70's French Prog Chat
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Music Lounge
Forum Description: General progressive music discussions
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=26931
Printed Date: June 17 2024 at 20:15
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Topic: 70's French Prog Chat
Posted By: DallasBryan
Subject: 70's French Prog Chat
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 15:17
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Is anyone aware of the best French Progressive music and its artists during the 70's? This is a thread for the discussion of the some of the best progressive music produced during the 70's its artists and recordings and why do you think they are so lost from todays english and american histories of progressive rock?
Here are but a few of the better albums that France produced in the 70's, their output of great progressive music is only rivaled by the english, germans and italians.
Has Magma damaged the ears and brains of those wishing to investigate the french scence or is the information transfer between english and french so damaged as to not allow good information to the community as a whole(italian and germans are fully aware of france great output for instance). Or is intelligent music not absorbed by todays proghead or..........
 . Maybe Im Gay and dont know it yet?
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Replies:
Posted By: Mikerinos
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 15:49
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I've had some French Symphonic prog on my wishlist for a while now, such as Ange, Atoll, Pulsar, and Mona Lisa. I'm not really sure of the best place to start, but I can get Ange's top rated album (forget the name) pretty cheap so I'll probably do that soon. I've also been meaning to get some Clearlight and more Magma. ------------- 
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Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 15:59
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Alain Markusfeld  http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21578 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21578 http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=11777 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=11777 Delired cameleon family (1975) A cross of Gong and Clearlight  Nino ferrer (1971)  |
Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:02
You must get the Clearlight888 remaster of "Forever blowing bubbles" (with fantastic bonus), which is an absolute masterpiece of cosmic space rock .  Have a look at Philippe's review: CLEARLIGHT — Forever Blowing Bubbles Review by philippe (Philippe Blache) SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Content Development &Krautrock Team 5 stars Clearlight is a mesmerising French prog band led by the piano / keyboarder Cyrille Verdeaux. Clearlight represents the pinnacle of the French prog rock scene (with Lard Free). "Forever Blowing Bubbles" is a collection of highlighted soundscapes featuring extended / short tracks, mainly instrumental with a dominant of piano /guitar /sax combination. Each composition delivers its own personal atmosphere. The album starts with a kind of pop / soft ballad partially sung in French. It contains very romantic piano / violin parts then we have a fast, stunning technical guitar break. The second track begins with an interesting melodic repetitive piano part combined to experimental / electronic "cosmic" arrangements. It finally turns (as in the previous track) to a piano based line mixed with a freaky & powerful improvised guitar solo. The two following tracks are my favourite. "Way" is a celestial, strange tune for piano / wha wha guitar and voices in the distance..."Ergotrip" is a catchy mental projection to an other galaxy, with lot of "cosmic" noises, psychedelic flute part, melodic piano lines followed by technical / emotional guitar/ sax solos... An excellent symphonic / "cosmic" rock manifestation!! |
Bluesaga wrote:Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:03
This is what I am talking about, shouldnt one go directly to Lard Free, Clearlight, Spacecraft, ZED, Triode, Travelling, Dun and Francois Breant for a real introduction? Instead after about 50 to 100 purchases maybe one finds some of these great artists?
I used to have a vinyl copy of Platock years ago, great album. Forever Blowing and Delired are OK but I prefer Visons and Symphony, just taste but at least we are in the right restuarant!
 Will have to look for Nini Ferrer, havent heard that one!
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Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:06
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Some "new" stuffs that i don't know...well played Bryan! |
Posted By: Yukorin
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:06
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Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:08
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We are between frenchprog lovers now! |
Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:09
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So, tell us more about each record, Bryan! |
Posted By: Yukorin
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:09
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Posted By: Yukorin
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:11
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Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:13
  You both know "Chronolyse" i suppose? 
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Posted By: Yukorin
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:15
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Posted By: Yukorin
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:17
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Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:18
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Movie soundtrack.... Alain Gorager/La planète sauvage (1973)     Allmusic review: "In 2000, the European label DC Recordings reissued on CD the soundtrack from the cult sci-fi animated film La Planète Sauvage (released in English as The Fantastic Planet). The René Laloux film, which won a Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1973, was supported by a soundtrack by Alain Goraguer, mostly known for his work as Serge Gainsbourg's arranger. Goraguer's music consists of 25 short vignettes. Each is a contextualized adaptation of one of three main musical themes. The main theme is very reminiscent of Pink Floyd's "Atom Heart Mother Suite" (same half-time tempo, mellotron, harpsichord, and wah-wah guitar), and the other two are a ballad and a circus-like waltz. The music is very '70s-clichéd and will appeal to fans of French and Italian '70s soundtrack stylings. Although repetitive, the album itself creates an interesting marijuana-induced sci-fi floating mood, blending psychedelia, jazz, and funk. (...)" |
Posted By: Yukorin
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:18
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Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:19
How is the "Alpes"/Catherine Ribeiro piece on 13+2? |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:20
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A prolific and exciting prog scene France was and is.
