This group of four musicians including an excellent female singer with a powerful, clear voice created a show based on Ulysse's Odyssey. They recorded two titles from the show's repertoire which can be classed within the trend in French rock represented by ANGE, ATOLL and MONA LISA. Their music was based on the following: an energetic and extremely effective rhythmic section, the singer's very beautiful voice and the furious interventions of an inspired guitarist with an incisive style.
| SP | Epilogue/Maléfices | (Galère GAL 08) | 1981 |
A quartet with classical instrumentation: guitar, keyboards, bass and drums creating a plain modern jazz, delicate and powerful, without any displays of virtuosity. Excellent musicians working together for a music produced by the group as a whole.
| LP | Galigai | (Open Jazzibao JZ 04) | 1983 |
After having wandered with his accordion from jazz record to jazz record thus giving it back its reputation as a jazz instrument, Richard GALLIANO recorded his own album with some other musicians. It's mainly dominated by his acoustic accordion or synthesizer-accordion which sometimes sounds like a single accordion, but also like a harmonica, or a melodica or which develops ZAWINUL-style sounds. Some beautiful, swinging, lilting themes with a slight latin flavour.
| LP | Spleen | (CY Records 733.619) | 1985 |
HELDON and WEIDORJE's former keyboardist, accompanied by a pleiad of "stars" (former members of WEIDORJE, David ROSE, Richard PINHAS, christian VANDER, Benoît WIDEMANN etc) recorded his debut solo album on which he follows in WEIDORJE's footsteps by creating a music which combines the experiences of HELDON and MAGMA and captures their folly and violence. This album features some magnificent compositions, superbly shown off by gifted musicians, Patrick GAUTHIER himself displays the range of his talent as a keyboardist by varying his style and the sounds of his keyboards to develop a beautiful and hypnotic music, full of energy and strength.
| LP | Bébé Godzilla | (CY Records CY 733.612) | 1982 |
This South-American sounding military name conceals a group from Montpellier which borrows not only the pseudo identity of one of its generals from South-America but also its rhythms and colours with which, it combines musical sources like jazz, funk, calypso, soul jazz to produce a hybrid music both warm and swinging, over which rises the self-confident and "soul" voice of the singer and the saxophone's clear riffs.
| Maxi SP | Anita/Tough Girl/Back to your Heart | (XIS XS 2001) | 1983 |
A flexible line-up (from two to five members) with an occasional existence, and a very specific sound. Its music is improvised on stage, using pre-recorded tapes, but on the record, it's always written, evoking sometimes The RESIDENTS, MARCOEUR or ETRON FOU.
| EP | Germain Hubert Ales | (AAA S 01) | 1982 |
Synthesizers and rhythms boxes create an oppressing music. From this music emerge the Anne GILLIS's strange voice whose words can be really touching for the listener.
| LP | Lxgrin | (Cri Records CR1 2) | 1984 |
| LP | Aha | (DMA2 1) | 1984 |
| LP | Manetachek | (231179) | 1985 |
Through his compositions tinged with melancholy and tenderness, Richard GILLY shows the depth and richness of his sensitivity. In the same vein as ILOUS, he offers a very delicate, nice, elegant music with fine and intimist inspiration which evokes the tormented, refined, fragile landscapes from his original, sensitive poetical world.
| LP | Richard GILLY | (Maxi 311) | 1971 |
| LP | Les froides saisons | (Flamophone ) | 1975 |
| LP | Richard GILLY | (Flamophone 783 601) | 1977 |
| SP | Je ne suis pas un grand fermier/Une nuit passée au Nord de San Francisco | (Maxi 17586) | 1971 |
| SP | Ma fille/Il pleut dimanche | (Maxi 17598 L) | 1972 |
| SP | Miss Bakélite | (Flamophone ) | 1977 |
Guitarist Raphael GIMENEZ plays an energetic and powerful jazz-rock crossed with progressive rock in the same vein as ABUS DANGEREUX, sharing with this group the same fondness for polished and percussive themes and exquisite melodies. He offers a melodious jazz-rock whose compositions are built around the responses between the guitar and sax and slightly punctuated by the vibraphone's clear like notes. He also likes to impart violent and frantic accelerations to his themes by his cutting guitar style or by interventions by the sax. An excellent, original and incisive jazz-rock.
