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Xaal biography
With only two albums in their curriculum vitae, released in a 2-year span, it's incredible how the French power-trio XAAL managed to leave such a rich testimony for contemporary prog rock. Formed by guitarist Jad AYACHE, bassist Nicolas NEIMER and drummer/percussionist Patrick BOILEAU, XAAL offered an exciting, stylish mixture of KC-meets-CAMEL oriented sound (not unlike their legendary compatriots of SHYLOCK) and RIO at its least inscrutable (imagine PRESENT with a more patent dynamics and a bit less sinister), craftily seasoned with noticeable touches of jazz-rock. The trio decided to increase their sonic spectrum via the help of guests - on wind instruments mostly - for some extra colors, but all in all, the threesome were exclusively responsible for their own sound's core. 


The paradoxes of mixing roughness and sophistication meet an amazing fruition in XAAL's two only albums, "On the Way" [a.k.a. "En Chemin"] (1992) and "Seconde Ere" (1993). It is a general consensus that the rough aspect is more pronounced in the latter album, sadly their last one for good. 

Recommended to fans of King Crimson's legacy, RIO with a more accessible vibe, as well as lovers of psychedelic-oriented prog (NeBeLNeST) and jazz-rock with proggy twists (BRAND-X, RETURN TO FOREVER, TRIBAL TECH). Those nostalgic of SHYLOCK and PULSAR are potential lovers of XAAL, too. 


EN CHEMIN 1991

1 Child (L'Enfant) (6:25) 
2 Walk (Ballade) (Version) (5:32) 
3 Hhunk's Garden (le Jardin) (3:58) 
4 On the Way (en Chemin) (6:37) 
5 Talisman (5:14) 
6 Old Butterfly Hunter (le Vieux Chasseur de Papillons) (7:40) 
7 Ascension (6:38) 
8 Byblos (11:09) 
9 Final (:52) 


SECONDE ERE 1995

1. Rah (9:04)
2. Jamais Tranquille (5:57)
3. Al Abad (10:34)
4. Piège (6:49)
5. Force (6:24)


Xaal Fan Club/Promo, released in 1990  ( MP3 320 )

Songs / Tracks Listing
Side A
1 Exordex 1 
2 Piege

Side B 
1 Byblos 
2 Crepuscule 
3 Xenophee



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