Of those days (without distinction of genres) I love:
Pulsar, Dun, Markusfeld, Carpe Diem, Clearlight, Eskaton, Arachnoind, Atoll, Art Zoyd, Heldon, Pinhas, Ponty, Potemkine, Sandrose, Shylock, Shub-Niggurath, Travelling, Triode, Weidorje, Magma, Xoltol, Etron Fou, Lard Free, and others I forgot...
Good to be among Francophiles  ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:22
sorry, thats for the wise to absorb, those that know me know that I dont recommend garbage and I dont do reviews.
 But you can surf the net and find some usually.  |
Posted By: Yukorin
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:23
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Posted By: Yukorin
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:25
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Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:26
some really GOODIES here!
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Posted By: Yukorin
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:27
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Posted By: Yukorin
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:30
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:30
Some of them Thanks to YOU! ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:31
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:32
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If we take Markusfeld for instance, his Le Monde en Etages, is a great psych album and some funny lyrics. Although in my review here I gave it 3 stars, it is an album I personally really like and like to hear at nights when I want to float away. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Yukorin
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 17:47
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Posted By: Yukorin
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 18:20
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Posted By: DarioIndjic
Date Posted: August 05 2006 at 00:25
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Pulsar,Jean Michel Jarre,Ange,Clearlight Symphony,Pentacle,Nemo.. Those are my favs from french prog scene.But im discovering it yet so maybe i found another gems... ------------- Ars longa , vita brevis |
Posted By: slowfire85
Date Posted: August 05 2006 at 01:07
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There is one french band in particular I enjoy, but no one seems to have ever heard of them. I don't see them listed on any prog sites I have been to either. Their music has some similarities to other french bands, but is very dark and disturbed in nature, even more so then other french bands. Do any of you listen to Flamen Dialis? ------------- What is prog rock ? It is music that does progress. Progressive music takes a riff, turns it inside out, plays it upside down and the other way around, and explores its potential. K.Emerson |
Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: August 05 2006 at 05:19
A good SM inspired band, but with a poor singing indeed. |
Posted By: Baggiesfaninuk
Date Posted: August 05 2006 at 05:44
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Oh dear! Off topic slightly, I know, but if you are going to afford Jean Michel Jarre the opportunity to grace these forums then you must surely open the doors to more electronic music from the likes of Andy Pickford, John Dyson, Wavestar, Paul Ward, Robert Fox, David Wright, Code Indigo, Redshift, Mark Shreeve, Otaku, Arcane, Ian Boddy, Otarion, Trancieve........etc....etc, many of which are far more progressive than JMJ. ------------- My father was a beekeeper before me; his father was a beekeeper. I want to follow in their footsteps. And their footsteps were like this. (Runs screaming) "AAAAAAAH! I'm covered in beeeeees!" - Izzard |
Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: August 05 2006 at 05:59
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Yes, JMJ is crap IMO. I much prefer Tim Blake I.E. |
Posted By: MattiR
Date Posted: August 05 2006 at 09:29
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French progressive music is very interesting. I recommend you: MAGMA "Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh" [1973] MAGMA "Üdü Wüdü" [1976] MAGMA "Attahk" [1978] WEIDORJE "Weidorje" [1978] SHUB-NIGGURATH ARACHNOID "Arachnoid" [1978] ANGE "Le Cimetière des Arlequins ATOLL "L'Araignée-Mal ATOLL "Tertio" [1977] CARPE DIEM "En Regardent Passer le Temps CARPE DIEM "Cueille le Jour EDHELS "Still Dream LARD FREE "I'm Around About Midnight HELDON "Interface" [1978] HELDON "Stand By PULSAR "The Strands of the Future" [1976] PULSAR "Halloween" [1977] RICHARD PINHAS RICHARD PINHAS "Events And Repetitions WURTEMBERG |
Posted By: The Rock
Date Posted: August 05 2006 at 10:07
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Guys,
Don't forget MONA LISA!