| LP | Raphaël GIMENEZ | (Aroc 50001) | 1984 |
Experimental, unclassifiable music created by unusual instruments which are rarely used. On the fringe of contemporary music, this new and original sound is produced by two former members of HORDE CATALYTIQUE POUR LA FIN.
| LP | Horizon | (Le Chant du Monde LDX 74561) | 1975 |
Former CATHARSIS guitarist just before its breaking up and accompanist of Roland BOCQUET on "Paradia", Maxime GOËTZ, on his first solo album, proposes an excellent, powerful, inventive jazz rock which is brilliantly interpreted, constructed and arranged, with remarkable instrumental performances. His music evokes that of ABUS DANGEREUX (at the time of "Bis") or that of FOEHN or especially that of ZAO at the time of its first album, particularly when the ex-vocalist of this group, Mauricia PLATON, sings. Percussive, pleasant themes and a lot of feeling and intelligence.
| LP | Transit | (Cerise JJG 004) | 1985 |
One of the most well-known and appreciated "French" groups at international level. Founded by Daevid ALLEN, a former member of SOFT MACHINE, GONG, right from its first album, offered an exuberant, jerky, bizarre music incorporating rock sounds into a surrealistic delirium. GONG, like MAGMA, created its own musical, cultural and geographical universe (the planet GONG) and suffered endless changes in its line-up since numerous French and foreign musicians played a part in the destiny of this crazy planet called GONG. Thus, Christian TRITSCH, Steve HILLAGE and Tim BLAKE came to stay on this hospitable planet whose only permanent residents were Daevid ALLEN, Gilly SMITH and Didier MALHERBE. However, Daevid ALLEN and Gilly SMITH also left the group which guided by Didier MALHERBE and Steve HILLAGE, turned towards an original, delirious and colourful jazz-rock. This new tendency did not outlast Didier MALHERBE's departure from the group and Pierre MOERLEN formed a new GONG with the aid and talent of distinguished musicians (Mike OLFIELD, Mick TAYLOR, Didier LOCKWOOD, Darryl WAY), whose music was based on the sounds and tones of the vibraphone and marimbas. However, this music was far removed from the spirit which had animated and guided the original GONG, now a mythical group. MOTHER GONG represents Gilly SMITH'S musical experiences.
| LP | Magick Brother | (BYG 529 305) | 1970 |
| LP | Bananamoon | (BYG 529.345) | 1971 |
| LP | Camembert électrique | (BYG 529.353) | 1972 |
| LP | Continental Circus | (Philips 6332 033) | 1972 |
| LP | Flying Teapot | (BYG 529.027) | 1973 |
| LP | Angel's Eggs | (Virgin V 2007) | 1973 |
| LP | You | (Virgin V 2019) | 1974 |
| LP | Shamal | (Virgin V 2046) | 1976 |
| LP | Gazeuse | (Virgin V 2074) | 1977 |
| LP | Gong est mort | (Tapioca 10002/3) | 1977 |
| LP | Gong Live | (Virgin V 3501) | 1977 |
| LP | Floating Anarchy | (LTM 1002) | 1977 |
Pierre MOERLEN's GONG
| LP | Expresso 2 | (Virgin V 2099) | 1978 |
| LP | Downwind | (Arista SPART 1080) | 1979 |
| LP | Time is the Key | (Arista SPART 1105) | 1979 |
| LP | Live | (Arista SPART 1130) | 1979 |
| LP | Leave it open | (Arista SPART 202 955) | 1981 |
MOTHER GONG
| LP | Gilly SMITH MOTHER | (Charly CRL 5007) | 1978 |
| LP | Fairy Tales | (Charly CRL 5018) | 1979 |
| LP | Robot Woman | (Butt 003) | 1981 |
| LP | Robot Woman 2 | (Butt HAI 100) | 1982 |
Singles
| SP | Est-ce que je suis/Hip Hypnotise you | (BYG 129 021) | 1970 |
| SP | Opium pour le peuple | (Tapioca 4002) | 1978 |
| SP | Opium for the People | (Tapioca 4003) | 1978 |
Samplers/Various
| LP | Glastonbury Fayre | (Revelation Enterprise REV 1/3) | 1971 |
| LP | Live at Dingwall's Dance Hall | (GT 4997) | 1975 |
Alain GORAGUER's music is a musical illustration of the cartoon picture "La planète sauvage".
