LA NATURE VIT, L'HOMME LUI CRITIQUE...

Musea's reissue booklet provided great info about this second-wave French Prog band, found in 1974 in Meaux, near Paris, by bassist Patrick Wyrembski, his cousin Janusz Tokarz on keyboards and the cousin of Patrick's wife Laurent Delenne on flute, guitar and vocals.The line-up became complete with Franck Mamosa on guitar and Michel Rousseaux on drums, both played in a progressive combo named Rapace.They had a great live activity, passing the narrow Paris borders numerous times, but their future was somewhat held back, when Mamosa quit to focus on his studies in 1975.He was replaced by Philippe Bedos and later on by Patrice Boudot, but he returned in 1976.A single on the small Olivier label was released in 1977, selling about 6000 copies, and in 1978 the band booked the LSB Studios in Paris for one week to self-finance and record the debut ''La nature vit, l'homme lui critique...''.Only label interested in their work appeared to be the independent Oxygene and the album was eventually released in March 1979.

Orion belong to the second-class bands from France appearing during the late-70's/early-80's and their music had much in common with the sound of OPALE, NUANCE, ONIRIS or GRIMME.Basically this is pretty laid-back Symphonic Rock with intense, French vocals and strong theatrical leanings in the singing lines, divided both in short and longer pieces, with smooth guitar and keyboard plays.They sound quite retro-styled, as ANGE and ATOLL seems to be their creative inspiration, but their style was rather updated to late-70's with the sharp use of synthesizers instead of more vintage keyboards.The compositions are characterized by some playful, soft interplays, typical French-styled vocals, atmospheric keyboard interludes and an attempt on providing some decent melodies.Not the best production or equipment around, the band reputedly worked hard for night and day during the limited time of the recordings and the result is an average mix of instruments, which affects the quality of the compositions.However there is some great stuff in this album with dramatic, instrumental textures, Classical flavors and satirical voices, the combination of which marks Orion as a pretty talented group.Some nice flute work is present unfortunately in rare moments compared to the band's only single, both tracks of which are included in the Musea reissue, and appears to dominate the music, which is still along the lines of French Symphonic Rock.

Decent Progressive Rock in the standard French tradition.Mediocre sound quality is an issue here, but the music is mostly nice, albeir rather unoriginal.Recommended, especially if you like the more theatrical side of French Prog.