XII Alfonso -
Claude Monet Vol. 2 ($15.99)
Latest additions are highlighted in yellow. Musea’s French, Belgian, and Luxembourgian titles are here, plus titles from a few other assorted places. You will find many more Musea titles on our Dutch, Italian, German, Japanese, Scandinavian, South American, Spanish, Mexican, and Electronic Music pages. Quantities limited – if mailing your order, please specify alternates.
Audio samples for many Musea and other French CDs can be found at musicMe.com
XII Alfonso -
Claude Monet Vol. 2 ($15.99)
SALE!
XII Alfonso - The Lost Frontier ($14.99)This French band is popular among French progressive fans for their concept albums: The Lost Frontier, Odyssées, and the Claude Monet series. Philippe and François Claerhout (guitars and keyboards), assisted by numerous guests and friends, have succeeded in creating a delicate, ambitious, and eclectic form of symphonic progressive rock, mixing instrumental pieces and songs in a style somewhat similar to Mike Oldfield, Iona, or more recent Camel, at least on their first two albums. Even though the band has a very capable female vocalist (lyrics in English), the music is predominantly instrumental, with influences of Celtic and medieval music. Their first album The Lost Frontier (1996), about Hadrian's Wall, includes contributions from Dan Ar Bras as well as keyboardist Mickey Simmonds (Fish, Camel). 19 musicians contributed to Odyssées (1999), their 74-minute 2nd album, including Minimum Vital and Dan Ar Bras. Melodic and delicate, Odyssées mixes instrumental music and songs, with a good dose of Celtic and French folk integrated. Mesmerizing and perfect for late at night.
Claude Monet Vol. 1 (2002) is the third album from Douze Alfonso. It comes in a beautiful slipcase with a 52-page booklet in both English and French. This is the first part of the most ambitious project ever imagined by a French band: three albums about the last years of the life of Claude Monet (the French impressionist painter). XII Alfonso have been working for many years on this project, using the artist’s paintings, his letters and memoirs -- the huge booklet is itself a work of art. 16 concise pieces (four songs, the rest instrumental) suggest impressions of moments of Monet’s life and creations. This fully impressionist music includes old French songs rearranged, refined atmospheres conveyed by the keyboard parts, eclectic rhythm work, and guitar solos. The band is assisted by several other musicians, including a female singer, a harpist, a second keyboardist, and several guitarists; Ian Bairnson (Kate Bush, Alan Parsons, Wings) contributes a guitar solo. But the melodies are the most essential element of this beautiful album. Counts as 1.5 CDs for shipping.
Claude Monet Vol. 2 (2005) is subtitled 1889-1904 and comes in a digipack
with a full-color, 50-page, wide format booklet in both French and English which
is in itself a valuable overview of Monet’s work during this period. These 17
instrumental pieces span 74-minutes, an original music that perhaps comes
closest to Isildurs Bane. It ranges from symphonic rock to neo-classical to
French popular music. While there are quite a few ethnic instruments in the mix,
it is the most French sounding album to date for XII Alfonso, which is
appropriate given the subject matter. Mickey Simmonds wrote one track and plays
piano on another.
Alkemy -
Da 63 Projekt ($14.99)
Enough with the silly misspellings already. Alkemy is a French
progressive rock quartet (guitar/vocals, keys, bass, drums) signed to Québec's Unicorn Records. The vocals are in
excellent English though and there is nothing in the music that gives away Alkemy’s origin. They play a fairly unique blend of rock and fusion, mixing the
energy, form, and rhythms of rock with the harmony, soloing, and precision
of fusion. The rock side of their music gets heavy at times, reflecting influences
that range from Dream Theater and Queensrÿche to Chick Corea Elektric Band,
Miles Davis, and Pat Metheny Group. For a hard fusion album, there are a lot of vocals, and though it’s
not easy to construct vocal lines that fit over the complex chord progressions,
they are melodic enough. Alkemy are at their best when they rein in the metal
guitar and play soaring, complex progressive rock/fusion, bringing them close to
the first UK lineup. 63-minutes.
Amethyst -
Naissance ($14.99)
Amethyst is a French fusion trio of keyboards, bass and drums. Their first album Naissance (2006)
consists of seven instrumental pieces in the 5-to-10 minute range, with strong melodies, some Latin rhythms,
and lively bass parts (sometimes playing the melody line). There is progressive influences in the keyboards.
In other words, it isn’t all jazz piano, as Rodrigue Lecoque also uses synth
pads to add a symphonic texture, and plays some synth lead lines with pitch bend
and vibrato.
Ange - Le Tour de la Question (CD+PAL DVD, $22.99)
Le Tour de la Question is a live CD+DVD in a digipack, recorded at the
2005 Mix Festival in Belgium. The CD contains 11 tracks, while the DVD contains
19. The DVD is in the PAL format. Note we will not
accept returns of this item because the DVD will not play on your NTSC player.
Ange - Culinaire Lingus ($15.99)
Ange - Tome 87 ($15.99)With over 3.5 million albums sold and six gold records in France, Ange is a French progressive rock institution. Culinaire Lingus (2001, 74-minutes) is now available at a reasonable price, thanks to a reissue by Musea. As Musea says, this album has been described by many critics as the best recent album by the band, and one can sense the enthusiasm of the musicians in both the writing and playing. Christian’s vocals are brilliant: theatrical, humorous and sensitive as in the old days, and the young musicians around him are talented and inspired. Audio clips at amazon.fr.
La Voiture à Eau (1999, 73-minutes) is also a very fine album. Ange had already done their farewell tour in 1995, then Christian Decamps formed a new Ange with his talented son Tristan on keys plus other younger musicians. This version of the band has proven to be superior to all the post-1980 lineups. Audio clips at amazon.fr.
Their double live album Rêves-Parties was recorded in 1997, 1998, and 2000, three different shows, one of them with a symphony orchestra. Two hours of Ange live, including old classics such as Godevin le Vilain and Hymne a la Vie, as well as more recent favorites such as Quasimodo and 3ème Etoile a Gauche. Audio clips at amazon.fr.
Tome 87 is a live CD of a legendary Ange concert. In 1987, the original line-up of Ange
reunited for this concert, playing their progressive material. The sound is
superb, as is the material and the energy level; this is the best Ange live
recording we’ve heard. An exclusive bonus video track (playable on a computer)
is included, a 2001 interview of the charismatic Christian Decamps.
Ange - By the Sons of Mandrin ($14.99)The true leader of the French rock scene in the mid-seventies, Ange naturally desired some success outside France. Not that the foreign public didn’t appreciated the group, but that may have been more for the sound of Ange’s French-language vocals, while the band’s compositional talents may have been overlooked. That is the context that led Ange to produce By the Sons of Mandrin, the English translation of Par les Fils de Mandrin (1976), one of the major works in Ange’s discography. This remains the only Ange record with English lyrics. For reasons long lost and which perhaps only band leader Christian Decamps could shed light on, this album was never released. It remained hidden in a disused lavatory in the basement of Universal until Musea got them to drag it out. Since this is many people’s choice for best Ange album, it’s fortunate this is the one available in English, and fortunate Musea made the effort.
