KHA - YM

Kha - Ym biography
KHA - YM released just one LP album in 1979 (sometimes listed as 1980), which is titled 10 "GMT, and was released on the F.L.V.M. label. The F.L.V.M. acronym stands for Faites Le Vous-Même, which translates to do it yourself in English.

KHA - YM consists of Alain GERBE and Jacky MICHAUD. GERBE performed keyboards, guitars, bass, and vocals , while MICHAUD played the drums and percussion. The conception and compositions for the album came from GERBE, and he enlisted MICHAUD to fill out the sound, which one gathers would have also added creative spark during the rehearsal stage. They rehearsed and recorded the tracks at home using a couple of Revox A77 tape machines. They then added overdubbing at ROANNE STUDIO with the help of the sound engineer Mark TAMBURRO. The studio provided instruments that they otherwise would not have had access to, including a polyphoic KORG synthesiser, which they added to the mix. Since the duo were interested in progressive rock, but reportedly it being the tail-end of the 70s, with punk being the trend and knowing that the music was not commercial, they opted to press the albums themselves at FLVM studios instead of trying for a big label deal. It was released as a Roanne Studio Record on the FLVM do it yourself label.

The music can be likened to other French underground bands such as (thanks to Philippe for the good comparisons) FLAMEN DIALIS and Philippe BESOMBE, and can be likened to music by ROEDELIUS and EGG, and this compiler finds the album in part rather compositionally reminiscent of French Symphonic Prog bands such as CARPE DIEM.

Sources: This information has largely been gleaned from http://avantmusicnews.com/2004/02/07/upcoming-on-mio/ (which took their description from MIO RECORDS) and http://drf.paullee.ru/k.htm

NOTE: It looks like Mio records, which specialised in re-issues, including CD re-issues of Flamen Dialis and Philippe Besombe was set to re-release 10 'GMT on CD, but the label has folded.