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Thread: French Prog listening project

  1. #1

    French Prog listening project

    My November 2019 French music listening project is complete. Lots of interesting and progressive music!!

    PLATINUM MEDAL
    Magma- Mekanik Destructiw Kommandoh

    GOLD MEDAL
    Ange- Au-Dela Du Delire
    Dun- Eros
    Eskaton- 4 Visions
    Magma- Kohntarkosz
    Magma- Udu Wudu

    SILVER MEDAL
    Forgas Band Phenomena- Acte V
    Forgas Band Phenomena- Live at NEARfest 2010
    Forgas Band Phenomena- L'Axe du Fou
    Heldon- Stand By
    Magma- Hhai Live
    Magma- KA
    Pulsar- Halloween

    BRONZE MEDAL
    Atoll- Musiciens Magiciens
    Atoll- L'Ariagnee-Mal
    Carpe Diem- En Regardant Passer Le Temps
    Eider Stellaire- I
    Forgas Band Phenomena- Soleil 12
    Heldon- Interface
    Magma- Emehntehtt-Re
    Magma- Felicite Thosz
    One Shot- Ewaz Vader
    Pinhas, Richard- Iceland
    Prat, Jean-Paul- Masal
    Pulsar- Strands of the Future
    Shylock- Ile de Fievre
    Weidorje- Weidorje
    Ukandanz- Awo
    Zao- Kawana

    HONORABLE MENTION
    Alco Frisbass- Le Bateleur
    Ange- Par Les Fils de Mandrin
    Ange- Emile Jacotey
    Ange- ?
    Arachnoid- Arachnoid
    Artcane- Odyssee
    Atoll- Tertio
    Carpe Diem- Cueille le jour
    Clearlight- Clearlight Symphony
    Clearlight- Forever Blowing Bubbles
    Etron Fou Leloublan- Les Trois Fous…
    Forgas Band Phenomena- L'Oreille Electrique
    Heldon- Allez-Teia
    Heldon- IV
    Jarre, Jean Michel - Equinoxe
    Jarre, Jean Michel - Oxygene
    Magma- Zess
    Magma- Attahk
    Magma- Slag Tanz
    Morglbl - Jazz for the Deaf
    Moving Gelatine Plates- The World of Genius Hans
    Pinhas, Richard- Rhizosphere
    Rialzu- Rialzu
    Shylock- Gialorgues
    Terpandre- Terpandre
    Transit Express- Priglacit
    Ukandanz- Yetchalal
    Vak- Budo
    Vander, Christian- Wurdah Itah
    Wurtemberg- Rock Fantasia Opus 9

    BEST NEW BAND AWARD
    Ukandanz

  2. #2
    Member Mr.Krautman's Avatar
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    Interesting list, albeit a little bit too Zeuhl oriented. Unfortunately there is not much to save in French Prog and even the "Big" names (Ange, Atoll,...) sounds very amateurish and cheaply produced according to the "standards" "of the time. They simply don't stand comparison with British, US, Italian or German prog. I have almost all the names in your list (and more) but if you really need French prog in your collection here's my (very personal and subjective) selection, the Ultimate Top Ten French Prog List:


    In no particular rating order:

    SANDROSE: Same
    PULSAR: Halloween
    ANGE: Au Delà Du Délire
    SHYLOCK: Ile De Fièvre
    EMMANUEL BOOZ: Dans Quel État J'Erre
    MAGMA: Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh
    EDITION SPECIALE: Aliquante
    TRAVELLING: Voici La Nuit Tombée
    WEIDORJE: Same
    MOVING GELATINE PLATES: The World Of Genius Hans

    I excluded French EM/Instrumental/Avant-prog... from this list but there are many gems to be found in this genre, much more than in "classic" French prog. (whatever that means)
    Last edited by Mr.Krautman; 11-30-2019 at 06:33 PM.

  3. #3
    overrated as per my ears: Asia Minor, Sandrose, Nebelnest

  4. #4
    Good way to spend a month.

    Clearlight Symphony is an all-time classic though .

    Also a very appropriate amount of Zeuhl!

  5. #5
    I liked Clearlight quite a bit but it did not MOVE me.... 11... a keeper still!