Tome VI (1977), the 2LP live album covering Ange’s most creative
period, was perhaps not the best testimony to Ange’s power in concert. Nearly 26
years later, we have En Concert - Par les Fils De Mandrin Millésimé 1977,
a live show recorded in front of 6000+ fans.
This CD includes the live performance of the entire album Par les Fils de Mandrin
(1976), the peak of the band’s success and creativity, plus 16 minutes of
material from previous albums.
Check our DVDs page for Ange’s DVDs.
Christian
Décamps - Mes Vers Solitaires DVD ($22.99)Christian Décamps is the singer and leader of Ange. This DVD (NTSC,
all-region) captures his one man show in 1993 near Belfort. Christian sings,
plays guitar and keyboards, tells tales and performs sketches (in French), all
with his characteristic humor, charisma, and intensity. The songs are taken from
his solo career, Ange classics (Ode à Emile), plus two Jacques Brel
covers. One hour and 40 minutes.
L’Ange Vert -
Le Sang des Hommes ($11.99)
SALE!
SALE!
SALE!L’Ange Vert plays a potent fusion of
Breton (Celtic) folk and rock, more progressive than most of the Celtic-rock
bands. They are recommended to fans of Malicorne and the various Breton
electric-folk bands. Le Sang des Hommes (1995), Les Armes de Bretagne (1997), and Tempete & Chatiments
(1999) are full of great melodies, with excellent vocals in French. Instrumentation includes bombarde, mandolin,
and tin whistle in addition to electric & acoustic guitars, bass, and drums. This
band is full of charm and old world spirit.
Herry Ansker - Next World ($11.99)
SALE!
SALE!Next World (1999) is an instrumental guitarist’s
album with diverse influences including Spanish, Moorish, traditional French, pop,
rock, etc. Ansker, a Breton, has been influenced by Dan Ar Bras. He also supplies keyboard backdrops while other musicians help
out on bass and drums. On Also Imagus, also from 1999, Ansker leads a
large number of musicians on an album of high-quality jazz-rock, melodic and
structured.
Asgard - Tradition & Renouveau ($15.99)Good price on this legitimate Korean mini-LP reissue of the 1978 second album
by Asgard, a French progressive folk-rock band. After their 1976 debut, Asgard
added a keyboardist (Moog, piano, Mellotron) for this album and became more
progressive. The first side of the LP is acoustic, while the second side is
proggier. Vocals in French, as they should be. Recommended to fans of Ripaille,
Malicorne, and Gryphon. “A beautiful example of what happens when folk musicians
play progressive rock and get the balance right”. [Planet Mellotron] Read the
Prog-Nose review.
Asia Minor - Crossing the Line ($15.99)French progressive classics from 1979 and 1980 from a band that included
Turkish as well as French members. Vocals are in English, aside from a couple
songs sung in Turkish. Asia Minor succeeded in creating a highly original
progressive rock, subtly infusing Middle Eastern influences into Anglo-prog. The
instrumental complexity and melodic originality made them one of the top French
progressive bands of their time.
Aside Beside - Tadj Mahall Gates ($15.99)
With Tadj Mahall Gates (2002), this band appeared on the scene fully-mature and must
be considered one of the top French progressive bands of recent years. Aside Beside are
one of those rare bands who have so successfully absorbed the influences of the
1970’s prog bands that the result sounds original and not comparable to any one
or two bands. One would have to mention Genesis, early King Crimson, Pulsar, a
bit of the Canterbury style, and perhaps Camel when flute is used, but there are
many other influences subtly integrated, resulting in an impressive variety to
the tracks. The intimacy and romanticism immediately distinguishes them from the
pretenders of today, while the instrumental/vocal balance is as you would expect
on a 70’s-style prog album. Their singer sings in English quite respectably,
though the mix often de-emphasizes the lead vocals somewhat. If progressive rock
in the 21st century is capable of producing a classic that will be looked upon
as a reference in the future, this is as good a candidate as any. 60-minutes.
Atoll - Tertio ($15.99)
Maybe the top French symphonic progressive
band ever. Atoll featured a full keyboard sound with lead work on guitar and
violin, highly arranged with lots of tight playing. L’Araignee-Mal
(1975) and Tertio (1977) are their
masterpieces.
L’Araignee-Mal has some fusion that is largely absent from Tertio. If
you can only buy one CD on this page, either L’Araignee-Mal or Tertio is the one to get.
Atoll’s debut Musiciens-Magiciens (1974) is a fine album, and though the
next two albums would eclipse it, it is still superior to many other French
progressive albums. Musiciens-Magiciens comes in
a reproduction of the LP jacket. The others are the jewel box editions. (The
mini-LP editions of L’Araignee-Mal and Tertio are
out-of-print.)
Atoll -
L’Ocean ($15.99)
Today, the Atoll name is being used by leader and guitarist Christian Beya. L’Océan was initially released in 1989 in Japan and was very successful there. The band included Beya and new musicians. The music is more mainstream than the original Atoll and sounds like a late-1980’s production, but it’s not a bad album; it’s kind of like Yes’ 90125 is to classic Yes. This 2006 re-edition adds three bonus tracks: two live songs and an unreleased track, and two of the original songs have been re-recorded.
After
the initial release of L’Océan, nothing was heard from Atoll until Illian (2003). Ilian-J’entends gronder la
terre was initially issued under the name Atoll, but the latest edition now
says Chris Beya Atoll. This is a fine symphonic prog album, though you can’t
listen to it with the expectation of hearing 70’s
Atoll, for this is a different band. While there are plenty of keyboards, the
band is lead by a guitarist and so the arrangements are usually somewhat
guitar-centric. Once your expectations have been recalibrated, this is very
enjoyable; the Yes influence and some of the old Atoll magic is still there.
Chris Audren - Gwen Menez ($11.99)
SALE!Chris Audren is a composer/musician who recorded Opus One,
his first solo album in 1995, a melodic rock album with beautiful instrumental parts, close to GTR. Gwen
Menez (2002) represents a complete change in style. This is outstanding instrumental Celtic-influenced
music, both rock and atmospheric new age, heavily influenced by Mike Oldfield though a bit more
keyboard-oriented and drawing from the Breton tradition. Multi-instrumentalist Audren
adds many Celtic instruments to his mix, which is definitely progressive and
symphonic. Like Oldfield’s works, Gwen Menez is full of great melodies,
counter-melodies, and infectious rhythms, and any fan of Oldfield will likely
fall in love with this album. 71-minutes.
The
Black Noodle Project - Play Again ($15.99)
The Black Noodle Project is a Parisian progressive rock quartet who sing
in English, formed in 2001 by guitarist/singer Jérémie Grima. They are deeply
influenced by Pink Floyd. Their music is both atmospheric and dynamic, with
warm, moody vocals and a predominant emotion of quiet despair. Following their
2005 debut, there were a few lineup changes for Play Again (2006, 60-minutes), with a second
guitarist added and guests on violin and sax and a female vocalist. The Pink Floyd influence is still very
strong, but Play Again shows more of a distinct personality and greater
intensity than their debut, with some heavy riffs balancing the band’s more
melancholy and atmospheric tendencies.
