French prog band very much like Yes

Trying to figure this one out if ya can help
In 1985 I recorded off a college FM radio station a long track which sounded very much influenced by Yes. with a touch of early Pink Floyd
The vocals were in French and the track had many passages.probably about 10 mins +

Not being home where the song resides on my PC  I cannot upload it and can only describe the band instrumentation along with some song structure

Vocals : French all the way. There are some nice back up harmonies
Keys : Mini Moog, ARP Solina /Omni or Crumar string synth ( very prevalent on the track) , Mellotron, Organ,Elect piano,  Piano 
Bass : best guess a Rick
Drums: full kit with some percussion , he is a bit heavy handed at times but very good.
Guitar: Well this is the kicker he sounds soo much like Steve Howe that it could be Howe. the lead lines and arpeggios the choppy chordal work It's what really caught my ear when i heard the track and instantly started the tape recorder rolling.
I heard it in 1985 but it may have been recorded earlier than that.

Any ideas ?

probably magma

I was going to say, most likely Magma...?

I would imagine that very few French bands ever got played on the radio in the USA, even on college radio, so if it's not the "usual suspects" (ie Ange or Magma) then any guess is valid.

As it was played in the States I would guess it's more likley
that you heared a Canadian band from the Quebec area.

The best kown bands Ange and Magma sound nothing like your descrition.

Magam doesn't sing in French and sound nothing like Yes, they also do not have very prominent guitar (most times there is no guitar at all).

Ange sounds very French and have their very own style.

Dean wrote: I would imagine that very few French bands ever got played on the radio in the USA, even on college radio, so if it's not the "usual suspects" (ie Ange or Magma) then any guess is valid.

Edited by moshkito - August 10 2014 at 10:58

Pentacle comes to mind except for the YES flavour which doesn't fit in my opinion but worth checking out the over 10 minute track that closes that album.

moshkito wrote: Dean wrote: I would imagine that very few French bands ever got played on the radio in the USA, even on college radio, so if it's not the "usual suspects" (ie Ange or Magma) then any guess is valid. Goodness ... as I like to say ... there is so much more music out there that no one knows or has heard! And yes, it was played and then some! All first 6 Ange albums in my collection are on their 3rd LP. All of Alan Stivell on the 3rd LP. All of Atol on the 2nd LP. Heldon on the 3rd LP. Malecorne on the 2nd LP. Clearlight and Verdoux on the 2nd LP. Pulsar on the 3rd LP.   We haven't even gotten to my Italian bunch, yet! Almost all of them on the 3rd or 4th LP!   It's like most folks are musically deprived!   Ange Mona Lisa Malecorne Magma Heldon Pierre Henri Cyreille Verdoux Clearlight Symphony Dan Ar Bras Alan Stivell Memoriance Atoll Pulsar Catherine Ribeiro Tai Phong Wapassou Marquis de Sade   This is just a starter list from the top of my head. I will go through my index of SPR shows and list things for you from 1974 on. I keep telling you, that Guy's show was special. Unlike many folks in radio, he had an ear for more music and more different music!

My thoughts?  it sounds a lot like you are describing Atoll. 

  ATOLL !!!!!!!! Musiciens Magiciens Lp  !

Fantastic detective work friends,and tszimay nailed it,   I thank you greatly !!!!!!!

Interesting how my taped off radio version of this track sounds way better than this YT upload more full and with more impact..

The track starts at 18:04
Was I good in describing the trk and instrumentation ?





Edited by sturoc - August 10 2014 at 23:15