Musea Records

Benoit Widemann (Not in PA database)

Stress! (1977/1997)
Imprint: Musea

Track list:
1 - Balèze - (3'25)
2 - Herbes Sol - (6'50)
3 - Stress ! - (1'56)
4 - Le Camp Du Drap D'Or - (4'03)
5 - Demi-Final - (1'22)
6 - Quaternaire - (5'53)
7 - Spirale - (4'32)
8 - Fête Au Septième Plan - Sacrifice - (5'04)
9 - Final (I. Part One) - (2'44)
10 - Final (II. Part Two) - (2'18)

Label info:
After having taken part in CHUTE LIBRE (Jazz-rock band led by Mino CINELU), Benoît WIDEMANN has been involved in MAGMA as its keyboards player from 1975 to 1978, noticeably recording the great "Hhaï Live". "Stress !" (1977) is the name of his first solo album: the music is obviously dominated by keyboards, their sonorities and colours. Using a large sample of them (Synthesisers, Mini-Moog, Fender Rhodes, string section, clavinet, etc.), he performs dreamy, picturesque, impressionist compositions full of sensibility and elegance. They call for nostalgic, happy and very visual climates sounding like soundtracks and sometimes evoking François BREANT's works. For the occasion, he hired some of the best French musicians from the Progressive jazz-rock and Zeuhl music scenes: Guy DELACROIX (MAGMA), Clément BAILLY (MAGMA, NEMO and TRYPTIQUE), Patrice TISON (KAPAK), Patrick GAUTHIER (WEIDORJE, VOLKOR, HELDON...), Jean-Pierre FOUQUEY (MAGMA)... This album displays a series of emotional snapshots or picturesque and imaginary trips.




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Tsunami (1979/1998)
Imprint: Musea

Track list:
1 - Des Iles - (7'39)
2 - Cécile - (6'21)
3 - Fifteen For Me ! - (4'39)
4 - The Proud Mongol - (7'49)
5 - Let's Go, Kids Of The Drum - (4'33)
6 - Tsunami - (6'15)



Label info:
On "Tsunami" (1979), Benoît WIDEMANN is at the head of a real group and performs a suggestive, impressionistic and dreamy music with some complex parts and rhythms (Powered by André CECCARELLI's brother Jean-Paul, drummer as well !). His picturesque and colourful style could evoke a more European WEATHER REPORT. To be rediscovered !

DeBoCo (Not in PA database)

Deboco (1997)
Imprint: Musea

Track list:
1 - D95 - (6'34)
2 - Le Retour De Dark Fader - (5'19)
3 - Trapézistes - (5'19)
4 - Shakti - (5'27)
5 - Procession - (5'27)
6 - Zéro Chrono - (2'32)
7 - Araignée - (4'47)
8 - Allô Wind - (6'13)
9 - Sole Clipping - (4'34)

Label info:
Named after a pun, "DeBoCo" (1997) is the work of three unique modern French Progressive rock musicians: Eric DELAUNAY, Jean-Pascal BOFFO & Gilles COPPIN. Actually, this was the latter's last recording, because he unfortunately passed away in July 1996. His work on this project was completed by his once colleague in TIEMKO, guitarist Rémy CHAUVIDAN. With strong individual talents, diverse styles and creativity without boundaries, each of the three artists present here composed and performed one track of this album. After that, the other two musicians were invited to create their own version of it. At the end of the day, the listener gets nine tracks and more than forty-five minutes of music. It's absolutely not some purely didactic and dry experiment: the music is self-sufficient and the album can be heard in one go. Humour is not absent: the "Star Wars" nostalgic will be pleased to listen to "Le Retour De Dark Fader" ("The Return Of Dark Fader"), thanks to the tongue-in-cheek guitar performed by Jean-Pascal BOFFO. Some will notice straight away the strange spelling in "Allô Wind". Also, it can be said that "Araignée", composed by Gilles COPPIN and sung by Géraldine Le COCQ was revisited on the excellent album by HALLOWEEN "Le Festin" (2001). It's logical, given that the two artists mentioned above are members of this band from Brittany ! An unique experience for a unique result !

Note:
This album is commonly listed under the DeBoCo moniker, as that is the name attached to the CD.
The record label credits it to Eric DELAUNAY, Jean-Pascal BOFFO & Gilles COPPIN
On iTunes it's marked as an artistic collaboration between Eric DELAUNAY and Jean-Pascal BOFFO
But musically, the main man on this production would appear to be the late keyboardist Coppin.

