« The stress has been getting to me lately. Anyone who has read my previous output will know this only too well. Work problems are slowly draining the life out of me. My relationship with my wife has now hit an all time low. A tattered and shattered union based only on resentment and deceit. Even the dog has lost all respect for me and tries to piss on my leg at every given opportunity. I won’t even mention my money worries. Again. Thinking about it wants me to reach for the carving knife and pills. Surely this isn’t how it was meant to be. My only escape from this self created Hell is my music. I have a collection suited to my moodswings. However I’m feeling I know I can grab a piece of music and delve into its depths and find release. Isn’t that the sole purpose of music after all? To cut you loose with your emotions. To make you forget about things for just a little passage of time. Which is where this release by Fin de Siecle comes in.A French duo, comprising Stéphane Flauder and Florence Cailleux, they have been creating and releasing music, in one format or another, since 2001. This is their third (?) full release…although it’s the first I’ve ever encountered. Although you could class, on this release anyway, their music as Ambient I would tend to suggest it goes into a more ‘soundtrack to an imaginary movie’ groove of music with 15 vinaigrettes that encompasses ethereal and haunting melodies. Don’t be fooled into thinking that ‘Patagonie’ is all about bright and breezy music for those long hot hazy summer days though. Nothing is at first as it seems. As you visualise the tranquil world of their creation that sweeps you along, the realisation suddenly dawns that there is a creeping disturbing melancholic edge to the music that you never fully noticed before. Although not going to the excesses of the dark ambient maestros there is enough on here to introduce the odd chill or two. The music itself is simply created, no over production and effects, which works to the pieces advantage. Their use of proper instruments, as opposed to computer software only, adds a distinctive clarity to the created sounds. The beautiful refrains superbly realised through piano, guitar and violin and other instruments. They even throw in the occasional dynamic pulsating rhythms and a few spoken French parts for your listening pleasure. All of which makes for a glorious recording that demands your attention.I was, as I said at the start of this review, feeling very stressed before listening to this release. After playing it a couple of times I felt the weight on my shoulders ebb away. I felt refreshed and cleansed ready to face my troubles head on. Music has the power to do that if you would only let it. ‘Patagonie’ is an aural valve ready to be turned on when needed most. Quite magical all told and one that I’ll return to when times demand it. Sadly as I write this the duo have split up and gone their separate ways. They have one further recording completed titled ‘Nine Barns’ to release…which should see the light of day sometime in 2007. If this recording only half matches the music on ‘Patagonie’ then they will have left a musical legacy to be proud of. » By Alan Milne for HEATHEN HARVEST

« Après une pléthore de mini-cds et d'enregistrements offerts en libre-téléchargement le duo nancéen livre enfin la suite de 'Sans titre' qui date déjà de 2003. Si les amateurs de Fin De Siècle ont déjà pu observer une évolution significative dans le son et l'esprit du groupe, ceux qui s'attendent à un 'Sans titre II' en seront pour leur frais. Les dernières livraisons montraient un goût prononcé pour des atmosphères plus ambient et éthérées, plus abstraites et débarrassées en grande partie des atours neoclassiques qui caractérisaient les oeuvres précédentes. Tendant vers l'abstraction, le duo organise ainsi ce voyage incongru en une contrée reculée tout en s'abandonnant à une ambient marquée par un esprit post-rock. Si le piano parsème ça et là l'album et ramène furtivement le duo vers son passé ('Patagonie II', 'IV') c'est pour mieux s'en détourner et explorer de nouvelles régions sonores. Cette Patagonie fantasmée est ainsi illustrée par de courtes pièces abstraites à la lisière de l'expérimental ('I', 'VI', 'Avis de tempête') et d'un post-rock marqué par une sorte de cold-wave du nouveau millénaire et l'univers particulier d'un Nick Grey. Ici l'hétérogénéité est de mise mais s'avère d'une cohérence assez remarquable. Déroutant autant qu'insaisissable dans son ensemble, 'Patagonie' s'inscrit pourtant dans une démarche logique pour Fin De Siècle dont les travaux précédents comportaient déjà des indices révélateurs. Anticonformiste dans sa démarche le duo se laisse porter à la dérive sans pour autant se laisser déborder. Une maîtrise certaine au service d'un onirisme nouveau, rafraîchissant et définitivement hors des sentiers battus.» Par Marco pour GUTS OF DARKNESS.com