Great theatrical sympho prog band.They did a comeback in 1998 with members of Versailles. ------------- What's gonna come out of my mouth is gonna come out of my soul."Skip Prokop" |
Posted By: chamberry
Date Posted: August 05 2006 at 12:04
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I have the debut of Clearlight, but I need to listen to it more. I heard it like 2 times and cast it aside.
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Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 08 2006 at 18:47
| if this was a thread on italian bands singing in italian which most of us dont understand, then................. |
Posted By: Jay440
Date Posted: August 08 2006 at 20:12
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Weidorje's only release is VERY good! Action-Packed Zeuhl-Fusion-Rock which is mostly insrumental. "Vilna" is my favorite track, next to "Booldemug", tracks 2 and 3 respectively. Eskaton is equally Action-Packed...I like their first two albums, "4 Visions" and "Ardeur" equally. Dun's "Eros" took some time to grow on me for some reason...surprising because it's very Zappa-like, and I love Zappa. Repeated Listens were worth it for this one. Who else likes Potemkine? Or the Moving Gelatine Plates? |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: August 08 2006 at 20:50
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Hi there Jay440, where have you been.
You have practically picked up some of my favourite French bands there. Excellent choices all of them.
These late weeks I have been heavily into Eskaton and I find them really fitting my very serious mood of late.
------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Apsalar
Date Posted: August 08 2006 at 20:58
You are definately not alone with those two bands, I like the one Potemkine album I have lots. I even decided to review it hear if you are interested. I have been meaning to listen to Moving Gelatine Plates more, but I have not really gotten around to it. But definately a band which has caught my interest. Also they are some great bands you have listed there. Good to see another person with Zeuhl influenced tastes of the forum  Assaf which Eskaton album would you suggest starting with. I am embrassesed to say I have not heard much by this band 
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: August 08 2006 at 21:12
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From Eskaton I have right now only 4 visions, but I have heard
Ardeur as well.
Knowing you, I would suggest to start with 4 visions from 1979 and I think it is their first.
It is reminiscent of Magma and has some cool female singing, great bass playing and a rich accompanying sound from the rest of the band. It is perhapse not as theatrical as Magma, butit sure does not miss much of it. They are very intensive in tracks like Eskaton (the first song) and go on and on and evolve their tracks so that the repeptition factor is lessened. Did I say the bass playing is excellent?
A brilliant Zehul album, imo.
I forgot to mention: many will say that they are either clones of Magma or they lack originality. Valid criticism, but even though, it does not diminsh my enjoyment of their music.
------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Jay440
Date Posted: August 09 2006 at 01:44
Re: ESKATON:
Not only that, but just like Zao and Weidorje, they seem to each have different aspects of Magma's sound that they then develop from there. If anything, I think that the results are interesting to listen to no matter what. Zeuhl-style rythms and melodies are an addicting listen anyway: It's probably the one Genre I can think of where I don't mind some copying, as long as it's not blatanly un-original. Oh, and, IMO, Moving Gelatine Plate's second album, "The World of Genius Hans" is better than the first in every way....better compositions, melodies, playing, production, etc. |
Posted By: Yukorin
Date Posted: August 09 2006 at 03:10
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Eskaton Kommandestra ! Start with 4 Visions if you can find it. I only have the vinyl of Ardeur and Fiction . The production on Ardeur is particulary primitive ('tho it suits the music). Don't know whether Soleil Zeuhl have altered it for the cd release. 4 Visions is quite different from the original cassette. Fiction is a change of pace and a move away from the intense 'Disco-zeuhl' of the previous two. (...don't let this put you off ! It Rocks ! I just find myself dancing whenever I hear it...) Ardeur and 4 Visions share some songs as 4 Visions was never officially released (Ardeur being their first vinyl release. Apart from the earlier 7") Also, if anyone has a recording of their unreleased 'I Wish' LP please PM me ! -------------
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Posted By: Yukorin
Date Posted: August 09 2006 at 03:12
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Sorry Dallas... it's turned into 80' s French Prog Chat...hehe -------------
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Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 09 2006 at 11:11
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anyone given a listen to Spacecraft, ZED, Francois Breant or Ose? |
Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: August 09 2006 at 11:15
Just did a review of Spacecraft today: http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=11884 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=11884 |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 09 2006 at 12:28
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good review Ollie, nice to see we have similar views, sometimes!
are you familar with any of the more obscure artists I have listed? looking for CD releases from Richard Vimal, Patrick Vian, Hydravion, Georges Grunblatt, JPhilippe Goude and JPierre Alarcen. seen them around anywhere in Vive la France?
