Achelas from Morocco was founded by Achraf El Asraoui, probably best known as a singer with the marvellous French progressive rock band, Nine Skies, whose last album, The Lightmaker, was a huge favourite of mine last year, and the contribution by Achraf to that band cannot be understated. My review of The Lightmaker can be viewed by clicking on the button below, and before we discuss this latest project, for those of you unfamiliar with the album in question, I have embedded The Architect here to get you familiar with a lovely voice.
Achraf is not only an accomplished singer, but a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. In other words, one of those infuriatingly clever chaps.
Echoes of Virtue is the project’s fifth album in seven years, so certainly nicely prolific. Achraf here plays vocals, guitar (acoustic & electric), bass, guembri, and keyboards, and is joined by Mouad Azizi, a talented drummer and multi-instrumentalist, together with guest musician, Philipp Dauenhauer of German melodic prog rock act KariBow contributing a guitar solo on the track ‘Lies In Their Eyes’.
The album is a concept, and, in keeping with the close links to Nine Skies, tells us the story of how a disillusioned individual navigates a dystopian world, grapples with the loss of a dear friend (a reference to Eric Bouillette), who was a beacon of intelligence and moral integrity. Each song on the album explores different aspects of this society's downfall, from the manipulation of social media algorithms to the normalisation of violence and exploitation. Certainly, plenty there for those who appreciate thoughtful & intelligent music to get their teeth into.
So, we have eight tracks to discuss. Let’s get going.
We open with Dialogue 33, which provides us with the final exchange between a pilot and co-pilot before their helicopter crash. It is short, but rather intense, growling guitar riffs, some mysterious middle eastern chanting, and setting the scene nicely for what follows.
Veils of Unseen Realities sees our hero challenging a loved one to confront the harsh realities of their deteriorating world, and I think this is the sort of conversation being held in many households across the world in 2024, a sense that all is not right with the modern social order and change really does need to happen. This is a very brooding piece of music, with some extremely good guitars work especially, and there is an impressive opening of noise in the “open the doors” passage. I have embedded it below for you, a classy rock song.
Echoes Across the Cosmos is a tribute to Bouillette and reflects on the nature of grief and the possibility of death not being the final word. The start is a sad orchestral delight, and the vocals are plainly heartfelt, the expressive power of Achraf’s voice coming over loud and clear, the guitar solo dripping with emotion on a track which is a strong contender for a “tribute of the year” award in my year-end reflection. Five minutes in, we get some classy drum & percussion work leading the charge, with despairing riffs playing over this in a track I like more with each listen.
Celestial Paradox examines the protagonist's journey through personal and cosmic darkness, between hope and despair, but with the “hidden light begins to rise” at the end suggesting a hope of redemption and new life after our mortal end. It is a short piece, just over three minutes long, fitting in so well with the overarching themes, featuring some dextrous acoustic guitar work and chanting from Achraf adding to the atmosphere.
Dazt Laawam (the years passed) is in the writer’s native language and is a reflection on how the years have passed, where have they gone, and our perception of this – in my mind’s eye, I am still that teenager who fell in love with this type of music all those years ago, and I seriously wonder where they have gone, a conversation I think held in every household of the over-50’s! There is a funk sensibility to this track, a nice rhythm, the drums particularly good driving the song forward, and parts of it are, I believe, directly influenced by Led Zeppelin circa Physical Graffiti alongside some interesting experimental noises, and a gorgeous melodic guitar solo, so a fair mix – see what you think from it embedded below.
Lies in Their Eyes features Dauenhauer and is about the differences between perception, appearances, and reality, something we see in modern society daily, of course, with large corporates advertising their wares in the most appallingly dishonest, not to say destructive, manner. The mood on this is mournful, a sadness and weariness, the vocals particularly evocative set against the orchestral keys, and the guitar solo when it enters is class.
I will be playing Echoes of the Unseen this coming Saturday (2nd November) on my regular show on Progzilla Radio (www.progzilla.com 4.00 p.m. UK time, which is 5.00 p.m. in downtown Casablanca). I have also embedded it below. It is dripping with eastern flavour, some gorgeous melodies, and is a very knowing piece of music addressing global issues and the chaos our common humanity is living through, some of the effects reflecting this very well amidst the repetitive chanting of the song title, itself followed by a fine guitar meditation.
We close with Honest Dream, an instrumental, a rather gorgeous introspective piece which allows you to think about what you have heard and, perhaps, apply it to your own life situation, but in the context that you have come out the other side – certainly, the guitar work on this is of a cheerful, jazzy, disposition, with a nice bassline underpinning it, again providing for a pleasant eclecticism.
Echoes of Virtue is a fine album, and the protagonists are clearly exceptionally talented. I think about the only slight downward comment I would make is that I think that this and future works would benefit from the services of an experienced studio knob-man, this to take something of huge potential to the next phase. As it is, though, I have little hesitation in recommending that you use your mouse to click on over to https://achelas.bandcamp.com/ to see and hear more.