| LP | La planète sauvage | (Pathé-Marconi 2C 066-12.698) | 1973 |
One of the pioneers of French rock. In 1969, this trio recorded two singles on which it offers a bluesy sometimes violent rock and it recorded one superb piece ("Turn over") whose folly approaches that developed by BLUE CHEER on its album "Vincebus Eruptum".
| SP | Le jour était gris/out of the Sun | (Odéon FO 144) | 1969 |
| SP | I remember/Turn over | (Odéon 2C.006-10.266 M) | 1969 |
WEIDORJE's former keyboardist has recorded two albums under his own name. The first one is a duet with the percussionist Olivier COLLE and is an interesting album but with rather weak compositions. The second one is a result of his experiences with WEIDORJE and on which accompanied by talented musicians (the former members of WEIDORJE, David ROSE, Klaus BLASQUIZ, François OVIDE, Patrick TILLMAN, etc), he creates a sumptuous, rich and elaborate music, similar to WEIDORJE's with obsessional excessiveness and an even more pronounced madness. A captivating, original album with a changeable atmosphere bursting with strange, agressive and dreamy sounds. An absolutely essential album.
| LP | Jeunes années | (Saravah SH 10.064) | 1976 | |
| LP | Drones | (Polydor 2473 108) | 1980 | |
| LP | Viens chez moi, j'habite chez une copine | (B.O.F/Soundtrack) | ||
| LP | Circulez, y'a rien à voir | (B.O.F/Soundtrack) | ||
| SP | Elle voit des nains partout ! | (AZ 1887) | 1982 | (B.O.F/Soundtrack) |
| SP | Rock and Torah | (RCA PB 61175) | 1983 | (B.O.F/Soundtrack) |
ORIENTAL WIND's former saxophonist has begun a solo career tending towards the expression of a warm and lively jazz. A music similar to Don CHERRY's, appealing more to the heart than the head. It is lyrical and dense, catalysing jazz's energy and sensibility with the emotional contribution of Oriental and African folk music.
| LP | Islands | (JAM 0681/DG 016) | 1981 |
| LP | Mouvements naturels | (JAM 0482/DG 028) | 1982 |
| LP | Chanting and dancing | (JAM 1311) | 1985 |
A renowned jazz rock keyboardist, Daniel GOYONE decided to produce his own solo album featuring intimist and lyrical tracks and colourful pieces constructed on Afro-Cuban rhythms.
| LP | Daniel GOYONE | (Cream 044) | 1983 |
Philippe GRANCHER offers a music built around a succession of floating sounds on the keyboards with acoustic piano passages. He presents a floating, lyrical and delicate music which evokes CLEARLIGHT's first album. Some nice acoustic piano parts and some beautiful themes.
| LP | 3000 Miles away | (Pôle 0014) | 1977 |
Renowned for its burlesque and delirious performances, LE GRAND MAGIC CIRCUS has recorded two albums on which the atmosphere from its stage shows is reconstituted with its characteristic folly and medley of caustic humour, weird sketches, distortion and pastiche of different kinds of entertainment such as the theatre, opera and story telling, all of which are enhanced by instrumental passages interpreted by the GRAND MAGIC CIRCUS brass band or chorus or by songs with extremely sarcastic lyrics.
| LP | Les derniers jours de solitude de Robinson CRUSOE | (Sonopresse CNT 69.563) | 1973 |
| LP | Le Grand méchant cochon et les trois gentils petits loups | (Saravah 10 050) | 1974 |
| SP | Goodbye Mr Freud/j'aime le champagne | (Ades 11.009) | 1974 |
A record in the same musical vein as MAHJUN, ETRON FOU and MARCOEUR. A satirical rock occasionally tinged with jazz with a beautiful WYATT-style ballad. Very good sax and flute solos.
