STEP AHEAD

This French progrock band got a good contract from RCA and sold at about 30.000 copies from their eponymous debut LP (1982). But then RCA wanted to force Step Ahead to make a single on their second album. The band refused to make a commercial kneefall. The story goes that Alan Parsons was impressed by Step Ahead their demo and even proposed to partly produce their second album. But unfortunately this didn't lead to a good end. If you listen to Step Ahead their eponymous debut LP, it's incredible and unfair that this promissing French band only made one album. Their sound is not typical French (melacholical, complex, theatrical vocals) but more in the vein of UK bands delivering a melodic and accessible progrock sound that evokes mid-Genesis and Rick Wakeman. The vocals from ex-Small Faces (!) singer Danny Brown sounds like Jon Anderson but less high pitched. The focus is on guitarplayer Christian Robin, obviously influenced by Jimi Hendrix. The contrast with his fiery and often raw guitarwork and the soaring keyboards and acoustic guitar often creates strong tension like in "Right and wrong" and especially "The end": a good build-up, strong breaks and a grand finale featuring sumptuous keyboards and biting electric guitar. Most of the tracks sound dynamic, the only mellow song is "Hell" with cello and acoustic guitar.

THIS IS PLEASANT FRENCH PROGROCK THAT DESERVES WIDER ATTENTION!