Les Voyages de l'ame
by Alcest
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
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  1. Kerrang!
    Feb 6, 2012
    100
    Les Voyages De L'Ame will surely stand unchallenged as the most ineffably beautiful record of 2012. [21 Jan 2012, p.54]
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  2. PopMatters
    Jan 26, 2012
    90
    Les Voyages De L'Âme is an excellent addition to the Alcest's already prodigious output, and it establishes itself early on as one of 2012's finest metal releases.
  3. Exclaim
    Feb 24, 2012
    80
    The music contains all of the trembling beauty fans have come to expect from Alcest, combined with a sense of vitality and wanderlust.
  5. AllMusic
    Feb 2, 2012
    80
    Les Voyages de l'Âme is a great record; self- defining and alluringly elusive.
  6. The Quietus
    Jan 26, 2012
    80
    It's the band's most mature work to date and perhaps the only one that feels like a true album.
  7. The New York Times
    Jan 26, 2012
    70
    Alcest's new record,Les Voyages de l'Âme is the best example yet of what it can do.
  8. Sputnikmusic
    Jan 26, 2012
    70
    It is far from perfect yet could never possibly get there.
  9. Pitchfork
    Feb 15, 2012
    69
    Here, when everything's as clear as it is on Les Voyages de l'Âme, he feels almost too exposed, and the big climaxes he's reaching for don't arrive. There's no denying the beauty, but it feels weirdly muted-- or perhaps just unsurprising.
  10. Beats Per Minute
    Feb 10, 2012
    66
    There's much to cherish here, but this isn't a complete effort.
  11. No Ripcord
    Jan 26, 2012
    60
    There's a lot in here that brims with life but, somehow, it never quite unfolds.

Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Best Album of 2012

User Reviews

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User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 30 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. ShepRock
    Oct 28, 2012
    9
    Alcest create a limbo lounge for souls weighed down by life's heaviness on these "voyages of the soul", and once acoustically settled in it isAlcest create a limbo lounge for souls weighed down by life's heaviness on these "voyages of the soul", and once acoustically settled in it is an amazingly dark yet beautiful journey through the blackness of uncertainty to the promise of light. But isnt' that what life's about?… Full Review »
  2. BrushedRed
    Dec 16, 2014
    5
    I've wanted to like this so much more than I ultimately did. Ecailles de Lune is just absolutely spectacular, perfect, beautiful... JustI've wanted to like this so much more than I ultimately did. Ecailles de Lune is just absolutely spectacular, perfect, beautiful... Just wonderful! For those who haven't heard, think of Deafheaven's glorious Sunbather album but with a little less shoegaze and more black metal. Shelter is a very decent shoegaze album only hendered by a little monotony in a few songs and some repetition here and there, but for his take a on a pure shoegaze album, it's awesome! However, the middle child, Les Voyages de L'ame, Alcest just kinda... well... disappointed me, for a lack of better word. I listened so many times, yet felt nothing. It felt grandiose, but never delivered. "Sur L'Ocean Couleur de Fer" from Ecailles de Lune is better than all of these songs on this album. The instrumentals on this album are quite nice, but I wish they had done more with them. The vocals are beautiful as always, but never really changed pitch much. It was kinda like listening to a long, drawn-out, hum for an hour. I'm glad Alcest decided that he wanted to try a more shoegaze sound but this is more of the "cocoon" stage where it's changing but not necessarily its most beautiful. I'd give it a go if you're a fan and apparently most like it way more than I do. Give "Summer's Glory" or "Nous Sommes L'emeraude" a go, latter being probably my favorite on this disc. I give it a 2.5/5… Full Review »
  3. bommy
    Sep 12, 2014
    9
    An album that filled a need that I didn't realise I had. Sitting somewhere between my love of the likes of Sigur Ros and metal, this is aAn album that filled a need that I didn't realise I had. Sitting somewhere between my love of the likes of Sigur Ros and metal, this is a beautiful piece of work.… Full Review »
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