| LP | Les pirates du cortex | (Hocco Mitu 01H) | 1979 |
This group offered a music in the same vein as ANGE, MONA LISA, ATOLL, based on the singer's vocal presence and theatrical pomposity and on melodies built around the chords of the organ, saxophone or flute in a musical tradition very close to ANGE. Unfortunately, their only record is spoiled by a lack of technical means and by a poor recording.
| LP | Grime | (D 5679) | 1979 |
A recording which features several groups of different tendencies during their stage appearance at the temple of rock "Le Golf-Drouot", rock verging on hard rock for TAC POUM SYSTEME, commercial rock for MOONLIGHTS and progressive rock for PULSAR (their first recording), ABSINTHE and ABRACADABRA. Two promising groups, one amateur, ABSINTHE (Philippe CAUVIN will later emerge from this group) and one professional super group-style (because of its line-up of experienced musicians: Jean FALLISSARD, Jean-Pierre AUFREDO, Sylvain DUPLANT from ALICE, Richard AUBERT from (COMINTERN, Fraçis LOCKWOOD etc), ABRACADABRA who attract attention on this live recording by the originality of their compositions. ANGE is also on this record with an energetic version of "Le vieux de la montagne".
| LP | Groovy Pop Session | (Philips 6332 044) | 1972 |
Another keyboardist, formerly of HELDON, (and accompanied by this group's musicians including a greatly inspired Richard PINHAS) who offers an electronic, spatial rock similar to HELDON's but less violent. The LP includes some beautiful cosmic tracks evoking dreams and interstellar travel.
| LP | K-Priss | (Polydor 2473 911) | 1980 |
Philippe GUERRE's music fits into the category of neo floating rock evolving between the synthetic horizons explored and exploited by VANGELIS, Jean-Michel JARRE and Richard VIMAL.
| LP | Cristal | (NP 5255) | 1979 |
| LP | Concerto pour la mort d'un clown | (PG 8111) | 1982 |
Jean-Claude POGNANT, Crypto's producer, took part in this trio which made only one single on which their rather conventional rock is redeemed by a certain humour.
| SP | Un sacré jobard/Du côté de chez azertyuiop | (Arcane 911 010) | 1975 |
ASSEMBLÉE's founder and guitarist recorded this SP under his own name. A rather dull and disappointing record.
| SP | Anita/Je me fais tout petit | (Odéon HEO 174) | 1969 |
This group proposes a violent, wild free-rock which is based on syncopated, obsessional rhythms compelled by metronomic and percussive drums. Sylvie ZO STRINATI's singing soars above these rhythms evoking Pascale SON from COS, by the use of onomatopoeias, eructations and plaintive screams. Both guitarists play long, furious and fiery interventions in the same vein as PINHAS on those arid rhythms, punctuated by the female singer's vocal frenzy and screams. This is an excellent album which combines the influences of HELDON, the first COS's album and MAGMA with an original and personal inspiration.
| LP | Des Etres au cerveau apparent | (Sterne STE 26510) | 1980 |
One of the best current French rock groups at the crossroads of all kinds of music -folk music, rock, jazz, classical music- which it has managed to combine into a synthesis of passionate, warm, strong music. Drawing its inspiration originally from Celtic folk music, it begins to drift away from this influence on its third album and creates its own original, spontaneous, lively, beautiful music. Like GENTLE GIANT or MANEIGE but more strongly influenced by folk music, GWENDAL has produced a superb synthesis of trends in traditional and modern music. Listen to "En concert" and "Locomo" first.
| LP | Gwendal | (Pathé Marconi EMI 2C 064-12.725) | 1974 |
| LP | Gwendal | (Pathé Marconi EMI 2C 064-13.075) | 1975 |
| LP | Gwendal | (Pathé Marconi EMI 2C 066-14.403) | 1977 |
| LP | 4 | (Pathé Marconi EMI 2C 068-14.841) | 1979 |
| LP | En Concert | (Pathé Marconi EMI 2C 068-72.379) | 1981 |
| LP | Locomo | (Pathé Marconi EMI 2C 068-72.707) | 1983 |
| LP | Danse la Musique | (Pathé Marconi EMI 1729181) | 1985 |