Vortex (band)

I haven't heard of Vortex ?  

The band from France called Vortex which released two albums: Vortex and Les Cycles de Thanatos.

Can listen to some of the music here: http://www.letriton.com/LABEL/CD06.html

I love Amon Duul II myself, but didn't think to label this Vortex, the band.  Guess I'll edit the title to make it clear.  Good "avant" band, but obviously not very popular.

Vortex	1975	4.00 (2 ratings)	Studio Album
Les Cycles De Thanatos	1979	4.75 (3 ratings)	Studio Album

Well-heard... I was intermittently writing something about that (multi-tasking) when I checked back to see if anyone had responded. 

Taken from Avestin's Vortex bio at this site:

"Vortex is highly recommended to people who like fusion, 20th century classical music (by composers such as those mentioned above), chamber rock and even Canterbury (for their first album).
A true gem of progressive music."

But Vortex should appeal to Zeuhl-heads as well (those into early MAGMA and DUN - Eros).  For instance, the Vortex album's "Haroun'thasckouack" has a strong early Magma vibe, and the next song, "Ahsquomboum" has quite the DUNish qualities.

Good jazzy avant music (RIO, Canterbury, Zeuhl, and so-called modern classical).

I haven't heard their self-titled, but Les Cycles de Thanatos wasn't really that interesting, in my opinion. I won't vote, but I'll give Les Cycles... another listen, to see if I see the light.

Dun and Univers Zero were the two bands that I immediately made comparisons with, certainly, when I got these albums.

I prefer the second album, but the first is good too.  I, also, was obsessed with the Les Cycles... album.  I've been hoping to find many more albums that are similar to it. 

ZNR's "Traite de Mecanique Populaire" is one of my latest chamber progressive music album acquisitions (not rock -- though considered Avant Prog by many -- a very good album).

And thank you for exposing them to me, since I discovered them thanks to your addition and bio. I've found many a gem through scouring through the archives

I fell for it at first listen too (though It was many months before I heard the debut).

PS Phileas, I'm surprised you say that because you once wrote HERE "My vote goes to Art Zoyd's Musique pour l'Odyssée, but Hérésie by Univers Zéro is a splendid album aswell. Eskaton's 4 Visions is also good. Western Culture by Henry Cow should have been in the poll too, a very good album. Last but not least, I'd like to mention Les Cycles du Thanatos by Vortex, an excellent French Avant-Prog album."

Opinions can change, of course.  Incidentally, everything in your list above is much loved by me.

BaldFriede wrote: They sound very interesting. A bit like early Magma. I think I'll have to try and get that album. I won' vote yet since I have to listen to the tracks in full length first.

Edited by Sean Trane - July 27 2007 at 04:28

Thanks Rocktopus, I'm only familiar with Dedalus debut album, and it's great!  Learned about them after getting into Picchio dal Pozzo and Area. Or was it first when there was a topic about albums with clocks over faces? Hmm, whatever...

As for Yog Sothoth, I've never heard anything by the band.  Thanks, I'll try to find some music samples.  So answers.com put them under POP artists, but they're labeled avant-garde and jazz on another page (no explanations needed, I see how they work).  According to answers.com, there are two French bands named after Lovecraft's creation.

As for Vortex' debut, I think it's great too -- I couldn't choose a favourite track off it.
This is a rare poll where the number of responses well-outweigh the number of votes.  Good.

Sleeves are here:

 

http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21284&PN=10