Alain
Blesing - Songs from the Beginning ($15.99)
Alain Blesing is a French guitarist known for
having been part of the progressive rock band Eskaton, considered as one of the
most gifted disciples of Magma. After Eskaton, he studied musicology and moved
into jazz and improvisation. Now firmly established on the French scene, Blesing returns to his roots and publishes a
CD
of covers, recorded in the club Le Triton with eight other musicians. Songs from the Beginning
(2007, 67-minutes) presents legendary songs such as Slightly All the Time (Soft
Machine), Beautiful as the Moon (Henry Cow), California (Led
Zeppelin), Mumps (Hatfield and the North), 1983 (Jimi Hendrix),
Behind Blue Eyes (The Who) and Fracture (King Crimson), with even the
non-Canterbury songs done in Canterbury style. Blesing’s notoriety helped
attract John Greaves and Hugh Hopper, who respectively assume singing and bass
duties here. As Blesing remarks in the liner notes, the audience reaction showed
that Canterbury music is still popular, and not simply as nostalgia.
Jean Pascal Boffo -
Infini ($14.99)
Jean Pascal Boffo - Rituel ($15.99)
Jean Pascal Boffo is a French progressive artist of prodigious talent who has
consistently explored new directions over the course of his career. He was in
fact the first artist signed by Musea. Jeux de Nains (1986) is his
beautiful and more personal first album, a collection of mostly shorter pieces
influenced by Anthony Phillips and Steve Hackett. Boffo plays guitar, bass, and
percussion, while two other musicians assist on synths and percussion. On his
1987 2nd album Carillons, his band is expanded to a
quartet and the result is a higher-energy album close to
Steve Hackett’s music, electric and orchestral. Rituel (1991), his
third, is a stunning Enid-like symphonic work, employing a large number of
musicians on classical instruments.
Offrande (1995, digipack) is an adept synthesis of progressive rock, fusion, and ethnic music, beautifully structured, arranged, and orchestrated. Parfum d’Etoiles (2000) is one of Boffo’s best. The big change on this album is the addition of a great female vocalist, singing in both French and English. As usual, Boffo gathers a host of quality musicians around him on a variety of instruments, and Boffo’s guitar playing is superb, a bit of a French version of Steve Hackett. This is mature progressive rock with classical and jazz influences perfectly integrated.
For Boffo’s 8th album (2004, digipack), he’s turned
the “8” on its side, thus the title Infini (Infinity). Once again, Boffo
is exploring new directions. Here he handles everything himself: guitars,
sequences, keyboards, samples, and loops. Everything is propelled by rhythm
loops that are of the alien-sounding variety, rarely mimicking acoustic drums.
The result is a jazz-tinged electronica with a consistent character: hypnotic,
dreamlike, generally with a dark and slightly uneasy ambience, a muted energy
that creates an otherworldly feel. The sound is not predominantly electronic
though, as Boffo’s various guitar tones are the most prominent textures, and the
sophisticated harmonic vocabulary (the clearest link to Boffo’s last few albums)
makes this far more musical than most music that relies on loops and samples.
Fans of Robert Fripp’s work will find a kindred spirit in Jean Pascal Boffo.
The Bollenberg Experience - If Only Stones Could Speak ($15.99)This is an all-star project assembled by singer and rock journalist John
Bollenberg, who composed the music along with Swedish guitarist Bjorn Johansson.
Among the contributors are Rick Wakeman, Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Pär
Lindh (who also produced the album), Bryan Josh and Heather Findlay (Mostly
Autumn), Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings), and William Kopecky
(Kopecky), as well as a choir. This concept album is described as a musical
journey through myths and legends of medieval Brugge (Bruges), the magical
Belgian town that may be the best preserved medieval city in Europe. Bollenberg
acquits himself adequately as a singer, even if his voice is unlikely to give
anyone goose bumps. Some excellent performances as you’d expect from these
musicians, to go with an intriguing medieval-flavored prog album.
Christian Boule - Photo Musik ($12.99)This is the reissue of Boule’s 1978 album originally on Virgin plus two 1998 bonus tracks. Christian Boule was the
guitarist for Clearlight, and his first solo album is in the style of Clearlight,
Steve Hillage, Tim Blake, and Gong, all of whom Boule actually worked with.
While the album is half-instrumental, there are some Gong-style trippy female
vocals, though there is more music and less nonsense here than Gong. Cyrille
Verdeaux, the Clearlight leader, appears on the album along with six other
musicians, while Tim Blake plays on the two bonus tracks.
François Bréant -
Voyeur Extra-Lucide ($15.99)Voyeur Extra-Lucide (1979), the 2nd of Bréant’s two albums, is a unique
blend of electronic music and progressive rock with jazz-rock and classical
influences, difficult to categorize but still quite accessible, with a
particular emphasis on the analog keyboard sounds. It features Didier Lockwood
on violin, Stella Vander and Klaus Blasquiz on vocals, Jean Michel Kajdan on
guitar, and a large number of other French musicians. Bréant liked to include
many different styles and influences on his albums, and the results remain quite
unique to this day. The first track, Poursuite sur le Périphérique Nord (Chase Along the North Beltway) is a favorite, such joie de vivre. This CD reissue includes three bonus tracks.
Patrick Broguière -
Mont Saint-Michel ($15.99)
SALE!Patrick Broguière is a talented keyboard player and
multi-instrumentalist (guitar, violin, flute, recorder). While his
instrumentation is often electronic, his music is closer to progressive rock of
the romantic symphonic persuasion, somewhere between Jean-Pascal Boffo’s Rituel
album, Mike Oldfield’s Ommadawn, and the group Changing
Images. Icones (1996) also features a
singer and a sax player. On
Mont Saint-Michel (1998), Broguière
is assisted by a large cadre of musicians, including a drummer and a beautiful
female voice, making this his most symphonic progressive album and the one to
start with. There are liberal classical and medieval influences.
Carpe Diem - En Regardant Passer le Temps
($15.99)Classics from one of the top French symphonic progressive bands ever. En Regardant Passer le Temps
is from 1976, with remastering performed in 1994 to clean up the sound for
this CD reissue. Cueille le Jour (1977)
features one bonus track. Carpe Diem was a highly original and extraordinarily creative
progressive band that should be considered alongside PFM, Caravan, and Camel.
Philippe Cauvin - Memento ($11.99)
SALE!Regarded as one of the most brilliant French guitar virtuosos, known as a onetime rock guitarist who fell in love with the classical guitar, Philippe Cauvin is one of the most authentic artists of the world’s progressive scene, a musician who has written poignant, previously unheard melodies. Leader of the band Uppsala, Cauvin is above all an innovative acoustic guitarist who created a unique style for his instrument: a strange mix of rock, early music, and contemporary music. The most unusual aspect of his albums is his voice, a counter-tenor (a falsetto with strength) singing imaginary words meant to evoke dreams.
