★Replica
Et après...
Originally from Le Havre, Mémoriance is one of the best kept secrets of the French progressive scene. Formed in the early 1970s, the sextet released their first album Et après…in 1976, a skilful and subtle disc which demonstrates all the compositional talent of a group in full possession of its means and which will earn it the winner of the Tremplin d’Or the same year. Sometimes symphonic (often reminiscent of Floyd from Wish You Were Here), sometimes jazz-rock, always inspired in its discreet p…
La Clef Des Songes
Produced by Christian Decamps from Ange in 1975, the sole effort by Pentacle (from Belfort) should ravish fans of early King Crimson lyrism, Gilmouresque guitars and French symphonic progressive bands like Atoll or Mona Lisa. A forgotten gem to be rediscovered.
La Vieille Que L'On Brûla
Tip! Concept album influenced by witchcraft originally published in 1978, the sole effort by Ripaille from Brittany melts celtic-folk and progressive rock influences
Blå Vardag
Originally published in 1979, the sole album from Swedish band Atlas is combining playfulness with intricate, mellow melodies while infusing heavy organs, carefully refined guitar riffs and fantastic synthesized soundscapes. This album is indispensable when looking at the progressive instrumental music history and not to be overlooked
Someone Somewhere
Someone Somewhere was assembled from original tapes during the band's active period (73-77). Acanthe was a French Classic Rock/Prog band in activity in the mid 70’s (from 73 to 77), but that has never seen its music reflected on a official release. For obscure reasons, this band was never given the effective opportunity to see its work properly published. Well, more than 30 years after their disbanding, the merits of the band have been finally recognized (and assembled) by homeland label Replica…
The World Of Genius Hans
* 2023 much-needed repress * Reissue of the 2nd Moving Gelatine Plates album, originally issued in 1972; with 5 bonus tracks from 1980. "The World of Genius Hans is often given the nod over Moving Gelatine Plates' self-titled debut album as their defining moment, which is surprising considering both albums are extremely close in quality. Certainly, the second release by this band is a continuation stylistically, perhaps more compositionally refined and taken a step further.
The opening title tr…
Moving Gelatine Plates
* 2023 much-needed repress * Debut album (1971) of this french progressive jazz/rock fusion band from the early 1970's included in the infamous NWW list. "On their impressive 1971 debut, France's Moving Gelatine Plates create a unique brand of jazz-influenced progressive rock. Parts of the album are reminiscent of the music recorded by groups from England's Canterbury scene (e.g., Soft Machine), but the Moving Gelatine Plates' driving rhythms and catchy thematic shifts set the band apart from t…
Gialorgues
*2023 stock* "Debut album released from this French outfit which has reached "cult status". "Gialorgues" has found its way onto many "best of" lists that I have seen and for good reason. Shylock are from the King Crimson school of progressive rock in style but have certainly their own unique style and delivery. For the most part Shylock were a three piece band who brought in some guest musicians along the way. Shylock deliver complex and involved prog which has a dark forboding theme and feeling…
Mexico
*2023 stock* "Sole album from one of the early wave groups (along with Moving Gelatine Plates, Sandrose etc) that progressively rocked France, Ergo Sum's music is sadly a bit over- looked, even by specialists. Their music was a rather unique genre of rock, jazz and so many other ingredients (but I would not call them a jazz-rock group proper), helped out by a violin, a flute and percussion instruments and weird-voiced singer. All ion all it is a very excellent album that will furbish your rock c…
Les Poumons Gonflés
"On this album les 3 fous became 4 with the arrival of keyboard player Jo Thirion, and for the first and only time they had the same sax player for 2 consecutive albums. In addition to the expanded line up, EFL's fourth full length release saw the emphasis shift to relatively short, focused songs and in many ways saw them realise the abundant potential that they displayed on their early albums.
The fundamentals of EFL remained in place, despite the changes. Guigou Chenevier and Ferdinand Richard…
Brussels
Replica presents the first vinyl reissue of Lard Free's live performance Brussels. Invited to play in the Belgian Capital in 2009, this Lard Free incarnation (with Sitar, Keyboards, drums, bass, saxophone and female vocals shows us that Gilbert Artman has neither lost his originality, not his splendor. Unreleased and essential.
Lard Free
Lard Free’s discography in slightly discounted bundle
Gilbert Artman’s Lard Free (LP)Recorded in just three days and released in 1973, mixing jazz, kraut and prog rock, Lard Free’s first album is a musical landmark in the French underground scene. To this day, it still matches the perfection of their English and German fellows like Soft Machine and Amon Düül. A true masterpiece.
I’m Around About Midnight (LP)Released in 1975 with a slight line-up change, I’m Around About Midnight shifts from roc…
Gilbert Artman's Lard Free
** 500 copies ** Recorded in just three days and released in 1973, mixing jazz, kraut and prog rock, Lard Free’s first album is a musical land-mark in the French underground scene. To this day, it still matches the perfection of their English and German fellows like Soft Machine and Amon Düül. A true masterpiece."Lard Free is a French psychedelic band, formed around drummer and keyboards player Gilbert Artman. He was the only constant member of the band on their few next albums. Music on their d…
I'm Around About Midnight
** 500 copies ** Released in 1975 with a slight line-up change, I’m Around About Midnight shifts from rock to a more electronic ap-proach thanks to Richard Pinhas (Heldon) skills with keyboards. More experimental and sophisticated than ever, it shows a band searching for constant musical absoluteness.Lard Free's second album was recorded in Paris in a three day session and released in 1975 on Vamp. The lineup is totally different from the first LP and as mentioned it features long time friend Ri…
Lard Free III
** 500 copies ** Released only one year prior to their split, III digs even deeper into electronic and experimental territories. Lard Free’s music has never sounded more cinematographic and spacey than on this record which perfectly blends the players, their instruments and some kind of dialog with the Universe.This is the most electronic effort of the group and the instruments on this album consists of mostly synths. In addition we have piano, drums, vibes, guitar - and clarinet as the first ti…
Unnamed
** 500 copies ** Never heard before until its release on CD in 1997 (on Spa-lax Records), Unnamed was recorded a year before Lard Free’s first album and shows a band that totally foresaw the Rock In Opposition movement. Aventurous, never afraid to explore unknown musical lands, Lard Free definitely owns its place in the great History of Rock Music.Recorded in 1971/1972, these Lard Free "lost" recordings document an interesting, primitive period of the band and shows Artman and Co. moving freely…
Racines Synthetiques
In 1978, keyboardist and composer Joël Fajerman published « Racines Synthétiques » in collaboration with Jan Yrssen. Some songs were featured on « L’Aventure des plantes » soundtrack, one of the first ecological program on french TV. Living up to its title, this is an astonishing album filled with melancholia and beauty.
Live At The Rock In Opposition Festival, 1978 - New London Theatre
Digipack CD Edition. Beatuful live album by the French avant-rock band founded in 1973 by actor and saxophonist Chris Chanet. They were one of only four bands invited by Henry Cow to perform at 1978’s Rock In Opposition festival. This, their third album, was recorded live while on tour in the United States. Recorded in public at the Squat Club, New York City, Trinity College, Hartford, Conn. in November 1979, “En public aux états-unis d'amérique” is the perfect introduction to the group’s avant-…