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Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: August 09 2006 at 12:33
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I only know Alarcen among your list. What's left is either Magma or Heldon-like, isn't it? |
Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: August 09 2006 at 12:41
MGP is too repetitive and lacks creativity. Funny however and loads of fuzz.    |
Posted By: philippe
Date Posted: August 09 2006 at 12:45
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yes, Spacecraft really deserves a listen despite that their "cold" hypno-electronic inventions are hard to digest. I've got some stuffs from Jean Pierre Alarcen, also with his band...if you are interested in, just send PM------------- 
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Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: August 09 2006 at 12:48
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Do you like JP Alarcen Philippe? |
Posted By: philippe
Date Posted: August 09 2006 at 12:54
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not really, generally I've got a problem with his soft jazz touch and his aptitude to make concession with "chanson francaise"
From the previous list I can also give some stuffs from Hydravion and Philippe Bescombes -------------
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Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: August 09 2006 at 12:57
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His work in Sandrose is more prog. |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 09 2006 at 13:02
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Vian is similar to Spacecraft or maybe early Lard Free, Vian played with Livengood in the band Red Noise. But I have not been able to locate the CD. Hydravion is a continuation of Pole, which I have not heard. Pole has similarities to Eden and Heldon.
Grunblatt is a continuation of Heldon and Ose, I have not heard.
Goude would best be compared to Francois Breant or Patrick Gauthier solos, which I have an old vinyl of, repetitive, melodic keyboard-oriented fusion.
I have seen where Richard Vimal's Aquarythemies has been released recently, which contains the album Migrations as a whole plus bonus tracks.
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Posted By: philippe
Date Posted: August 09 2006 at 13:02
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without any doubt! I remember that Lard Free is mentionned here, I would like to present Gilbert Artman other project called urban sax...for this time it has nothing to do with Heldon and Lard Free typical electronic, discordant electronic textures. -------------
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Posted By: philippe
Date Posted: August 09 2006 at 13:07
I'm not sure that the guy has made something outside of Heldon -------------
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Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 09 2006 at 13:16
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I have never heard Richard Pinhas' Iceland either, got any samples?
sidenote...
anyone ever heard the swedish band Archimedes Badkar's II album?
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Posted By: philippe
Date Posted: August 09 2006 at 13:25
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this album is honest but rather poor compared to his two first... I'm going to send to you a sample, maybe I'm a bit hard -------------
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Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 10 2006 at 15:20
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anyone heard or have comments on any of these bands? Dashiell Hedayatt? Bedjabetch? Booz? Art Zoyd? Etron Fou? Pentacle?
does anyone know where you can get a CD copy of Alain Markusfeld's Platock?
MGP's doesnt do anything for me, lots of half ideas and lots of patience for the listener adds up to wasted energy to me. If Im going to give you my ear you should give me something creative not just noises.
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Posted By: Apsalar
Date Posted: August 10 2006 at 21:45
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I have Dashiell Hedayatt's first album La Devanture des Ivresses. Which I have heard is the insuperior of the two albums they produce. The band sticks true to it space rock name and draws huge influence from Gong (which is not surprising considering Daevid Allen contribution), while still making very unique music. For a more indepth reivew read Seans words on their second album Obsolete. I have heard nothing but good thoughts about this album and plan to pick it up sometime soon. Both Art Zoyd and Etron Fou Leloublan come from the RIO side of the story. I have heard little of Etron Fou Leloublan. But they were one of the important 5 originating bands in the '78 march. They are quite well know, so I hope somebody will give you a discription of their music as I have only heard sound samples. As for Art Zody I own pretty much most of what they have released. From their first album in '76 till the late '80s they produce some of the best Chamber rock music around, focusing highly on the rhythmic ideals of music. The best place to start with this band would be their first three release, which are outstanding. They coming on a boxset with contain extra bonus material and a nice booklet to go hand in hand. Just a warning with Art Zoyd. A lot of people are turned off by their later material, so this is definately not the place to start. They begun to focus more on the art side of movie compositions and electronic media. I still really like this side of Art Zoyd but it is definately not something everybody is going to like. Hope this helps. |
Posted By: Yukorin
Date Posted: August 11 2006 at 03:28