Climage is the CD reissue of Cauvin’s 1982 solo album. Mixing medieval
flavors and contemporary sounds, Cauvin invented an inspired blend of church
prayer and progressive rock. Instrumentally, the main instrument is Cauvin’s classical guitar, but he
has invented a new role for it. He adds electric guitar at times, and on some
tracks is assisted by Serge Korjanevski on synths, a percussionist, and a
drummer (on one track). Climage was the result of five years of composing and performing,
during and after Cauvin’s work with Uppsala. The album received unanimous
acclaim from the French music press. It’s music from another planet, not
comparable to anything else, beautiful, eerie and moving. Five bonus tracks take
the CD up to 58-minutes. Memento (1984) goes one step beyond Climage.
It presents an ambitious epic composition, a 20-minute suite for classical
guitar, guitar-synth and voices. Serge Korjanevski again assists on keyboards.
Five unreleased bonus tracks are included, recorded in 1980, 1989 and 1996.
Adventurous, fascinating, mystical, and with that unusual voice, unlike anything
else. 63-minutes.
Guillaume
Cazenave - Dizziness - Liah's Saga N°2/4 ($11.99)
SALE!This 2000 instrumental album from a French composer is difficult to compare
to anyone else. The music is a dark, intense, even sinister progressive rock,
very dense most of the time, with lots of samples in the mix.
Chance - Escape to Horizon ($15.99)An absolutely gorgeous instrumental symphonic progressive album from 2000. Keyboards and classical guitar build
majestic cathedrals of sound over which melodic electric guitar leads soar,
courtesy of Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings), J.L. Payssan (Minimum Vital), and
others. 64-minutes of rapture.
Citadel -
Pluies Acides ($14.99)
On Musea Parallèle (no one can figure out what
the organizing principle of this sub-label is), this is the 2nd album by
a French trio of guitar/vocals, bass and drums, with a female singer on two
tracks and two of the members adding some piano and organ. It’s an energetic
rock album with touches of metal. Progressive influences are slight until the
final track which, in complete contrast to the rest, is a sophisticated
orchestral piece. Lyrics in both French and English. 66-minutes, digipack.
Clearlight -
Infinite Symphony ($12.99)
Clearlight - Forever Blowing Bubbles ($12.99)
Cyrille Verdeaux - Inner Peace Concerto ($12.99)
Cyrille Verdeaux & P. Menestreyl - Tribal Hybrid Concept ($9.99)
One of the classic French 1970’s progressive bands, led by keyboardist Cyrille Verdeaux and featuring many luminaries of the French scene. A hallmark of their style is the mix of classical romanticism and space influences. Clearlight became the first French progressive rock band signed to a major British label, namely Virgin Records. Clearlight Symphony (1974, mini-LP sleeve) features Tim Blake, Steve Hillage, Christian Boule, Gilbert Artman, and Didier Malherbe. Forever Blowing Bubbles (1975), their 2nd, includes three bonus tracks. It features jazz-rock mixed with spaciness and includes Joel Dugrenot, David Cross, Artman, and Boule. Les Contes du Singe Fou (1976) is their 3rd and most symphonic progressive work and is our favorite. It again features Dugrenot on bass along with Didier Lockwood on violin and Tim Blake on synths. Visions (1978) features Lockwood, Boule, and Malherbe on the sessions along with many others. It blends classical, jazz-rock, and Indian music into a progressive mélange. The CD features seven bonus tracks!
Infinite Symphony was recorded in 2003 and features a digipack design with artwork by Paul Whitehead. As Cyrille Verdeaux has made his home in California for many years, Clearlight now features a mostly American lineup, with the late Shaun Guerin on drums on this album, plus the venerable Didier Malherbe on flute and sax on several tracks. Despite the passage of time, this sounds like vintage Clearlight, with the addition of Shaun’s very Peter Gabriel-like vocals on one track. 67-minutes.
Rhapsodies Pour la Planete Bleue (62-minutes) represents the fifth chakra in the Kundalini Opera. This is a 2004 release, and it appears to be a substantially different album from the 1989 album of the same name, though the cover art is nearly the same. Verdeaux has an annoying habit of releasing albums with the same name as previous albums that are not the same album, and one or two of you will recall that something called The Kundalini Opera was already released on six cassettes by Eurock in the 1980’s. Well, if you don’t own the older albums, you’ve been spared a lot of confusion. The music on Rhapsodies... is classic Verdeaux, a more symphonic, less rhythmic version of Clearlight that revolves even more so around his classical piano, with assistance from Dallas Smith, Christian Boule, Jean-Philippe Rykiel, and others. Inner Peace Concerto (2003) is the seventh chakra in the Kundalini Opera. It is composed for piano and orchestra, the orchestra realized on the Kurzweil 2600 synth, and explores many of the same themes as Clearlight’s Infinite Symphony album. 61-minutes.
Ethnicolors (1999) utilizes ethnic chants and samples in conjunction with tribal and house grooves to create a sound we’ll call techno-progressive. Tribal Hybrid Concept (1999) represents the first chakra in the Kundalini Opera and is a companion piece to Ethnicolors. It again features chants of native peoples around the globe along with some wild animal sounds on top of programmed rhythms (some techno) and Verdeaux’s synths. Journey to Tantraland (2001) is the second chakra in the Kundalini Opera and is cosmic electronic music featuring Verdeaux on synths with Dallas Smith on bamboo flute and lyricon. Note most of the mp3 icons above also link to RealAudio samples.
Cos -
Pasiones ($15.99)Cos was a Belgian band active during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Musea re-released
Postaeolian Train Robbery (1974) and Viva Boma (1976) on CD, and
in 2005 they re-released the band’s 4th album Pasiones (1983) on CD.
It’s a mini-opera, based on the story of three soldiers during the Spanish civil
war. The vocals are a mix of Spanish, French, English, German, and Dutch. The
music is a blend of rock, jazz, classical, and folk music in Cos’s unique and
slightly bizarre style. The band uses complex arrangements, lyrical female
vocals, and subtle instrumental combinations. They are often grouped with
Magma and Zao, but Cos have their own style: lighter, whimsical, with a sense
of humor and charm. This 78-minute CD includes more than 35 minutes of bonus music,
including a concert in Toulouse in 1984, a rehearsal from 1981, plus Hotel
Atlantic and Très joli from their 1984 EP.
Thierry Crusem - Les Couloirs de L’amer Etonnant ($11.99)
SALE!Thierry Crusem is a singer and producer who has
worked for ten years with several French rock bands. This album with his
band Le Zipo System sounds similar to Ange, not a symphonic album like Ange’s 1970’s output, but
more progressive than their 1980’s output. Assisted by talented and experienced
guests such as Thierry Sidhoum (Ange) and Jean-Pascal Boffo, Thierry Crusem
offers a powerful, complex, and dense rock music with sophisticated, often
progressive arrangements. His expressive singing is bound to remind listeners of
Ange’s Christian Decamps. 72-minutes, digipack.
