Scott's Song by Song #66: Polychrome - Someday
Welcome to issue #66 of Scott’s Song By Song (#scottssongbysong).For more information about this series, click here:
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It’s been a little while since I have reviewed one of Anne-Claire’s artists from Bad Dog Promotions, but I think it’s about time! I’ve just had quite a backlog of other albums I wanted to share, and have been busy in real life, but things are starting to get back on track. As I have always said, Anne-Claire sends me the music files to review, but I am not compensated in any other way and am always free to call it like I hear it!
The album for today’s review is the second album by French proggers Polychrome, titled “Someday”, which was released on January 23, 2026. The band is led by two brothers named Maxime and Simon Senizergues. Maxime plays guitar and sings while Simon plays keyboards and sings. Both of them have extensive classical training, and one brother continued his classical musical education at the Paris Conservatory of Music while the other studied jazz at the American School of Modern Music. They list their influences as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, XTC, Robert Wyatt and American modern minimalist composer Steve Reich. While their 2022 debut (which I have not heard) was mainly recorded by the two brothers along with guest musicians on mainly orchestral instruments and choral vocalists, they have now expanded the lineup into a full-fledged band, as follows.
- Maxime Senizergues / guitar, vocals
- Simon Senizergues / keyboards, vocals
- Omar Nicho / guitar, vocals
- Sergio Santiago / bass
- Loïck Tournois / drums
As usual, this is a cold listen, having only heard a few seconds of “I Feel Good” from the music video before deciding to check them out properly. Time to dig in:
Track 1 - L’Aurore (2:58)
Warm synth tones fade in to ease us into the music. A single guitar part establishes a rhythm, then another joins with a countermelody. This is slightly reminiscent of “Discipline” era King Crimson. The bass & drums lock in at around 1:40. Staccato vocals listing the days of the week permeate the rhythm. A sustained harmonized “Sunday” closes the track and connects directly to track 2. This was an excellent opener!
Track 2 - I Feel Good (6:51)
No, this is NOT a cover of the famous James Brown song! The sustained chords continue and a piano and bass enters to create a rhythm, soon joined by a polyrhythmic groove from the full band as the vocals begin. I am picking up some shades of Gentle Giant on this track along with the King Crimson influences I previously mentioned. A slower segment follows with a melancholy feel, before a drum fill brings us back to the earlier groove. There is a wonderful guitar solo after the 3 minute point. The band kicks in hard after around 30 seconds. This is top-flight playing from all involved. A funky groove follows the title phrase after the instrumental break. Another guitar solo follows on the funky vibe at around 5 minutes in. This has just a touch of a fusion flavor in this part. I assume that this is Maxime playing lead guitar, and he is a formidable player indeed! The solo continues to the ending. Awesome track!
Track 3 - Daydreamer (4:52)
A pair of clean guitar parts, one panned to each side in stereo, create a push-and-pull rhythm to lead the band and vocals in. These guys are masterful at using polyrhythms. The harmony vocals remind me a little of Yes on the opening of “Revealing Science of God”, if slightly jazzier. I am catching a bit of a Steve Howe influence in the guitar parts as well. This track is full of syncopation. This is a very good track, but I prefer the opening pair just a little more.
Track 4 - The Dog and the Frog (3:46)
A whimsical jazzy groove on the guitar kicks us off here. They may not state it explicitly, but Gentle Giant certainly must be a major influence on Polychrome. Yet, the breezy, jazzy beat also calls The Lovin’ Spoonful to mind! (I think that is the first time I have referenced them in a review!) Simon gives us a fun electric piano solo on this one. A guitar solo with some bluesy licks follows. This is a fun track! I like it.