Didier Lockwood / Volkor (Not in PA database)

Volkor (1976/1996)
Imprint: Musea

Track list:
1 - To-Morrow - (2'06)
2 - Astral Trip - (5'30)
3 - Elbow - (6'57)
4 - What's The Matter - (2'15)
5 - Volkor - (6'09)
6 - Yellow Faces - (3'36)
7 - Green - (3'50)
8 - Naïta - (4'22)
9 - Debbi - (4'54)
10 - Sabrina De Souza - (2'38)
11 - Don't Forget Him - (4'17)
12 - Question On You - (4'43)
13 - Strange Moon - (5'50)
14 - A Quiet Sun - (5'16)
15 - Good Luck (I. Part One) - (4'05)
16 - Good Luck (II. Part Two) - (1'38)



Label info:
VOLKOR was quite unnoticed when it was in action, and yet, it had all it takes to become a definite reference of jazz-rock fusion: a rhythm section solid as a rock, educated in the US school and composed of bass player Bunny BRUNEL (Future star of the genre) and American drummer Kirt RUST, as well as a superb keyboardist (Patrick GAUTHIER), an unusual line-up with electric violin but without guitars, a unique inspiration, and pure talent... As well as two French musicians that later became some of the best: Didier LOCKWOOD and his brother Francis ! Respectively renowned violinist and pianist, the two brothers perform for us a truly fascinating music, sometimes close to Progressive rock. This line-up recorded their unique album in 1976 and gave it the well chosen title "Jazz Rock". A pure wonder that suffered from the fact that those five musicians only became famous (And rightly) after it was issued... Thanks to Musea, the reissue changes title and includes a worthwhile bonus: Francis LOCKWOOD's complete first solo album "Debbi" (1981) ! This album shows the considerable evolution suffered by the genre in just about five years: gone are the references to THE MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA or BRAND X, they are going more in the direction of WEATHER REPORT or SPYRO GYRA. The impressive guest list of course starts with Didier LOCKWOOD himself. Together, those two albums illustrate a very interesting period of a particular French jazz-rock fusion school. Here is an indispensable masterpiece !

Neo (Not in PA database)

Neo (1980/1996)
Imprint: Musea

Track list:
1 - Osibirsk - (6'42)
2 - Scène De Chasse - (7'28)
3 - Joiwind - (3'51)
4 - Néoplasme - (3'06)
5 - Sortie De Bain - (10'36)
6 - Plage II - (2'52)
7 - Jazz N' Roll - (7'14)
8 - Song 4 Miles - (5'19)

Label info:
A long time before the famous movie hit "Matrix", NEO was the name of a French quintet that performed instrumental Progressive rock, and was led by bassist André PAUL and saxophone player Didier ERARD (FRENCH KISS). This line-up issued their unique eponymous album in 1980. Their compositions are based on melodies with occasional breaks, rhythms changes, accelerations, colours as well as changing and sophisticated atmospheres. The themes are very elaborated, complex and not quite straight and easy. The instrumental dialogues are numerous: a rageous or cutting edge guitar answers to inventive keyboards or to a whirling saxophone line. The band can successively remind of Bo HANSSON, CAMEL (Mel COLLINS's period) or CARAVAN, and sometimes KING CRIMSON ("Islands" days). An absolute rarity, to be rediscovered without delay !

Ilous & Decuyper (Not in PA database)

Ilous & Decuyper (1971/1996)
Imprint: Musea

Track list:
1 - Indifférents - (1'22)
2 - Vous Mourrez Demain - (4'03)
3 - Cor Bucolique - (2'56)
4 - Eleanor Rigby - (4'39)
5 - Non - (3'42)
6 - Nuit De Glace - (1'10)
7 - L'Elu - (2'44)
8 - Cyclothymie - (4'03)
9 - Mélancolie - (3'46)
10 - Hawaï - (0'54)
11 - Berceuse - (2'35)
12 - Beurk !!! - (3'42)
13 - Indifférents - (1'22)
14 - Aime-Toi Toi-Même - (3'25)
15 - L'Espoir - (4'00)



Label info:
In the early Seventies, French musicians Bernard ILOUS & Patrice DECUYPER released in a complete indifference an eponymous album, gem of refinement, melodic beauty and arrangments subtelty. Both guitarist-singers deliver superb vocal harmonies, rarely found in French rock, in a spirit and a technical perfection close to THE BEATLES or CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG. A great instrumental variety (Acoustic and electric guitar, organ, piano...), lyrics in French full of serenity and poetry, clever and delicate instrumental parts made this album a timeless classic. Only title sung in English, THE BEATLES' "Eleanor Rigby" benefits from a great electric guitar solo, courtesy of the great Jean-Pierre ALARCEN (SANDROSE). A perfect success, which is worth discovering even now !