  6. #6
    Member Zeuhlmate's Avatar
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    Albert Marcoeur
    Potemkine
    Xing Sa
    Setna
    Dan Ar Braz
    Alan Stivell
    Art Zoyd
    Bernard Szajner

  7. #7
    Member TheH's Avatar
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    Love all of the above and also some newer bands

    Thork
    Nil
    Syrinx
    Halloween
    Guillaume Perret & The Electric Epic
    Poil
    Volapük
    Vak
    Shub-Niggurath
    and many more...

  8. #8
    Member Zeuhlmate's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TheH View Post
    Love all of the above and also some newer bands

    Thork
    Nil
    Syrinx
    Halloween
    Guillaume Perret & The Electric Epic
    Poil
    Volapük
    Vak
    Shub-Niggurath
    and many more...
    Oh yes - I forgot
    Shub Niggurath
    Vak
    Guillaume Perret
    Neo Museum
    and not the least:
    Poil, Piniol and related !

  9. #9
    Insect Overlord Progatron's Avatar
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    Shylock and Arachnoid's low placements made me a sad panda. I was also hoping to see Ange's Caricatures in there, that's my favourite of theirs.

    How about French Canadian December?
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  10. #10
    I'm here for the moosic NogbadTheBad's Avatar
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    From that list, ignoring Magma, my favorites are the Forgas, Dun, & Eskaton.

    Of those missing obviously the new Lyon scene of PoiL, ni, Piniol, Chromb, Kouma. Plus the Shub-Niggurath & Guillaume Perret & The Electric Epic, Volapuk.
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  11. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by Mr.Krautman View Post
    Unfortunately there is not much to save in French Prog and even the "Big" names (Ange, Atoll,...) sounds very amateurish and cheaply produced according to the "standards" "of the time. They simply don't stand comparison with British, US, Italian or German prog.
    This is simply your own opinion. Ange is a top progressive band, and the harsh production is more of an aesthetic choice than an indication of cheapness. Atoll has also produced 2 superb records.

    And why on earth would you exclude instrumental or Avant/Prog titles? Would you do the same with Area or Picchio Dal Pozzo from Italy or Soft Machine from UK? "Classic" French prog is not plain symphonic prog, sorry, it is a very peculiar idiom with strong connections with the French chanson, French psych, experimental music etc.

    Wapassou, Catherine Ribeiro, Vortex, Catharsis, Lard Free, so much incredibly inventive and quality music, just to mention some out of the top of my head.

  12. #12
    Eider Stellaire I & Cortex Tropeau Bleu!!

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Zappathustra View Post
    This is simply your own opinion. Ange is a top progressive band, and the harsh production is more of an aesthetic choice than an indication of cheapness. Atoll has also produced 2 superb records.

    And why on earth would you exclude instrumental or Avant/Prog titles? Would you do the same with Area or Picchio Dal Pozzo from Italy or Soft Machine from UK? "Classic" French prog is not plain symphonic prog, sorry, it is a very peculiar idiom with strong connections with the French chanson, French psych, experimental music etc.

    Wapassou, Catherine Ribeiro, Vortex, Catharsis, Lard Free, so much incredibly inventive and quality music, just to mention some out of the top of my head.
    I agree wholeheartedly with Zappathustra's comments above. There is much to "save" in French Prog and not just from Zeuhl. Atoll is solid stuff and the amateurish comment is not deserved. And a lot of great stuff by lesser known bands left off the list, particularly from the Jazz Rock aspect.

    I would move the following to Gold Medal:

    Heldon - Un Reve, Interface and Stand By
    Pinhaus - Iceland
    Pulsar - Strands and Halloween
    Shylock - Both albums
    Carpe Diem - Both albums

    Move to Silver Medal:

    Clearlight Symphony - Same
    Jarre - Oxygene
    Lard Free - III
    Arachnoid - Same
    Spheroe - Primadonna
    Roland Bocquet - Paradia
    Patchwork - Ouvertures
    Tai Phong - Same and Windows


    From a Bronze perspective I would go with Wapassou's Ludwig and Salammbo as well as Hydravion and some other releases by the aforementioned artists.

  14. #14
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    Well I like alot of French bands but I'm not seeing any of them in your list:
    Albert Marcoeur should be at the top (and I see one person ahs mentioned him)
    But I'd also add:
    Scherzoo
    Aquaserge
    Dustman Dilemma
    Camembert
    Tracteur
    and historically:
    ZNR
    Look de Bouk
    Klimperei
    Last edited by alanterrill; 12-01-2019 at 12:19 PM.