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Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 12 2006 at 13:20
| thanks that help alot, Betjabetch and Dashiell Hedayatt sound interesting and its been 20 years since I have heard Art Zoyd but need to give them another spin. |
Posted By: markj
Date Posted: August 13 2006 at 18:08
Very obscure (I wrote the booklet copy), extremely rare LP, very poorly distributed when originally released -- the original album was on a French "do it yourself" label, and the group lived quite a distance from any major city (Brittany, I think it was), so it just sort of vanished on release -- the album's pretty dark and has a distinct "home made" feel to it. Several "folk" musicians joined in for the recording, bringing a variety of instruments that aren't normal in the prog world - bombarde is one I remember - I still think of this as "avant prog naif". The main guy was in the process of completing a second album -- I haven't heard it, but my partner at MIO was sent a cassette recording and didn't like it at all. |
Posted By: markj
Date Posted: August 13 2006 at 19:33
Hydravion's a Philippe Besombes project he started after "Cesi est cela" and the one that made him "famous" - sold very well in France, and most or all the tracks from the album were used as program music for French television programs, it's not yet on CD. Both the Hydravion albums are very repetative and not terribly interesting (better Besombes are his "solo" albums, particularly Pole and Esombesombes - or Cesi est cela, as it was released on MIO - which are still available). JP Goude's one "prog" album is "Drones" (probably still available on Musea), which is pretty zeuhl-influenced. Goude's more interesting work (for me) tends to be his soundtracks, of which he's done a lot -- these are instrumental "chamber rock" works (in fact, he's actually got a disk called "Rock de Chambre"), all of which I'd heartily recommend, especially RdC and "La Divine Nature des Choses". His new stuff's being released in France on Hopi Mesa (Henry Torgue's also on the label. Check him out, too.) The Grunblatt's not on CD, either. It's a short album - maybe half an hour - and pretty, but sorta inconsequential, although I like it quite a bit. Alarcens "Tableau No. 1" came out on CD a couple years ago on Baillemont. |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 14 2006 at 15:38
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thanks Marki,
good information and helps me to pinpoint those worth seeking out.
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Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 14 2006 at 17:20
| great review on Archaia Yukorin, real Zeuhl music |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: August 14 2006 at 17:54
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I feel the need to say at this stage that not only is Ange "Guet-Apens" my favorite French album of all time (along with Serge Gainsbourg's Melodie Nelson, and Air's Virgin Suicides), it's probably in my top 30 albums ever. The 14 minute Cap'taine Couer De Miel also features one of my fave guitar solos. Plus I stole the ending for a Porcupine Tree song called "Burning Sky"! Au Revoir, SW |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: August 14 2006 at 19:24
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Salut swilson,
I love Guet-Apens as well and find it to be their best alongside Emile Jacotey.
As for that ending, I knew I heard it elsewhere....  ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: August 15 2006 at 00:34
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ordered me a mini run of older french symphonic today that I hadn't yet checked out... looking so forward to hearing them....
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 15 2006 at 11:35
| anyone familiar with Horriffic Child or Igor Wakhevitch from the 70's? |
Posted By: Melomaniac
Date Posted: August 15 2006 at 11:37
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Oh my God, I CANNOT believe i haven't seen anything on this thread relating to Ange. Sacrilege !!!
Ange is WITHOUT A SHADOW OF DOUBT the greatest 70's French prog band. I URGE you all to get your hands (and ears) on thes following albums : Le cimetière des Arlequins, Au-Delà du Délire, Émile Jacotey et Par les Fils de Mandrin. French prog cannot be mentionned without Ange in the same phrase. Those into Genesis will undoubtedly love this band. ------------- "One likes to believe in the freedom of Music" - Neil Peart, The Spirit of Radio |
Posted By: Melomaniac
Date Posted: August 15 2006 at 11:39
If I am not mistaken, you have mixed a song or two on 'Culinaire Lingus', right?
Ange are great. My favorite from them is Au-Delà du Délire. ------------- "One likes to believe in the freedom of Music" - Neil Peart, The Spirit of Radio |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 15 2006 at 11:44
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Melo......guess you are familar with Atoll, Arachnoid and Memoriance also? If not you may want to peek over there too!
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Posted By: Yukorin
Date Posted: August 15 2006 at 11:46
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Posted By: Melomaniac
Date Posted: August 15 2006 at 11:47
I have heard Atoll, and found them good. As for the others, I'll take your word for it and try to get my hands on some of their albums. Thanks a lot for the recommandations ! ------------- "One likes to believe in the freedom of Music" - Neil Peart, The Spirit of Radio |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 15 2006 at 12:04
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Arachnoid's only release is a classic and a good place to start, IMO!
anything French is OK by me! they'll get bored with the symphonic stuff and probably stumble into the greats, not a problem. people like the familiar, but as the familar changes tastes change.
