Malicorne - Almanach (1976)

Almanach is one of the highest achievements in Malicorne and leader Gabriel Yacoub’s career. A wonderful album that even now, more than thirty years after its first release, sounds fresh, captivating and truly surprising, also for the highly innovative and beautiful arrangements of traditional tunes and lore. A sparkling gem. Here’s a sample review:

«The band’s third album expanded their musical strengths with a conceptually linked set of pieces entitled Almanach, earning the quartet a gold record. The original LP was ornately decorated, inlayed with a lyric booklet arranged as an antique almanac in keeping with the album’s 12-month conception. This album was the first evolution in the band’s style, incorporating an almost classical/baroque feel at times. The two longest pieces also deliver a slightly more epic feel. The near eight-minute L’Ecolier Assassin is a mesmerizing, melancholy ballad as well, but mostly takes its time in telling a story rather than hopping through styles. Again, the diversity here is impressive with highlights like the gorgeous Le Luneaux (a piece sung by Marie), the extremely Gryphon-like Branle de la Haie (with more crumhorn) and the Christmas celebration Noel est Arrivé. It all makes for the band’s second classic in a row, a brilliance perhaps only approached by that of Stivell himself.» (gnosis2000)

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