  15. #15
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    What about Didier Marouani's "Space"? - ok they are mainly disco, but there is some connectivity to J-M Jarre … definitely a guilty pleasure for in-car listening so far as I am concerned ...

  16. #16
    Insect Overlord Progatron's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by alanterrill View Post
    Aquaserge
    Good call. Love that band.
    Interviewer of reprobate ne'er-do-well musicians of the long-haired rock n' roll persuasion at: www.velvetthunder.co.uk and former scribe at Classic Rock Society. Only vaguely aware of anything other than music.

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  17. #17
    Ange's strength is not only in the music, but also in the overall magic conveyed by the lyrics and the theatrical aspect. Of course, some part of that magic is lost when one doesn't understand the lyrics (although some of them are quite surrealistic and thus not meant to be strictly understood).
    The rather primitive sound of the first records can be off-putting, but it also contributes to the archaic / surrealistic atmosphere of the experience. IMHO of course.

  18. #18
    For my taste, Zeuhl was the best thing to come out of French Prog. The symphonic bands just didn't have the same sophistication as the English, Italian or many of the Scandinavian bands did. However, it might simply be my taste in that sort of sound that leans towards the Italian bands rather than the French.

    I do like your list and will check out Ukandanz on your recommendation.
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  19. #19
    Member TheH's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Splicer View Post
    I do like your list and will check out Ukandanz on your recommendation.
    You should very wild and heavy jazzy rock with Ethiopian vocals.

    Last edited by TheH; 12-01-2019 at 01:12 PM.

  20. #20
    Quote Originally Posted by Splicer View Post
    However, it might simply be my taste in that sort of sound that leans towards the Italian bands rather than the French.
    .
    If you are not familiar already, I would suggest Carpe Diem.

  21. #21
    Member Mr.Krautman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Zappathustra View Post
    This is simply your own opinion. Ange is a top progressive band, and the harsh production is more of an aesthetic choice than an indication of cheapness. Atoll has also produced 2 superb records.

    And why on earth would you exclude instrumental or Avant/Prog titles? Would you do the same with Area or Picchio Dal Pozzo from Italy or Soft Machine from UK? "Classic" French prog is not plain symphonic prog, sorry, it is a very peculiar idiom with strong connections with the French chanson, French psych, experimental music etc.

    Wapassou, Catherine Ribeiro, Vortex, Catharsis, Lard Free, so much incredibly inventive and quality music, just to mention some out of the top of my head.
    I didn't excluded or dismissed Avant/Prog/Experimental artists but my short list included only what is usually considered as "standard" or "classic" prog. Actually the names you mentioned are amongst the best ones and I love (and own) them all. Please read (and quote) my post in full, where I wrote:

    ...there are many gems to be found in this genre, much more than in "classic" French prog. (whatever that means)

    ... and my "top" list also included a tittle from ANGE, but I'm not convinced that that their crappy sound, poor production and (technically) amateurish play is a deliberate artistic aesthetic choice. Atoll is just passable (at best) but when they are trying to play jazz-rock/fusion they become pathetic since they obviously don't have the chops.
    Last edited by Mr.Krautman; 12-01-2019 at 01:32 PM.

  22. #22
    Member TheH's Avatar
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    Tons of great stuff to be found in France

    some that deserve a mention

    Ripaille - La vieille que l'on brûla
    Pentacle
    Memoriance

  23. #23
    Member Zeuhlmate's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TheH View Post
    You should very wild and heavy jazzy rock with Ethiopian vocals.

    Bass player and drummer are from from Poil !

  24. #24
    Member TheH's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Zeuhlmate View Post
    Bass player and drummer are from from Poil !
    Cool, I didn't knew that.

  25. #25
    Member Kcrimso's Avatar
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    Best current prog from France:

    PoiL
    PinioL
    In Love With
    Different projects by Theo Ceccaldi
    Yolk
    Magma (they are still relevant!)
    Setna
    Guillaume Perret & The Electric Epic
    My progressive music site: https://pienemmatpurot.com/ Reviews in English: https://pienemmatpurot.com/in-english/

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