HARMONIE SOLAIRE

ARCHAÏA only existed a few short years from 1977-79, left its sole self-titled album released on the Choravox label in 1977 and then seemingly disappeared never to be heard from again at least until the progressive rock revival of the 1990s found labels digging up lost treasures from the past and resurrecting their unique musical magic. Such was the case with ARCHAÏA's only official release which was remastered and rightfully re-issued on CD by the Soleil Zeuhl label which has done an exemplary job of reviving long lost zeuhl artists from France's freaky fertile underground of the 1970s and 80s.

This Paris based trio featured Philippe Bersan (vocals, keyboards, percussion), Pierrick Le Bras (guitar, keyboards, vocals) and Michel Munier (bass) who were inspired by Magma's rhythmic Teutonic marches of zeuhl rhythms but equally enthralled with the mind expanding world of Gong's psychedelia as well as the bizarre electronic works of Heldon. Together these guys forged some of the most bizarre and freak-fueled musical visions from the entire zeuhl universe easily setting themselves apart from the likes of Magma and its imitators such as Zao and Weidorje. A decades old treat for true psychedelic trippers lurking in the prog underground, ARCHAÏA's debut finally found not only a new vinyl release on Mutant Embryo Records but a proper digital release as well in 2019.

Considering ARCHAÏA's musical freakfest was released in 1977 as the appetite for all things lysergic and unclassifiable was quickly losing ground to more commercial sounds, it's no wonder that the band dropped a sole album and called it quits. Often though a second album was intended with many tracks having been written only to be abandoned and lurking in the vaults for decades. That's exactly the case for these space zeuhl trippers who had every intention of releasing a sophomore followup but were denied their due justice. Luckily the world has caught up to some of these far reaching visions of the past and is hungry for more and lucky for us, they have finally been liberated from obscurity! HARMONIE SOLAIRE released in the final hours of 2021 by Mutant Embryo Records is the long lost second album from ARCHAÏA and features 11 new tracks from the original duo of Munier and Le Bras.

According to Mutant Embryo's Bandcamp site, these tracks were finally recorded in 2013 and presented on a limited vinyl edition as well as digitally downloadable. This album certainly exists in the ARCHAÏA universe with the same hypnotizing bass riffs, synthwave minimalism and haunting vocal style as heard on the band's 1977 debut. This one sounds a bit more direct though as it lacks the Heldon inspired electronic freakery. Dare i even say this one is more accessible since it presents a more cohesive flow? While the first album relied on the electronic wizardry to craft a transcendental lysergic experience, HARMONIE SOLAIRE features a lot more haunting vocals in conjunct with the minimal synthwave style of keyboards, acid guitar licks and martial zeuhl rhythms which all conspire to craft a veritable soundtrack for some sort of mushroom cult! There is more mystical chanting on this one as well.

Although the French language is employed for all lyrics, the vocals come off as more as gibberish as zeuhl tends to make all languages sound as if they originated from Kobaia. Overall this album is more hypnotizing and less jarring than the 1977 album which excelled in pummeling the listener with shrill electronic sounds and over the top excesses in every way which IMHO was what made it so freakin' amazing! While this long lost second coming may not measure up to the intensity, HARMONIE SOLAIRE is nevertheless an excellent album that sounds as if it very well could've been released in the last years of the 1970s. For those who prefer a less harsh presentation that sounds closer to the world of 70s Krautrock than the choral rich zeuhl of Magma meets Heldon, then you might actually like this one better than the original album. For me i still prefer the 1977 album but this is a most welcome release that is outstanding in its own way!