Dragon - same ($15.99)This 1976 Belgian album sounds earlier than that date, between psychedelic
and hard progressive rock, with a somewhat crude sound, though that is part of
its charm. They use a wide range of instruments including vocals, guitar,
synths, piano, Hammond, Mellotron, flute, brass, sax, bass and drums.
Drama - Stigmata of Change ($15.99)French band Drama began as a very good symphonic progressive band in the Edhels vein,
releasing their first two CDs in 1996 and 1998. They returned in 2005 with Stigmata of Change,
with a new singer and all songs sung in English. Stigmata of Change is on the
Cyclops label, who describe this CD as “a classy sophisticated affair, a concept
album portraying a story of unrequited love… a big
symphonic feel mixed with lovely intelligent songs and some long instrumental
passages. The keyboard work has some fine textures and sounds reminding one at
times of Tony Banks’ work in mid-period Genesis. Mix this with a slightly later
Pink Floyd feel generated by fine guitar work and a touch of Pineapple Thief and
you have an idea of the sound of this great new opus.” We sense that Cyclops was
struggling to describe this album, and it is difficult as Drama are not copying
any well-worn style here. It is different from their first two CDs, more modern
sounding and often more “open”. That is, there is greater use of space, texture,
and atmosphere, the way Peter Gabriel’s music is and Genesis’ music isn’t. Or
wasn’t. But Drama switch gears often and do launch into traditional
symphonic progressive instrumental passages or lush vocal sections. It’s one of
those albums that only reveals itself after repeated listens, with enough depth
and originality to reward the effort. 64-minutes.
Dr Folamour - same ($11.99)
SALE!This 1995 album is mostly-instrumental progressive rock with world music
influences, featuring guitar, flute, violin, keys, bass and drums, close at times to Peter
Gabriel or the later Jean Pascal Boffo albums.
Eclat - Le Cri de la Terre ($15.99)The 2002 CD from this French symphonic progressive band features a Paul Whitehead cover.
About five years had passed since the previous Eclat studio CD, and the band
made great strides in that time. Mostly instrumental, this album is their best
in what is now a fairly long career, with both keys and guitar providing
excitement in equal measure.
Edhels - Universal ($12.99)
Edhels is a French band best known for their Oriental Christmas and
Still Dream albums from the 1980’s. Since then Edhels and guitarist Marc
Ceccotti have released a number of albums that have failed to reach the same
level and that rarely sound the same as one another. Universal is the
“lost” 1998 live album that was not released until 2005. It again sounds
different than any other Edhels album. For one, these are all new tracks written
between 1995-1998. Aside from the obvious live feel, this one has vocals
throughout, a new feature for Edhels. Singer Jean-Marc Bastianelly sings in fine
English, and there are some female vocals in spots. The music is less symphonic
than the best Edhels, with more of a hard fusion edge. One might confuse Edhels
for an American band on this CD. Marc Ceccotti is a fine guitarist, and his
playing is as usual the highlight.
Edition Speciale - Horizon Digital ($15.99)
Allée des Tilleuls (1976) is the CD reissue of the first Edition Speciale album.
Three bonus tracks are included which were demos for this album. Their first album is full of vocals and is surprisingly melodic, a
uniquely French style of progressive rock with fusion overtones and a slight
funk touch. Listening to this, it becomes evident where the roots of Minimum Vital’s vocal style lie. Those familiar with the later Minimum Vital albums can
use them as a reference point, though of course this album is a product of its
time and so has much more of a 70’s sound. Edition Speciale were a quartet of
keys, guitar, bass, and drums, with three members singing. The keys rely heavily
on Fender Rhodes but also include ARP Odyssey, a modular Oberheim, and organ.
Vocals are in both English and French, more so the latter.
Aliquante (1977) is the CD reissue of the second Edition Speciale album, with two bonus tracks. With this album, Edition Speciale emerged as one of the most important French jazz-rock bands, influenced both by American fusion (e.g., Return to Forever, Weather Report) and British progressive rock. The song and funk aspects of their first album have largely disappeared, with vocals used only on the 2nd half of the album. The music is more in the vein of Brand X and fellow Frenchmen Spheroe.
The CD reissue of the third Edition Speciale album
Horizon Digital (1978) adds five 1980 bonus tracks, demos for a fourth
album that was never released. Horizon Digital is in the same style as Aliquante
and is generally regarded as their best album. With the addition of
percussionist Mireille Bauer (Gong) to the lineup, Edition Speciale had two
female members, which may be unequaled by any other fusion band. Essential French fusion.
Elephant
and Castle - The Green One ($9.99)
SALE!This 1991 CD represents the only output of a French neo-prog quintet singing
in English. The album is somewhere between the styles of Machiavel and IQ. Its
slight quirkiness makes it very endearing. Unfortunately the CD is only
27-minutes long, but that’s all they wrote! Long out-of-print.
Elohim - Mana Perdu ($11.99)
SALE!Elohim was, along with Edhels, one of the top 1980’s French progressive
bands. This CD includes all of Elohim’s recorded output: the complete Mana
Perdu album, originally released as a self-produced LP in 1983; Ego,
recorded in 1987 for the Musea compilation Enchantement; two tracks
recorded live during rehearsals; and an independent recording made after the
release of the album. The band was often compared to Ange for their theatrical
singing, but Atoll may be the better comparison, especially their Tertio
album. Half of Elohim went on to form the band Hecenia.
Enneade -
Remembrance ($15.99)
The 2006 debut by this young French band could be called prog-metal, but it
may be unfair to condemn it to the prog-metal bin, as the outbursts of metal are
infrequent. It is more of a dark progressive album that is certainly colored by
the band’s metal mindset, but the music has acoustic, melodic, and peaceful
moments, varying all the way to pastoral Genesis-like 12-string passages. Just
four long tracks ranging from 9:30 to 17:49, sung in English.
Exclusive Raja - Off the Map ($11.99)
SALE!
SALE!Exclusive Raja is a French progressive quartet. Off the Map (1994) and Insubmersible (1995)
both feature a mix of instrumental and vocal tracks, with almost all of the
vocals in English. Instrumentally they owe a debt to Robert Fripp and King
Crimson, but there is also a lot of their own style of rock and jazz-rock, the
net result being more melodic and flowing than King Crimson. The vocals are
understated and melancholy (think Camel). Off the Map is the more vocal
and song-oriented of the two albums and features a 5-minute song called The
Beatles Complete. It’s all quality music.
Exode -
D’ici et D’Ailleurs ($15.99)Exode is a new French band led by Roland Lelong,
a French singer and songwriter who once shared the stage with Ange. Six other musicians complete Exode’s line-up, including a female
singer/flute player. Their 2005 debut D’ici et D’ailleurs is directly
connected to the golden age of French progressive rock (the 1970’s), stylistically
between Ange and Mona Lisa. Roland’s theatrical singing; the Mellotron, organ
and piano; the flute and the acid-toned guitar are the focal points of
this album. At 72-minutes long, this is like discovering an unknown double-LP of prime French
sympho-prog.
