie, waking up alone for the first time in his life is difficult. Although the guitars take the spotlight on this track, the keyboards are not left behind, weaving a web of motifs that ensnare the character's feelings.

"People in Their Cages" perfectly captures Charlie's emotional state. The guitars, supported by a thunderous rhythm section, grow furious to express his rejection of a society in which he no longer recognises himself. The track is interspersed with radio/TV noises, symbolising the zombification of a population now obsessed with mindless games and TV shows.

"Where Have You Been?" opens with delicate arpeggios from a melancholic guitar. The vocals are finely delivered, while the rhythm section shows great restraint. This beautiful song ends in a crescendo with the heartbreaking cries of the saxophone.

"The Ballad of Peggy Pratt" at over thirteen minutes long, is the centrepiece of the album. It begins with jazzy piano and ends with fragile keyboard layers. Between these two extremes, the song traverses a central explosion marked by a repetitive saturated riff, dissonant guitar, powerful drums, and a thudding bass. Throughout this journey, we are carried through different atmospheres. However, it is the nearly four-minute guitar solo that brings the emotions to their peak.

The tense beginning of "Sweet Confusion" a conversation between Charlie and Hope, reflects the misunderstanding between the two protagonists. The track takes on a calmer tone in its second half, where gentle piano chords, soaring violin, and a more subdued dialogue lead to a majestic guitar solo.

Contrary to its slow piano intro, "On the Run" is a fast-paced track with muscular guitar riffs, where the bass and drums play an essential role in driving the dynamics.

"Take a Little Time (The Encounter)" the penultimate track, is another dialogue between Charlie and Hope. Led by piano and violin, this piece is truly beautiful, a deeply moving track, both in its music and its emotionally charged lyrics.

"A New Path" with its repetitive riff, teeters on the edge of progressive metal, yet the musicians also manage to create more ethereal moments, as seen in the track's final moments.

"Epilogue (A Brand New World)" brings the album full circle, ending with the "Wake Up!" heard at the beginning of the story.

A Brand New World is marked by the loss of a loved one, the search for meaning, but also by the ability to overcome such an event and move forward without forgetting. Eric Bouillette's spirit, which permeates the project, lends a unique emotional dimension that resonates through every part of this magnificent album.

Musically, Frant1c draws its influences from giants of the genre such as Pink Floyd ("Come Back to Earth" "Where Have You Been?"), Marillion ("Come Back to Earth"), Porcupine Tree (the astonishing "The Ballad of Peggy Pratt", "A New Path"), Opeth ("A New Path"), and Steven Wilson ("Epilogue (A Brand New World)"). Yet, the musicians are talented enough to integrate these influences into their own universe without simply copying them. Everything here is exceptionally well-written, performed, and interpreted. The guitar solos are breathtaking, the rhythm section is held down by two precision monsters, the vocals (Helen and Martin) are delicate or powerful as needed, and the keyboard arrangements add the final touch to set the mood for each track. Additionally, the album is superbly produced by John Mitchell (Lonely Robot, Arena...).

It is highly possible that with A Brand New World, Anne-Claire (and by extension, Frant1c) has created her benchmark album by which all future works will be judged.

In my eyes, Frant1c has crafted a record where the emotions are genuine, a true masterpiece that pays the highest tribute to a great man, and one that the musicians can be truly proud of.

Musicians:

Anne-Claire Rallo - Guitare, Claviers, Piano, Arrangements

Alexandre Lamia - Guitare, Claviers, Piano, Arrangements.

Eric Bouillette (RIP) - Guitare, Violon, Piano, Choeurs.

Martin Wilson - Chant (Charlie)

Helen Tiron - Chant (Hope)

Andy Rowe - Voix Parlée 

Alexis Bietti - Basse

Johnny Marter - Batterie

Guest Musicians:

Laurent Benhamou - Saxophone

Steve Anderson - Guitare / Chant

Guy Marro - Voice ("Come Back to Earth")

 Titles:

 1. Prologue (The Awakening)   

 2. Come Back To Earth

3. People In Their Cages

4.Where Have You Been? 

5. The Ballad Of Peggy Pratt

6. Sweet Confusion

7. On The Run (feat. Steve Anderson)

8. Take A Little Time (The Encounter)

9. A New Path

10. Epilogue (A Brand New World)