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Posted By: Melomaniac
Date Posted: August 15 2006 at 12:07
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Noted. I'll start there. Thanx ! ------------- "One likes to believe in the freedom of Music" - Neil Peart, The Spirit of Radio |
Posted By: Melomaniac
Date Posted: August 15 2006 at 12:21
Just listened to 'Toutes ces Images' from Arachnoid (thank you progarchives for the mp3) and man, it is good. I'll start my research to buy this album. Thanks again! ------------- "One likes to believe in the freedom of Music" - Neil Peart, The Spirit of Radio |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 15 2006 at 12:32
| the whole album is good, a little derivative of Genesis but not overtly so. |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: August 15 2006 at 13:06
Since you talked about Arachnoid I won't mention it anymore, but only support DB recommendation.
(and since Atoll and Ange are well known in this field, there is little point in further mentioning them. And if we talk of the known symphonic bands, Pulsar has to be mentioned as well, along with Carpe Diem, Shylock, Mona Lisa, Sandrose etc...).
But I want to second DB's mention of Memoriance which I know thanks to him.
I have their album Et Apres, which is a classic symphonic prog with nice vocals. Probably genesis fans will love this as well (even though I hate to compare it to them).
There is also the band Metabolisme which released one album if I remember correctly, called Tempus Fugit. If you look for stuff similar in spirit to Memoriance and Pentacle, this is also something to listen to.
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Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 15 2006 at 13:14
| agreed, Carpe Diem's En Regardent Passer le Temps being a good starting place and a must, mostly instrumental and alittle more spacey! |
Posted By: Melomaniac
Date Posted: August 15 2006 at 14:30
Reminded me more of King Crimson circa In the Wake of Poseidon... which is fine by me ! ------------- "One likes to believe in the freedom of Music" - Neil Peart, The Spirit of Radio |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 17 2006 at 17:12
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anyone got a copy or commits on Emmanuel Booz' /Dans quel etat J'erre(1979)? Dont think its available on CD so its probably old vinyl if you got it!
Dans Quel Etat J'Erre ranks among the best French progressive rock albums that have not seen the light of day on CD format. One can already tell with the three pieces, one side-long, that Booz has gone for a much more complex and innovative style and has signified this by dropping his first name. The backing musicians on this album are generally much more obscure than on Clochard, although there is a great violin duel by Didier Lockwood and Jean-Louis Mahjun that adds to the recognizability factor. The music is dark, complex, progressive rock with all sorts of time and key changes, an approach that Clochard hinted at times, but never quite reached. It's actually surprising that a musician who would spend so much time working on vocal-oriented compositions would so drastically turn to such an instrumentally dominated work of music. This is progressive rock at its finest, the melodies are anything but obvious and seem uncommonly researched, the structures are often constantly in motion, changing from measure to measure, and there is a palpable sense of adventure. It's no surprise that Booz's vocal work here is the closest to Ange of the four albums, but even Ange never created a work of such obvious dissonance and experimentation. In fact the only albums even close to this amazing work of art only hint at the edges, such as the eponymous album by Arachnoid or the weird vocal experiments of Philippe Doray. It's an amazing success, particularly in that it belonged more to the progressive rock tradition of a few years earlier rather than that of the digital 80s. |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 17 2006 at 17:16
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Francois Breant - Sons Optiques(1978)
The two albums by keys player Francois Breant could easily be considered Zeuhl just by the line ups involved. Just a ways into Sons Optique's opening track you get a huge violin solo by Didier Lockwood and that's only the beginning of the story. Breant generally surrounds himself with excellent musicians, and his solo albums are actually quite a bit similar to those of Jean Phillipe Goude and Benoit Widemann of the time where personnel is concerned. Musically, Breant's albums are generally of the same ilk as well, keyboard-centric albums with occasional fusion, classical and Zeuhl touches.