Ex-Vagus - Âmes Vagabondes ($16.99)
Ex-Vagus is a French band founded in 1995. In France they have the reputation
of being the logical successor to Ange, and in fact, Ange’s leader Christian
Decamps sings on one song here.
There are always going to be some non-French speakers who feel that any symphonic rock
sung in French sounds like Ange, and though there are many similarities between
Ange and the music on Âmes Vagabondes (2006), there are also many differences. In addition to Ange, the
band lists their influences as Galaad, Atoll, Marillion, King Crimson, Genesis,
Pink Floyd, and Dream Theater. The music is both emotional and powerful.
Listeners who find Ange too “French” for their tastes will likely find Ex-Vagus
more to their liking. Ex-Vagus is one of the best bands to emerge from France recently, and yes, they could be
considered the successors not only to Ange but to Mona Lisa, Atoll, and any
other French symphonic progressive band you care to name. 61-minutes.
Finnegans Wake - Pictures ($14.99)This Belgian quartet, augmented by many guests including violin, cello,
flute, trumpet, oboe, etc., mixes jazz-rock and chamber music and is recommended
especially to fans of Univers Zero, Present, and Art Zoyd. Pictures is from 2001.
Fugu - Harmonia Maudit ($11.99)
SALE!Fugu is a band formed by Philippe Troïsi (guitars) and Thierry Massé (keyboards), members of the French
band Eclat, plus a bassist and drummer. Their 2000 first album is not exactly in the
same vein as Eclat. These nine instrumental pieces mix jazz-rock a la Allan
Holdsworth or Brand X (and every bit as good) with progressive guitar-oriented
music, a bit in the vein of Tiemko. The very soulful electric guitar leads are the highlight.
The
Fusion Project - Code Name: Fusion Project ($11.99)
SALE!This is the 2006 debut by an international all-star band consisting of
drummer Mel Gaynor, in-demand session keyboardist
Stephane
Deriau-Reine, and bass player Jan Olof Strandberg. Gaynor performs drum
clinics around the world for Ludwig drums and has played with many big name pop
stars. Strandberg is often named the top bass player in Finland by musician
magazines. Several other musicians assist, including guitarists and a singer on
one track. The rest of the album is instrumental, with each member contributing
compositions. Hopefully you’ve guessed that this is a fusion album, and over the
course of the CD’s 74-minutes, The Fusion Project cover most of what one expects
from the genre. A few of the tracks are actually (progressive) rock, and by and
large this stays on firm melodic ground. There probably wasn’t a better
mainstream fusion album during 2006.
Pierre Moerlen’s Gong -
Pentanine ($15.99)Pierre Moerlen, the drummer/percussionist from Strasbourg, passed away in
2005. The posthumously-released studio album Pentanine was recorded in
St. Petersburg, Russia in 2002 with Moerlen’s band consisting of Russian
musicians on electric guitar, bass, and keyboards. Most progressive fans know
how Moerlen took over Gong and transformed it from a psychedelic band into a very melodic
instrumental jazz-rock band with a unique style. That style had a lot to do with Moerlen’s vibraphone driving the songs but also the influence of Moerlen’s time
spent in Mike Oldfield’s band. The thirteen instrumental pieces on Pentanine
(61-minutes) are full of the trademark groove, power, and sophistication of
Pierre Moerlen’s Gong, with a few more hypnotic or peaceful moments
interspersed. The final chapter in the career of this very creative musician is
another excellent album.
Gozzozoo - Pictures of the New World ($11.99)
SALE!1998 CD from a French instrumental fusion band led by ex-members of Neo and
Atoll, with an appearance by American bass player Stuart Hamm. Using lots
of keyboards and blending progressive rock with their jazz-rock, this is often
comparable to Kenso.
Green Space - Behind ($11.99)
SALE!A little-known French melodic symphonic prog CD from 1990, with vocals in
both French and English. The French-language tracks may remind listeners of 90’s
Ange, while the English-language tracks suggest Tai Phong or Machiavel.
Halloween - Le Festin ($15.99)
Halloween - Laz ($15.99)
A superb French progressive band, lyrical
and romantic. The Halloween sound is dominated by violin and keyboards, with
guitar, bass, and drums completing the lineup. Their music is full of darkness
and tension that resolves into beautiful climaxes. The CD reissue of Part One
(1988) adds two live bonus tracks. Laz (1989), their 2nd, is
still their classic. Merlin (1994), their 3rd, was the first to add
female vocals. The music here is not as dark nor as violent as on the previous
two albums, but it is more orchestrated and theatrical. Silence... is their
1998 live album, which includes a Van der Graaf Generator cover. Le Festin (2001) continues in a similar style to Merlin,
with (mostly) female vocals in both English and French, the music not as dark
nor as violent as on the first two albums but rather more orchestrated and
theatrical.
Hardscore
- Monkey Trial ($15.99)
The 2004 third album by this Belgian ensemble sounds like an opera performed by
Frank Zappa (mid-to-late 1970’s period). The music is intricate and composed but
is as often humorous and playful as serious, and all things considered, not
inaccessible. Performed by female and male voices (in English), piano, marimba,
synths, saxes, bass, and drums, it’s a very original concoction. 71-minutes.
Hecenia - Legendes ($15.99)Wonderful, lush Genesis-inspired albums from one of the best 2nd-generation French progressives. Legendes
was originally released on LP in 1989 and was an instant classic. Three of the
four long tracks were remixed and had the guitar parts replaced in 1991. The
guitar got a lot louder, not necessarily for the better. La Couleur du Feu
is from 1994.
Horde
Catalytique Pour la Fin - Gestation Sonore ($14.99)Mellow Records has reissued this impossibly rare LP from the Futura label,
recorded in 1971 in Nice, France by an improvisational quartet. This is
avant-garde sound collage, free jazz, and general weirding-off, with the sax
making various unpleasant noises over a musical bed of clanking chains and
slamming doors. To truly appreciate this, it probably helps to be insane.
Hot
Fur - same ($14.99)
Despite the less-than-promising band name and album cover, this is an excellent
album of progressive music from an Israeli musical-theatrical ensemble founded
by guitarist/composer Lior Frenkel. This is their first album, recorded in 1998,
remixed and remastered for this 2005 Musea CD, with extra tracks added. Hot
Fur’s music is difficult to compare to other bands. It is somewhere between
progressive rock, jazz, and experimental music, heavily instrumental but with
some beautiful female vocals, male vocals and spoken word, all in Hebrew, though
all the liner notes are in English. There is a strong Canterbury element,
especially Hatfield and the North. The playing
is precise and intricate but the music is not inaccessible. Quite the contrary,
the melodies make it easy to get into. Zappa lovers will appreciate Hot Fur’s
lively rhythms and humor, but these compositions are original and unique.
Everything is highly-arranged and doesn’t rely on improvisation (except for one
of the extra tracks, which is the only pure jazz-rock track on the CD). The band
includes guitars, keys, woodwinds, trumpet, bass and drums. High marks to Hot
Fur for making such original progressive rock while retaining melody, lyricism, and beauty.
