Lydia Domancich – Au Delà Des Limites (1991)

Lydia Domancich is a French pianist / keyboardist with peripheral links to the Canterbury scene, in that her sister Sophia stood in for Dave Stewart when Hatfield and the North reformed briefly in 1990, and the band's Pip Pyle plays drums and provided English lyrics on this album.

I think I might have bought it in France, and not listened to it until this week!

So, we start with Rèves D'Ailleurs, synth heavy and atmospheric with a piano piece on top, until it bursts into life about two-thirds of the way through with a Caribbean steel drum feel. At The End Of The End is a completely forgettable song, a slow, languid cynical world view, followed by the bouncy Tigres, a synth piece which rambles somewhat, before ending with a catchy African vocal section. Title track, Au Delà Des Limites, is another moody piano piece, then Mondes Paralleles, which starts with percussion wildly alongside a repeated synth theme before the piano steps up, with a likeable tune, the piece ending with another slice of African vocals.

Dérision is an electronic piece overlaid with people laughing, with a central choral theme, and a final orchestral anthem, and it's frankly a bit of a mess. The more 'abstract' approach continues into Sweet Dreams, again a piece which is a bit of a mish-mash of electronica and African drumming, which never feels like it gets started, with Growing Pains following, a gentle song sung in a child-like way, which seems to improve with listening. Final track is Manège Infernal, a lively piano piece, an enjoyable listen, but without any real hook to keep the listener's attention.

But it's definitely an album which requires multiple listenings. I certainly didn't 'get it' first time, and after one listen it was headed for the charity shop. Now, after a couple more plays I'm not so sure. There is something here that makes me want to persevere, which I will.

I couldn't find a link to the album but here's some film of Lydia's band from 2007

3* - Some interesting pieces which may or may not engage more with further visits.