the perfect grail to hang on your wall ‎‎‎ ‎

"Les Voyages De L'Âme" was Alcest's third full album release.

Sometimes, I feel that this album is a little bit overlooked, sandwiched as it is between the stylistic departure of "Shelter" and the more widely celebrated "Écailles De Lune".

However, I somehow believe this is the album that truly manages to successfully summarize what Alcest is all about, where all the bolts and nuts that shape the frame of the band's trademark sound up to that point are better engaged, creating a seamless whole, if that makes sense.

I feel it to be less polarized than, say, "Écailles De Lune" and (obviously!) more focused and mature than "Souvenirs D'un Autre Monde".

So, and despite of how massively I enjoy "Écailles De Lune", "Kodama" or "Shelter", I would actually say that this could be the band's summit up to that point, where all the band's sound elements fell right into place.
The opening "Autre Temps", remains one of my top five songs out of the band's whole catalogue together with "Faiseurs De Mondes", as they both channel and incarnate the perfect equilibrium I was speaking of above.

The title song is still my favourite Alcest song ever: it ebbs and flows perfectly, shaping a moving crescendo that breaks at 04:44 taking everything to a higher level of untold beauty and emotion, when a short yet imaginative chord progression drives you into a final section that feels like opening a hidden gate to a different world where you'll have the privilege of witnessing an unquenchable light, an eternal fire that burns and gives light to life itself...

All in all, an album that showcases all the elements that form Alcest's identity in the shape of eight magnificent compositions that include some of Neige's most inspired, mature songwriting, and the starting point I'd recommend to anyone who wants to know what Alcest is all about.

"Les Voyages De L'Âme" was Alcest's third full album release.

Sometimes, I feel that this album is a little bit overlooked, sandwiched as it is between the stylistic departure of "Shelter" and the more widely celebrated "Écailles De Lune".

However, I somehow believe this is the album that truly manages to successfully summarize what Alcest is all about, where all the bolts and nuts that shape the frame of the band's trademark sound up to that point are better engaged, creating a seamless whole, if that makes sense.
I feel it to be less polarized than, say, "Écailles De Lune" and (obviously!) more focused and mature than "Souvenirs D'un Autre Monde".

So, and despite of how massively I enjoy "Écailles De Lune", "Kodama" or "Shelter", I would actually say that this could be the band's summit up to that point, where all the band's sound elements fell right into place.
The opening "Autre Temps", remains one of my top five songs out of the band's whole catalogue together with "Faiseurs De Mondes", as they both channel and incarnate the perfect equilibrium I was speaking of above.

The title song is still my favourite Alcest song ever: it ebbs and flows perfectly, shaping a moving crescendo that breaks at 04:44 taking everything to a higher level of untold beauty and emotion, when a short yet imaginative chord progression drives you into a final section that feels like opening a hidden gate to a different world where you'll have the privilege of witnessing an unquenchable light, an eternal fire that burns and gives light to life itself...

All in all, an album that showcases all the elements that form Alcest's identity in the shape of eight magnificent compositions that include some of Neige's most inspired, mature songwriting, and the starting point I'd recommend to anyone who wants to know what Alcest is all about.

Nice quality. Title track lyrics are not included which is disappointing. I don't know why bands think people want to look at endless photos of them, but more artwork over the photos would have made this edition much nicer.

After months of concluding it's not worth the effort: Three decades of collecting vinyl releases, this holds the place for being the worst in terms of value for money. Expect "not much" chances are you still won't be satisfied. No cover that holds any standard (except being called cover), no booklet, no leaflet - especially nothing for fans or anyone a bit more interested than average, nothing else besides the half-impressive holographic stuff. Frustrating to bother, even.

I am very disappointed, vinyl crackles and pops. It's not flat either, I expected a high-quality product for the price.

Cette édition est certainement la plus grosse enculade de ce siècle en terme de vinyle.
Au delà du fait qu'aucun effort n'a été fait côté packaging (ni artwork, ni book, ni insert ou meme un logo, rien, absolument RIEN !), le vinyle et l'effet "Hologram" est moche, peu visible, bref, honte à ce label d'avoir pondu une arnaque pareil. Ça ne rend pas hommage à un album aussi incroyable que celui-ci avec un travail aussi dégueulasse.

EDIT: après leur avoir envoyé un email de plusieurs dizaines de lignes pour leur expliquer dans le détail en quoi cette édition est inadmissible, voilà leur réponse:

" Bonjour,
Je suis désolé que tu n'aimes pas le vinyle.
Meilleurs messages".

Plus jamais, je ne commande quoi que ce soit chez ces trous de balle.

I know this is a picture disc and all, but the surface noise on this thing is absolutely unacceptable.

I'm sorry but I think a special edition for the 10th anniversary deserves a better packaging than a simple disgusting green protection sleeve...

My copy is transparent, not white. First edition, not a repress. It comes with the poster depicting the generic album cover. Sounds quiet and decent.