Hÿdra
- This Famous Unknown ($14.99)Hydra was initially a prog-metal band from the French Alps who released one
album in 1996. Nine years later, the metal is gone and the band is a duo
featuring vocalist Sébastien Denarie and guitarist Pascal Lemoine. Lemoine
focuses on acoustic guitar, and there are synths, bass and drums coming from
somewhere, though they are uncredited. This Famous Unknown (2005) is a
concept album based on the story of an unknown soldier in World War I,
describing the destiny of a young conscript of unknown nationality, his joys,
his sorrows, his hopes and fears. The universal nature of this message led Hydra
to chose English for the lyrics. The music is progressive rock, sometimes close
to the acoustic side of Marillion, but the use of acoustic guitar where one might expect
distorted electric makes it a fairly original album. 59-minutes.
Hyperion -
The Cantos ($15.99)This 2006 CD is on Musea’s Gazul label, where they put the less accessible,
left-of-center stuff. Hyperion is a project by French multi-instrumentalist
Olivier Freche, former leader of the band Jade, inspired by Dan Simmons’ science
fiction novel. Freche is assisted by other musicians on violin, cello, double
bass, sax, drums and tabla. This work is mostly instrumental and nearly
unclassifiable, as there are great contrasts between some of the tracks. The
mood tends to be dark, somber, sometimes sinister. The music is often hypnotic
and slow, with detailed sound effects creating a dreamlike atmosphere. Parts of
it are classically-inspired -- the opening track is Rachmaninov -- while other
parts are intense, angular rock that owes at least something to King Crimson.
58-minutes, digipack.
Imago -
Derrière le Rideau ($14.99)This is the CD reissue of a 1978 LP. Imago was a very special French band,
inspired by Anglo-Saxon rock as well as French pop. They toured heavily in
France in the late 1970’s, with much success. They sang humorous and ironic
lyrics about their society. Derrière le rideau is their third album; it’s
notable that the band recorded a fifth album in the late 1990’s. These ten songs
are a mix of folk and rock, acoustic and electric, always dynamic, inspired and
moving. We’re glad that Musea is reissuing albums such as this, that probably
won’t sell well outside of the French-speaking world. This album would be only
half as interesting were it sung in English, as the mellifluous French vocals
and a unique French romanticism are what make it special.
Isopoda - Acrostichon ($11.99)
SALE!Reissues with bonus tracks of the late 1970’s albums from the
Belgian Genesis. Isopoda sang in English, and the vocal
melodies and harmonies often show a Beach Boys influence -- they are well-crafted
and a great deal of thought went into them -- something of a lost art these days. For fans of melodic symphonic progressive, Isopoda’s CDs are highly recommended.
Ken’s
Novel - Domain of Oblivion ($15.99)
Ken’s Novel is a Belgian neo-progressive band with vocals in excellent
English. Their first album The Guide (1999) is comparable in style to
the Belgian band Now, strong on melodies and vocal harmonies. You’ll hear
vestiges of classic Yes and Trick of the Tail-era Genesis mixed in with contemporary sounds. Still alive five years
later, the concept album Domain of Oblivion (2004) continues the story of Ken.
With a new bass player and keyboardist, Ken’s Novel is now a bit more prog-metal
oriented in places, but they’re still primarily a prog band. And they’ve gotten
better. They retain their melodic sense and eclecticism throughout this
impressive 77-minute set, led by a very professional and talented singer, but
with plenty of instrumental complexity and imaginative use of modern techniques.
La Rossa - A Fury of Glass ($15.99)CD reissue of a classic French 1970’s symphonic progressive album, with subtle
influences of Van der Graaf Generator, Yes, and Gentle Giant integrated with their own style.
Four bonus tracks.
Lazuli -
En Avant Doute (CD+DVD, $22.99)
Musea is calling Lazuli “the most promising new French band in years”. After appearing at Baja Prog 2006 as a virtual unknown, Lazuli were immediately invited back for a more prominent slot at Baja Prog 2007, where they wowed the capacity crowd. This French group uses Chapman Stick, Warr Guitar, marimba, vibraphone, percussion, guitars, vocals, and a custom-designed instrument called the Léode. The Léode is, among other things, an electronic device, so it is responsible for the sounds that might otherwise be handled by keyboards. It produces a strange but beautiful sound for lead lines. En Avant Doute (2007) is a beautiful collection of sophisticated songs, succeeding in combining the suggestive power of words (in French) and the sophistication of the instrumentation. Lazuli play an atypical progressive rock that comes close to early Halloween in the generally dark atmospheres, symphonic power, and surreal, bewitching nature, and the Léode does to some extent play the same role as the violin in Halloween. Lazuli combine this with a Peter Gabriel style, and their melodies and textures are just different enough to make them a unique band that will win over much of the prog rock fan base. Ange lovers will appreciate the cover of the classic Capitaine Coeur de Miel. The DVD (NTSC, all-region) contains live performances of seven songs, the majority of which are not on the CD. There is also a 39-minute behind-the-scenes documentary, a music video of one song, and various other material.
Amnésie is Lazuli’s 2003 first CD, reissued
by Musea in 2006. The style here is similar, overall closer to being a French
Peter Gabriel, seemingly influenced most by atmospheric Gabriel tracks such as
San Jacinto. A good album, but start with the more powerful En Avant Doute. To locate the audio clips on
Lazuli’s Flash-based website, click the mp3 icon above, enter the site, click
“Images & Sons”, then click “Extraits”.
Alan Loo - Memories ($11.99)
SALE!On Memories (2001), Guitarist Alan Loo leads several other musicians
through 12 tracks of melodic instrumental symphonic progressive rock, with a nod
in the direction of Andy Latimer and Camel as well as Jean Pascal Boffo.
Lord of Mushrooms - same ($15.99)Lord of Mushrooms are part of the current rebirth of
French progressive rock. Their guitarist Laurent James was a student of Frédéric
l’Epee of Shylock and Philharmonie, and drummer Volodia Brice participated on
the fifth and last Philharmonie album. This quintet began as a cover band
playing tracks by Spock’s Beard, Genesis, Rush, Marillion, and Dream Theater
before creating their own music, so those influences are present in their music
to varying degrees. The approach on their 2002 debut album is quite American: the
tracks are both complex and catchy, the melodies simultaneously pleasant and
ambitious, and they are as adept at playing heavy rock as they are jazz-rock. They
have instrumental chops to spare, the English vocals are
clear (a bit similar to Jadis), and the production is perfect --
all the ingredients responsible for the success of bands such as IZZ or Echolyn.
These guys are really good!
Machiavel
- Virtual Sun ($14.99)
1999 comeback album by Belgium’s best-known symphonic progressive rock band.
Don’t expect another Jester or Mechanical Moonbeams (Machiavel’s
best albums, from the late 1970’s). Virtual Sun contains a hard-edged
progressive rock that is sometimes influenced by Roger Waters/Pink Floyd, while
at other times sounds a bit like a symphonic Led Zeppelin. Vocals in excellent English.