Sons Optique is generally a keyboard (as opposed to electronic) work, although the addition of Lockwood and bassist Guy Delacroix definitely brings in some Magma touches. Other than one, nearly ten-minute piece towards the end of the album, the songs are generally three to four minutes in length and have an impressionist feel, setting up a mood, often by piano, and letting the guests fill in the dots. It gives an impression of being a well-thought out, carefully crafted album, while at the same time, not hopping out and grabbing you by the ears like most Zeuhl-related works are prone to do. In fact, the Zeuhl tendencies here are only related on the melodic level, again, similar to contemporary works by other Zeuhl family keyboard players. |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 17 2006 at 17:19
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Pascal Comelade - Fluence(1976)
Beginning with an electric piano vamp that could have been off of a Magma or Weidorje album, the eponymous album by Fluence does not at all approach the language of Zeuhl, rather it stays to a cyclical electronic mode that resembles some Terry Riley. Pascal Comelade has released many a solo album, but before doing so created this little goodie with the help of Richard Pinhas and others. This 1976 release features three pieces. "A Few Reasons to Stay/A Few Reasons to Split"'s initial line begins to fade into a string patch and voices as a composite mesh emerges, a shimmering dreamy sort of piece whose elements interweave with each other and end up becoming a backdrop for a Pinhas guitar solo. "Barcelona Tango" is a bizarre, short little ditty, almost irrelevant as the first piece takes up most of the side. Side two consists of "Schizo" which continues the shimmering, cyclic electronics with guitar on top. Unsurprisingly, this could have been a piece of music from a Heldon or Pinhas solo LP, except that Comelade's methods have a much softer sheen to them than the typical harsh bite of Pinhas' solo work. Overall, a very nice piece and not a bad one for relaxing to.
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Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 17 2006 at 17:21
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Komitern - Le Bal du Rat Mort(1971) A very eclectic French underground album. It starts off with a perverted, avant-garde waltz and after, they take you on a rollercoaster of styles. A dazzling collage of seemingly contradicting musical forms comes along. Among them are Soft Machine-styled jazz rock, chamber rock, French chanson, gypsy music, a touch of Zappa, folky parts and psychedelic acid-rock. Despite the experimental, uncompromising atmosphere, the concept in its entirety works excellently, in my opinion. The concept of the album as a whole is probably best compared to the early Mothers of Invention albums, although Zappa's collage style was infused with different musical influences (no Varese, doo-wop or free jazz influences on Komintern's album). The diversity of styles and the occasional goofiness may get on some people's nerves, but I think that Le Bal du Rat Mort is an excellent and unique album.
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Posted By: Apsalar
Date Posted: August 17 2006 at 18:28
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Thanks for all that info DB, browsing over Francois Breant reminded me about a band I have heard a lot about but no music to match the name. Albert Marcoeur. Anyone farmilar with the band? I have heard good things about the first album, styling RIO and chamber rock. I was looking around for reviews and stumbled across this very negative one. "I feel like I ought to like it. Most of the avant-prog community loves it. Dave Kerman cites it as some of his favorite music. But try as I may, I can't see Albert Marcoeur's debut album as anything other than a big slab of wasted potential. I just don't understand what makes it so special. Yes, Marcoeur can write some really nice proto-RIO chamber-rock grooves -- but he never does anything with them. He'll just repeat them over and over again under some spoken word ("Tu Tapes Trop Fort"), or abandon them too soon for some fragmentary noise that has nothing to do with them ("C'est Raté, C'est Raté"). I have to give him a bit of credit for sounding like Aksak Maboul three years before they were formed, but the compositions here just aren't that good. Still, the music here would be entertaining, even in its half-formed state, if it weren't for Marcoeur's attempts to be funny. I mean, I'm not going to object to hyperactive French avant-pop like "Mon Père Avait un P'tit Champ d'Pommes," even if it doesn't really develop itself. But goofy noises, abrasive grunts and "raspberry" effects serve only to bring the music down. Worse, the rhythmic gargling sounds in "C'est Raté, C'est Raté" actually stimulate by gag reflex. A similar problem happens with the arrangements; while the shrieking recorders, out-of-tune folk instruments and so on sound pretty good most of the time, sometimes the weird instrumental sounds are detrimental to the music, especially the annoying "clucking" timbre of the otherwise cool demented-circus ending of "Appalderie." As with any highly problematic record, there are some nice moments scattered around. All the parts that sound like Aksak Maboul, like the very "Cinema"-like first 30 seconds of "Que Le Temps est Long," are pretty good. "Simone" also stands out as much better than the rest of the album, with its funky recorder break and absolutely beautiful, lush instrumental coda (calling Miriodor!). But not only are a few nice passages insufficient to make a good album, they sometimes make the inferior material seem worse by contrast. The ending of "Simone" is excellent, but it's also a harsh reminder that beauty -- and I mean aesthetically moving sounds, not necessarily "pretty" ones -- is something that this overrated album almost completely lacks." Needless to say this was a little off putting, so I was wondering if anyone here is confident to recommend them to me? |
