LES JOYAUX DE LA PRINCESSE

"Aux Volontaires Croix De Sang"

LVN - 2007

CD - 2000 copies / Boxset CD + 5" - 500 copies

After the quite disappointing "Im Memoriam" and "1940-1944", Les Joyaux De La Princesse is back with a brand-new work, this time surprisingly available in a regular CD edition limited to 2000 copies, as well as the usual luxurious limited-edition boxset. "Aux Volontaires Croix De Sang" should be seen as the natural continuation of "Croix De Bois - Croix De Feu", both on the musical and conceptual plan. L'Ordre de la Croix de Sang (The Order of the Cross of Blood) was a mysterious secret organization of WWI survivors revolving around Captain Hanot d'Hartoy, who apparently aimed to reform French society in the 1930s, in opposition to the corruption of politics and economics. However, not much is revealed about their history and actual purposes.

The CD contains 15 tracks shifting one into another, creating a long, dreamy voyage across the remote past in which these obscure historical facts are settled. The consolidated LJDLP trademark sound is here developed at its best, with the well-known bombastic organ keyboards playing dramatic tunes, excerpts from 78rpm records with the original speeches of Captain d'Hartoy and other protagonists of the time, distant marching drums and occasional noisier passages. Old French songs aren't missing as well: the official hymn of the Croix De Feu movement sung by Marcel Dambrine, and the very sad and melancholic "Cimitière", with the voice of Charles Panzéra, which closes the CD with the scratching of the needle on worn wax.

"Aux Volontaires Croix De Sang" can be easily regarded as Les Joyaux De La Princesse's best effort to the present, together with "Croix De Bois - Croix De Feu" (the new CD features even two reworked tracks from it). The distant, nostalgic and mysterious "La Voix Nationale (Français Choisissez)" and "Hymne De Croix De Sang (1934)", the powerful, dramatic "Des Cris Dans La Tempête" and "Marche De Croix De Sang" stand among Erik's best compositions. If you are a hardcore fan of this French cult name, or simply liked some of his previous releases, you'll definitely love this new one, especially since you won't have to sell an arm and a leg to get your copy. On the other hand, if you could never stand him, this CD won't change your mind: this no groundbreaking masterpiece, "just" another very good LJDLP work.

- Simon V.

Website: http://www.chronoglide.com