Magnesis -
L’immortel Opéra ($15.99)
Magnesis is a French progressive band formed in 1987. They use theatrical vocals a la Ange or Mona Lisa,
combined with an influence of Genesis and early Marillion. The band also has two
keyboard players, a guitarist, bassist and drummer. L’immortel Opéra
(2005) is their 6th, featuring complex arrangements and tense, dark atmospheres.
Maldoror -
L’Arbre-Cimetière ($15.99)
Maldoror is a French quartet, and their debut L’Arbre-Cimetière
(2004) is a very good 64-minute concept album in the Ange and Mona Lisa styles
but with some of the harder edge typical of modern prog. Lyrics in French.
Metabolisme -
Tempus Fugit ($15.99)One of the lesser-known gems of French progressive rock,
Tempus Fugit (1977) was the only album by Metabolisme, but it’s one of
the best French progressive rock albums of all time. The band was
influenced by Genesis, Yes, and PFM, and due to the French vocals, they have
been compared to Mona Lisa. Instrumentally that’s accurate enough, but the vocals eschew the dramatic and theatrical
style of Ange and Mona Lisa in favor of a more melodic style, with sophisticated vocal harmonies the likes of
which you just never hear today. Better French references are Pentacle and
Memoriance.
Mindgames - International Daylight ($15.99)The 2003 debut by a Belgian melodic symphonic progressive band singing in
English. Musea lists their influences as Yes, Pink Floyd, Marillion, Rush, Camel.
While those references are adequate for neophytes, those familiar with the
first-generation Benelux progressive bands should know that Mindgames’ sound and
style are closer to Machiavel, Isopoda, Flyte, and Phylter. 66-minutes.
Minimum Vital - Au Cercle de Pierre ($15.99)
Minimum Vital - Envol Triangles/Les Saisons Marines
($15.99)Minimum Vital is one of the very best French symphonic progressive bands currently active,
beginning as more of a fusion-prog instrumental band, adding their by now
characteristic medieval flavorings, later adding female vocals and finally male
vocals to complement the female vocals. Envol Triangles/Les Saisons Marines
reissues their first two albums (1985 and 1987) on one CD; these are all-instrumental. Sarabandes
(1990) is also instrumental and emphasizes the medieval touches. La Source
(1993) was the first Minimum Vital album to feature (female) vocals. Au Cercle de Pierre
(1998) is an excellent live album with additional CD-ROM multimedia content.
Vital
Duo/Minimum Vital - Le Jardin Hors du Temps DVD ($22.99)Vital Duo is the twin Payssan brothers, Thierry and Jean-Luc, the
keyboardist and guitarist and creative core of Minimum Vital. As Vital
Duo, they further develop the courtly, medieval rock style you can hear in
Minimum Vital’s work, some of the pieces actually using medieval sources. The
brothers handle drums, percussion, and vocals in addition to their usual
instruments, though their music is almost entirely instrumental. They still have
a knack for infectious melodies and lively rhythms. Ex Tempore (2001, 62-minutes) is their first and
only CD to date. The Le Jardin Hors du Temps DVD (NTSC, all-region)
presents nine pieces of music, seven of which are previously unreleased,
recorded live in a small chapel. What may not be apparent to fans is that this
DVD also contains the entire Le Mondes de Minimum Vital video, a 1994
performance by Minimum Vital, previously available only on VHS and now digitally remastered.
Jean-Luc
Payssan - Pierrots et Arlequins ($15.99)Jean-Luc Payssan is the guitarist of Minimum Vital and Vital Duo. His first
solo album Pierrots et Arlequins (2005) continues the medieval style
developed in Vital Duo but in a more acoustic direction. Jean-Luc is assisted by
his twin brother Thierry on vocals and synths (the only non-acoustic instruments
on the album) and singer Sonia from Minimum Vital, plus a violinist. Jean-Luc
sings and plays nylon classical guitar, theorbo (a kind of lute), acoustic
guitar, mandola, cittern, mandolin (the last three are similar instruments) and
percussion. Despite the three vocalists, the album is mostly instrumental. The
music is more intimate than Minimum Vital or Vital Duo, but its charm is
undeniable.
Motis - Live Crescendo ($15.99)
Motis’s unique style is at the crossroads of Malicorne and Ange. They combine music centered around French-language vocals and acoustic instruments such as flute, acoustic guitar, mandolin, cornemuse (a bagpipe), and bouzouki [the Malicorne aspect], with drums, Mellotron, and electric guitar [the Ange aspect]. As with Malicorne, there are elements of medieval and Celtic music. Motis have a characteristic French progressive style, so refreshing in this age of generic international bands singing in English with no trace of a national or regional identity.
Motis’s 2007 CD L’Homme-Loup is their most progressive to date, with more elaborate arrangements, melodies and production. Motis create medieval progressive rock with poetic French lyrics deeply influenced by the literature and myths of the middle ages. In addition to the Mellotron, there is now proggy Hammond organ, even some Genesis-style synth leads. The Mellotron choir alone is enough to get Motis barred from most folk festivals, but makes them heroes in progressive eyes. The result is a bit similar to Ange’s milestone Au-Delà Du Délire, but even more like the works of Tri Yann. (Tri Yann is a long-lived Breton progressive folk band who are criminally under-recognized outside France.) Fans of Minimum Vital’s medieval-flavored works should also relish Motis. This is an outstanding album that unfortunately will only appeal to a fraction of today’s prog rock fans. In other words, those who spend their days discussing Dream Theater in online forums may want to skip ahead (if they haven’t already). Motis is for the cognoscenti of progressive music.
Live Crescendo is a live CD recorded at the
Crescendo international progressive rock festival held in France in August of 2007.
The recording quality is excellent, and the live energy does make a difference.
There is a lot of flute on this CD, bringing Jethro Tull and other flute-led
bands to mind. This really is a unique blending of styles.
Moving Gelatine Plates - Removing ($15.99)
Moving Gelatine Plates is a well-known underground French band from the early
1970’s. They released two classic albums of high-energy progressive jazz-rock:
Moving Gelatine Plates (1971) and The World of Genius Hans (1972), plus
another in 1980 entitled Moving. Moving Gelatine Plates play refined,
subtle, clever, jazzy progressive rock in the Canterbury vein. The wealth of
strong melodies lends comparison to the Dutch band Supersister.
Now MGP
is back, and Removing (2006) is everything one could hope for in a
reunion album. Led by bassist Didier Thibaut, a group of seven skilled musicians
plus guests have created several songs and instrumentals with beautiful melodies, elaborate
arrangements, and subtle and surprising musical dialogues between sax, violin,
cello, trumpet, flute, and the standard prog rock instruments. The guests add some sax,
viola, oboe, and choir. The lyrics are in English, but instrumentals dominate.
This is a mix of quirky progressive rock,
progressive chamber rock, and symphonic jazz-rock, modern in production but inheriting the spirit
of 1970’s MGP.
Naos -
Naïf Le Rêveur ($11.99)