Track 5 - Another Day (4:27)
Here’s the Beatles influence right off the bat! It reminds me of “Good Day Sunshine” at the beginning, which begins with instruments and vocals right away with no intro. There are dreamy sections between the rhythmic verses. A faster section begins at around 1:50. There are meter changes a-plenty in this relatively short track, and they handle them with ease. Around 3:30, I pick-up a hint of Genesis’ “A Trick of the Tail” as well. A lot of great progginess in a four-and-a half minute track!
Track 6 - Le Crépuscule (1:34)
The shortest track on the album precedes the two longest ones. Dreamy synth chords create a soundscape, with occasional guitar effects. That’s pretty much it! But it’s good!
Track 7 - Give Me Five (7:13)
The previous track gives way to piano arpeggios in the same dreamy vibe. At around 45 seconds a slightly perceptible rhythm begins to emerge underneath the piano. The drums enter at 1:30 along with rhythm guitar, and the beat becomes more pronounced, even though the piano continues. At 2:30 however it all drops out for another dreamy soundscape, not unlike the middle of “Close to the Edge” as the “I Get Up, I Get Down” movement begins. Once again, the rhythms begin to emerge, along with breathy vocal accents. By 3:35, a snare drum fill brings a fusion groove in. The vocals are minimal in this one and almost more for effect. At 5:20 a funky electric piano groove takes over. The vocals are saying the title words in staccato harmonies. This one has some dance grooves to it in the final bits. It’s a pretty cool track with some interesting elements. Good, but not my favorite one so far. I do give them credit for bringing eclectic influences, however.
Track 8 - Andy (8:09)
Synth and piano sounds fade in in a minor chord. At about 30 seconds the piano plays rhythmic chords, then the vocals join in. Before long, the band comes in. We are at a mid tempo. The guitar tones are shimmering. At 2 minutes the melody changes. At 3 minutes the rhythm stops and the guitar plays some sustained notes over a synth drone. At 3:45, though, the beat kicks in hard with some of the heaviest playing on the album. It rocks hard, but I wouldn’t call it metal. A killer guitar solo plays over the heavy groove. At 5:30, things quiet back down for some high, plaintive vocals with minimal accompaniment. At 6:25, a steadier syncopated beat takes over. There is another guitar solo with long sustained notes to take us to the resolving piano chords. Great prog! I would call that the centerpiece of the album so far.
Track 9 - Remember (4:10)
Gentle piano playing starts this one off. The vocals come in soon after, and the tempo is slow and melancholy. But just before the one minute point, The band kicks in at a faster tempo. The feel is funky, almost reggae, interspersed with measures in 3. The meter is constantly shifting. A word about the vocals. Their French accents are pronounced, but everything is in tune. It may be an acquired taste for some, however. Musically, even though the song is relatively short, there is a lot of richness and complexity. A cool song with some nice twists and turns.
Track 10 - L’Aube
This begins without pause from track 9. I believe it's in 7-8 with a proggy/jazzy groove. The vocals soon join in with nice harmonies. There is a synth feature around 1:30 while the guitar riff keeps rolling. This track is all about the vibe, I believe, and it closes out the album nicely.
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:
That was a refreshingly diverse album. I liked some tracks more than others, but liked the whole album. Most of the guitar playing is clean, with only occasional bursts of overdriven tones. But, make no mistake, this album is 100% prog. Lots of odd meters and unexpected moments. I believe that this is one of those albums that will be enjoyable at first and reveal more delights the more you listen to it. It is very well done! I give this a 4.5 out of 5 stars (90%). Check out the links for listening and buying below.
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Prog On!
Scott
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LINKS FOR LISTENING AND BUYING:
Here is a short teaser video for those who just want a taste:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6eCiANcoGCw
Here is a playlist of the full album:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k0Je87a9qX-Oj0mU8Gi_RHe-QKG0Km1C0&si=OFxSs7h0WCM-ieLg
There is an official music video for “Remember”:
There are lots of little nuggets on the YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@polychrome_music
And here is the Bandcamp page where both albums are available:
https://polychromemusic.bandcamp.com/music
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