ECLAT - VOL. I & II

I am often surprised how today's French prog is unknown abroad. Yes, people know Ange, Pulsar, Magma, and even some obscure RIO/fusion combos from the seventies (not even known here). But when speaking of today's prog scene in France, expect no names. The fact they are not even known in their onw country is not so surprising when you know the 'popularity' of prog all over the world! But who quote such names as Minimum Vital or Eclat for instance? Just a few aficionados. It's time to correct that. Eclat is one of our main bands. First because Alain is a tremendous guitar player with a brilliant career (he played with Quartiers Nord, a famous rock band in France). But he is also a true prog head. With Eclat, he plays all over the world, in Japan, in the States... And he manages one of the best European prog festival since 2000, Progsud, near Marseille (south of France). This festival illustrates his tastes in prog, a wide range of styles from Camel-ish prog to fusion via typical French prog à la Ange, symphonic and even progressive metal. His discography is a picture of this colourful palette too. I chose this 'compilation' because it gathers my favourite period. The fisrt mini album with an evident Ange influences and the second opus with a more Canterbury side. 'Le Chemin vers les Nornes', 'Runes', 'Circus' are real crystal clear gems. So don't wait for a classic prog band from France, here it is! And this disc is a gorgeous visiting card.