Visitors (obscure French prog gem) |
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The Hemulen
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 31 2004 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 5964 |
Topic: Visitors (obscure French prog gem) Posted: April 20 2009 at 12:36 |
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I heard a track from this 1974 self-titled album on the radio a little while back and have since procured it in order to give it a thorough listen. Why on earth this group (though by all of accounts they were more of a studio project than a fully-fledged band) has not already been added I simply cannot fathom!
The album's a curious mix of symphonic prog, fusion and Zeuhl-y touches (it's worth noting that violinist Didier Lockwood features a good deal on this album, which was recorded around the same time as his stint with Magma). There was a second (curiously ALSO self-titled) album recorded in 1981, but I've not heard it yet. Still, I'd say this band's a fully worthwhile add for Eclectic on the strength of the first album alone. Here's a link to the RYM page: http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/visitors_f1 I'll try and stick some samples online soon, but for now, anyone who has heard the album (or who owns a copy of that lovely "Prog is Not a Four Letter Word" compilation, which features a tasty morsel from the first album) do feel free to chip in! |
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Logan
Forum & Site Admin Group Site Admin Joined: April 05 2006 Location: @ wicker man Status: Offline Points: 32690 |
Posted: April 20 2009 at 12:48 | |
Just a fanboy passin' through.
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The Hemulen
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 31 2004 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 5964 |
Posted: April 20 2009 at 13:38 | |
Ooh nice one! So what do you reckon would be the best sub-genre, Logan? Personally I'd say Eclectic might be a good fit.
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Logan
Forum & Site Admin Group Site Admin Joined: April 05 2006 Location: @ wicker man Status: Offline Points: 32690 |
Posted: April 20 2009 at 14:00 | |
Though I played all of the tracks, I was a bit distracted with other things. Excellent music. Eclectic is what I was going to suggest -- got a lot of heavy/ psych elements with folk elements too as I recall. I'd be fine with it in Eclectic.
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Just a fanboy passin' through.
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Vibrationbaby
Forum Senior Member Joined: February 13 2004 Status: Offline Points: 6898 |
Posted: April 20 2009 at 14:11 | |
So much out there that goes unoticed. Like the violin. kinda gets somewhat freaky at times. Their tritle track reminds me distantly of some early Gentle Giant!
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clarke2001
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: June 14 2006 Location: Croatia Status: Offline Points: 4160 |
Posted: April 20 2009 at 14:26 | |
Two positive votes so far...
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Apsalar
Forum Senior Member Joined: June 06 2006 Location: gansu Status: Offline Points: 2888 |
Posted: April 20 2009 at 18:14 | |
definite thumbs ups. Visitors is yet another project of french extraordinaire Jean-Pierre Massiera who was a driving force behind the french underground prog/psych scene. Some other bands he was a part of, many of which were leaning towards to prog spectrum: Les Maledictus Sound, Horrific Child, Venus Gang and Les Chats Renaissance; there are probably more I cannot think of now.
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Padraic
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 16 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 31165 |
Posted: April 20 2009 at 20:13 | |
If it has Didier Lockwood on it, I'm there.
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The Hemulen
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 31 2004 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 5964 |
Posted: April 21 2009 at 02:55 | |
Indeed! It was during a segment of the show devoted to Massiera's work that I heard the track. It stood out to me amongst the other tracks as being particularly proggy (though I also rather enjoyed the extract from Les Maledictus Sound). |
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Rocktopus
Forum Senior Member Joined: March 02 2006 Location: Norway Status: Offline Points: 4202 |
Posted: April 21 2009 at 04:21 | |
Big fan of everything Massiera did (except that second Visitors album).
All for, of course. Visitors first is a krauty classic, and Eclectic
or Psychedelic/Space Rock will do just fine. I've just been to lazy to suggest them.
A couple more is Herman's Rocket, Wappasou's third album, the not so great Atlantide and my favorite: Jean-Pierre Massiera & Bernard Torelli - Turn Radio On which is the funniest album in my entire collection. (Got Special Night as my ringtone) Not prog though. More like the follow up to Les Maledictus Sound. |
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Over land and under ashes
In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me |
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fusionfreak
Forum Senior Member Joined: August 23 2007 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 1317 |
Posted: April 21 2009 at 07:34 | |
Visitors is great.A big yes for me.
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I was born in the land of Mahavishnu,not so far from Kobaia.I'm looking for the world
of searchers with the help from crimson king |
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The Hemulen
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 31 2004 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 5964 |
Posted: April 24 2009 at 05:29 | |
Any progress with this? Have they been approved for Eclectic yet?
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Logan
Forum & Site Admin Group Site Admin Joined: April 05 2006 Location: @ wicker man Status: Offline Points: 32690 |
Posted: April 24 2009 at 15:31 | |
It's the same, but more evaluations tend to take place on the weekend (is it the same with the Avant team?). You'll probably be alerted here once the team has come to a decision (I'll be away); otherwise, please keep your eye on the Eclectic team thread for progress, and leave a note, or just say hi. Be great to see more collabs joining in on the team discussions.
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Just a fanboy passin' through.
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The Hemulen
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 31 2004 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 5964 |
Posted: April 25 2009 at 09:56 | |
Right-o!
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Ricochet
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 27 2005 Location: Nauru Status: Offline Points: 46301 |
Posted: May 06 2009 at 17:31 | |
Hey all.
Visitors officially cleared for Eclectic. Any takers on the addition? |
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Atavachron
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: September 30 2006 Location: Pearland Status: Offline Points: 64352 |
Posted: May 06 2009 at 18:03 | |
sorry I missed this thread, I've got the Prog is Not a Four Letter Word CD and loved the Visitors cut.. couldn't find any photos though, they're not even on Proggnosis, so I'll pass on doing the addition
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The Hemulen
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 31 2004 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 5964 |
Posted: May 07 2009 at 05:44 | |
I'd be happy to do it if no one else fancies it. My laptop's away being fixed right now, so it might take me a while, but I guess it's not an urgent addition...
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Ricochet
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 27 2005 Location: Nauru Status: Offline Points: 46301 |
Posted: May 07 2009 at 11:08 | |
It's not and they're yours. Thanks! |
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Vibrationbaby
Forum Senior Member Joined: February 13 2004 Status: Offline Points: 6898 |
Posted: May 07 2009 at 13:42 | |
Listening to their myspace right now. Cool spooky stuff. I think these guys were into UFOs. How did we miss these guys?
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The Hemulen
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 31 2004 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 5964 |
Posted: May 08 2009 at 03:46 | |
I woke up absurdly early this morning so I took the opportunity to nick my ladyfriend's mac and work on adding eX-Girl (I've been meaning to get them added for ages... they were approved weeks ago!) and, of course, Visitors!
Thus: http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=4475
Incidentally, for anyone who wishes to hear the 1984 album (I listened to the whole thing this morning in order to write an accurate biography... I suggest you only do so out of morbid curiosity), the whole thing's got its own myspace page here: http://www.myspace.com/visitors81tribute |
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