Posted By: markj
Date Posted: August 17 2006 at 20:28
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Marcoeur's work's matured a lot over time. There are many hard-core
affecionatos of the four early albums, and while the above review
considers those aspects negatives, they're the same aspects that make
these albums so well respected. The lyrics are full of puns and double
entendre that might make the albums more sensible - I don't speak
French, but that's what they say. For the neophyte, a better entry point might be the later stuff, that many consider much more sedate than those early albums. I'd recommend Ma Vie Avec Elles and m,a,r, et coeur comme coeur, as well as the incredible Sports et Percussions (now you know. I'm a fanboy), where the lauded aspects of those early albums are distilled and a bit less frenetic. Albert's been reissuing his albums on his own label. You can get sound samples, buy CDs and take a look some pretty off-the-wall stuff at www.albertmarcoeur.com -- well worth checking into, he's absolutely unique. Steve at Wayside's a big Marcoeur freak, check www.waysidemusic.com for his perspective. The Komitern album's great fun, too. We wanted to reissue it on CD. Bernard at Musea said he'd be doing it, but that was two years ago, and I don't think it's been done yet. I'll be the first in line to replace my vinyl copy - Comelade's early work bears little to no resemblance to anything he's done since then. I find Traffic D'abstraction to be the one album I return to, the earlier work's influences are too overt. IIRC, Booz is a reasonably famous actor in France and has little interest in his old music. |
Posted By: Apsalar
Date Posted: August 17 2006 at 20:41
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Thanks for the help, I have been listening to those sample on his home page, and this is to my liking. I don't know if it is just my tastes but I quite liked first album, but I can see the sedation and refinement of the later works. I can really understand what you were pointing out in the first paragraphy though. This is definately going to be one of those love hate relationship bands . Though this is just listening from samples. Just as a side note, which label are you with? |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 18 2006 at 16:53
| Marki, Could you suggest what you might consider a top 10 or 20 or 30 list of intelligent progressive music from the french scene in the 70's? You sound as if your recommendations could be trustworthy if one were seeking to take a dip in the genre. |
Posted By: Dr4Wazo
Date Posted: August 19 2006 at 00:12
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Oui, la musique progressive de France est assez interessante, surtout Vander et Magma, mes favoris!
-------------  "Mëem Otsilennhetëe Dros Sun Surra Steuhn Do Nansei" |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: August 19 2006 at 11:39
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^^^
Vander sera ajoutez ici prochainement.
Je trouve que le prog Francais est plus qu'interessante...
(Sorry for the spelling mistakes...)
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Posted By: Penumbra
Date Posted: August 19 2006 at 13:17
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The only French-ish band I know from the 1970's is Harmonium. They were Quebecois anyway, oh my! I have yet to find any of the acts listed here, but I am sure I will some day.
------------- The Holy Trinity of Symphonic Progressive Rock 
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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: August 19 2006 at 21:29
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Adam, Bryan, Markj and all others, I have a question.
I saw this 2 albums on one cd by Jean Pierre Alarcen on WaySide music for 15$:
http://www.waysidemusic.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=01/Musea 4407 - Alarcen, Jean-Pierre - Tableau No. 1/Jean-Pierre Alarcen
http://www.waysidemusic.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=01/Musea 4407 - $15.00
What do you think of those two albums? Should I buy this? Is this a good purchase in your opinion?
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Posted By: DarioIndjic
Date Posted: August 19 2006 at 23:53
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French prog was great in 70s!Quebecer prog also!
Here is my favorite french albums
Pulsar - Strands Of The Future(one of the best psychedelic/trippy albums i ever heard)
Pulsar - Pollen(great keyboards!!!)
Ange - Guet Apens(an essential for mellotron lovers)
Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene and Equinoxe(simply two classics of modern music!)
Clearlight - Clearlight Symphony
Pentacle - Le clef des songes(moog at best)
Sandrose - Sandrose ( one of the most beautiful female voice )
Amazing stuff!!!
Ive also heard Univers Zero,Anacrhoid,Magma,etc..but thats not my cup of tea...
------------- Ars longa , vita brevis |
Posted By: MattiR
Date Posted: August 20 2006 at 10:17
 What about Atoll?  |
Posted By: markj
Date Posted: August 20 2006 at 18:38
I own this, but I have absolutely no idea what it sounds like. I guess I would say it made no impression on me. I'll give it a spin this week and see it that's accurate. |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: August 20 2006 at 19:05
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^^^
Thanks Markj !
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Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: August 22 2006 at 16:36
not a great album but worth inclusion, top 50 french from the 70's if that helps.
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