Flamen Dialis – Symptome Dei (1979)
Let’s get something right straight from the beginning. I have a fervent dislike of, specifically American and British Prog Rock or Progressive Art Rock. Dislike? Why am I being so polite? Fuck… I hate it. Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Yes, and, God help me, Genesis. It’s pure evil.
There’s something about all those complex, pastoral guitar solos and haunting keyboards that just makes my skin brake into a rash. Bloated, self-satisfying, musical masturbation, only nobody is getting off. And yes, I would include the well-meaning libertarian metal of Rush in that description. Try this beauty of a lyric:
“The massive grey walls of the Temples rise from the
Heart of every Federation city. I have always been awed
By them, to think that every single facet of every life is
Regulated and directed from within!
Our books, our music,
Our work and play are all looked after by the benevolent
Wisdom of the priests“
‘2112‘. It’s musical babbling without insight, understanding, nuisance or historical context. And my teeth are clenched together as I write this. All of which brings us to this musical question. Why does Flamen Dialis’ Symptome Dei succeed where musicians of the pedigree of Steve Howe or Keith Emerson consistently leave me cold and angry?
In 1979, keyboardist and drummer Didier Le Gallic and Jean-Jacques Crenn set out to create something unique by recording an album that would break the rules and incorporate the experimental effects emerging around them. An avant-electronic progressivism, or as Le Gallic put it at the time, “the notes were timeless with multi-colored bubbles that unite in aural chaos”.
Flamen Dialis’ Le Symptome Dei or ‘the symphony of the priest of Jupiter’ was to be an experimentation in forward thinking sound and ancient rituals. Only the project didn’t go as planned but let’s discuss that later… The music here exists in an abstract world, a special place of its own creation. Not unlike that hard-to-define abstraction between true beauty and love.
The keyboard-driven Symptome Dei takes us on a cosmic journey through the birth of creation, each song a different phase into our adventure and exploration. It is not always pleasant, but instead, the music to be found here grabs the imagination and pulls at the possibilities.
Flamen Dialis push the music by incorporating tape-manipulation and other studio enhancements to create sound and structures. Using prog only as a starting point, they incorporate a weird psychedelic atmosphere with a vaguely amateurish quality that enhances the heaviness of the sound. Cinematic but raw, and with a repetitiveness that recalls the early experiments of Germany’s Krautrock scene nearly a decade earlier. It’s all a delicate and delicious dance between the cerebral, spiritual and emotional cortex.
As you may expect, flutes, vibraphone and mellotron whisper through the album, only not in the ways you might except. Symptome Dei is an album that takes its inspiration from the ancient, of times and rhythms and movements long forgotten by western man. It conjures ancient rituals from the long past, then brings them back to life through a conjuring creativity.
Maybe some background would help complete the picture on the amazingly unique album: Flamen Dialis gathered together with a band of assembled musicians for only two days, recorded the entire album, and then decided to break up forever (although a reformed version did emerge after this reissue). The original album was released only in France.
The tapes of the session were languishing in the small studio until they were eventually destroyed after a 2004 release as a limited edition CD. The album was reissued again on LP in 2013, remastered directly from the original album.
Move fast. Even the reissue is becoming difficult to find.
by Shawn Ciavattone
[…] and discussions I’ve had with hipsters who condemn any music outside of math rock or noise rock or prog rock because it makes them so intellectually […]
No argue here, Shawn. I agree with you on this particular criticism against American/British prog rock bands. Again, what an opening, I laughed a lot… “my skin break into a rash”, “pure evil”.
Those “Rush” lyrics, what the hell 😂
I´m not going to deny it, I was kinda fascinated by this sounds. “King Crimson”, “YES”, “Godspeed..”, etc. You know, I fell into the trap of “the ultimate intellectual experience”, “orgasmic peaks”, and so on, and so on. That was until I discovered CAN, Neu ! and Cluster. I wasted too much time with the bands that you mention. But hey, it´s never too late to accept the mistakes and improve the music taste.
Symptôme dei´s rarity starts with the cover art, the background story/description sounds very interesting… Today, I´ll give the album a listen.
I always try to research more about your recommendations. Most of the time I find very little or no information. My point is, this is a very unique talent, Shawn.
You got a privileged ear, and you know how to engage and impulse the reader to go out of his comfort zone, thanks !.
Nothing really wrong with enjoying those bands Octavio. You have incredible taste in music and film. But it’s great to hear something different. Something you didn’t know existed that becomes everything to you. People are like this too. You meet someone, see their beauty both inside and out. Before you know it, they are a part of your soul. It’s a great gift. I really think anyone who likes Krautrock will appreciate Flamen Dialis – Symptome Dei. They somehow found that strange sweet spot between accessibility and experimentation that defies categorization.
First, thanks for your comment about my tastes on film/music.
I agree with you on this central point, Shawn. It’s very important- people won’t rot in hell for liking these “classic prog” bands or any kind of specific genre, one thing is your personal opinion, and other thing is feeling above someone just because you like some certain bands/artists. I appreciate that you’re not a radical with these things, you just express your opinions, without feeling superior to others. Nevertheless, I have to be honest, you immediately notice the differences if you compare prog to krautock. Besides, “Krautrock’s” story is very interesting, feels like a history lesson. Your analogy with humans is very accurate. I had the possibility to stay with The Beatles or with these bands forever, but I would’ve lost an entire universe.
I started with the first two tracks, let’s see how it grows…
Shawn,
Agreed completely on the criticism of American/British prog rock. Bloated, bombastic–ELP, Genesis, Rush, etc.
I much prefer music, as you described, that is “cinematic but raw” with a “weird psychedelic atmosphere”.
This album sounds incredibly intriguing. I’m looking forward to listening.
I wondered if you would find this album interesting. Its a real lost gem. One of those albums completely overlooked at the time. But very fascinating. Experimental but listenable.
Bought this album in Israel on my trip two years ago, and love the bizarre sounds on it. I can only describe it with ‘primitive charm’. Very excellent and rare album, you cannot buy it anywhere anymore.
It’s a wonderful record. Much closer to German experimental music. Adventurous, intelligent and youthful. It’s a gem worth discovering. I believe CD copies of the record are still out in the market. I found this copy recently just before the authoritarian virus attack.
Shawn,
Agreed completely on the criticism of American/British programs rock. Bloated, bombastic–ELP, Genesis, Rush, etc.
I much prefer music that contains, as you described, a “cinematic but raw”, “weird psychedelic atmosphere”.
This album sounds incredibly intriguing and I cannot wait to listen to it.
Love a good take on prog- cryable music, with even worse, horribly esoteric lyrics . I absolutely loathe ELP and also anything by YES and King Crimson:
“And if Warhol’s a genius What am I?
A speck of lint on the penis of an alien
Buried in gelatine
Beneath the sands of venus”
Interestingly, these are kinda lyrics you would expect from Radiohead- a most modern prog band? Although I do have to ask which pop or rap song has great lyrics? So, prog is not alone here, just very pretentious and special. Talking about the music… this certainly sounds better than most prog that I’ve heard in my life, but- I just can’t. Prog is not my thing, will never be, I guess that’s it. I even hate the prog tunes of Baris Manco. Sorry, I can’t help it…
Radiohead, a post-modern prog band, not most modern. Awesome 😂
Please tell me it’s not true. Baris Manco’s brillant 2023 is a….masterpiece of beautiful songwriting. For me it transcends the horrors of prog. We need to review that album. Flamen Dialis is a great gem that escaped the trappings that most progressive music falls into. Maybe it’s the enthusiasm this young players bring. Philosophically, it feels much closer to German experimental or Krautrock. IMO.