WLUD (Not in PA database)

Carrycrotch' (1978/1995)
Imprint: Musea

Track list:
1 - Amazone - (5'15)
2 - Carrycroch' - (8'05)
3 - Holiday Maker - (5'05)
4 - Remember Song - (6'10)
5 - Sweet Bridge - (9'45)
6 - Spitfire - (7'50)

Label info:
French band from the late Seventies, WLUD is made of the initials of its four musician's name. Philippe WENDLING, Bernard LABROCHE, Gigi UNTERSINGER and Gianni DRAGO play instrumental Progressive rock music full of fineness and contrast. Its compositions are very well constructed, including many themes full of detours and surprises as well as rich harmonies. The first album "Carrycroch'" (1978) can be compared with works by CAMEL or Bo HANSSON.



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Second (1979/1997)
Imprint: Musea

Track list:
1 - Rocky - (6'42)
2 - Fire - (6'15)
3 - Nemausus - (4'08)
4 - Ay - (4'05)
5 - Sismique - (5'30)
6 - Le Tigre - (6'58)
7 - Le Poète Des Interdits - (6'00)
8 - Alias Circus - (4'45)
9 - Vivisection-Assassination - (4'47)
10 - La Souris - (3'38)
11 - Phoque Rescapé - (3'25)



Label info:
On "Second" (1979), WLUD evolves towards a mixing of Progressive rock with some jazz-rock accents. The musician display melodious themes, full of nuances and marriage of sounds. Keyboards and guitar weave serene, tormented or ethereal and romantic climates. Though less ambitious, this can be considered as a great meeting between CAMEL and BRAND X. Both Musea reissues include bonus-tracks, essentially from two singles recorded later on (With French lyrics). To be rediscovered

Aha. I really didn't think to check a solo album under a band name, but guess it avoids adding the rest of his solo efforts to the database...?

Edit:
Hmmm, now this looks like a database problem. Clearlight might have been his band, but the musical escapades of band and solo artist are at times vastly different. And as the solo career by now dwarfs the band efforts in sheer numbers, this is misinforming to anyone but those who are aware of this band being the former creative vehicle of that artist.
Did Ivan OK this solution?

Ah, never mind. At some point these entries should be separated, but not a priority case.


Edited by Windhawk - July 17 2011 at 15:04

Cyrille Verdeaux (Symphonic prog) - note: Listed under Clearlight

Messenger of the Son (1984/1995)
Imprint: Musea

Track list and info: PA database





Edited by Windhawk - July 17 2011 at 15:18

Schwarzarbeit (Not in PA database)

James Gordon's Story (1994)
Imprint: Musea



Track list:
1 - Non-Stop Movies - (6'59)
2 - The Chamber - (5'10)
3 - The Open Window's Scenario - (5'41)
4 - A Summer Holiday Film - (3'43)
5 - The Change Of An Internal Idea - (4'21)
6 - The Outburst - (4'18)
7 - The Silent Fields After - (5'19)
8 - The Finale - (7'11)
9 - Klavierstunde - (1'38)
10 - Fata Morgana - (5'12)
11 - Purple Shadow-Like Faces - (4'00)

Label info:
SCHWARZARBEIT is an "old" German group that has been existing since the Seventies. But the group has considerably matured since the self-titled album recorded in 1979 and "Traum Oder Wirklichkeit", the second opus released three years later. The comeback album is now hosted by the Musea label: "James Gordon's Story" (1994). The tracks of this album are often instrumental and develop brilliant guitar parts close to Steve HACKETT, especially when there are acoustic sequences. Full of delicacy and sensitivity, compositions alternate energy and melancholy with talent and conviction. Here is an excellent Progressive rock album, well composed and played. Not to be missed !

Artist: BaG (Not in PA database)

Soudain L'éléphant (1993)
Imprint: Musea



Track list:
1 - Snerte - (4'16)
2 - Anasha - (4'43)
3 - Sonlaille - (4'36)
4 - Le Kri De La Reine - (4'35)
5 - Gesme - (4'45)
6 - Moon Is Dead - (4'49)
7 - Abéné - (5'15)
8 - Udaï - (4'14)
9 - Elle Se Promène - (3'54)
10 - Little Desert Hotel - (7'23)
11 - Le Chat Noir - (5'54)

Label info:
Here's a real novelty in the world of Progressive rock ! BaG is an original French group (From Britanny) that draws on ethnic and folk elements, to give its brand of Progressive rock its own special character. Of course, one could say that Peter GABRIEL and OZRIC TENTACLES have done similar things, but their instrumental concoction integrates magical guitar, unflagging rhythmic support from drums and bass, and the wind instruments used (Saxophone, flute, bombarde, crumhorn...) give each piece its own unique atmosphere. A jazz-rock atmosphere is very pregnant, thanks to the fretless bass (Yannick HARDOUIN) ala Jaco PASTORIUS or guitar soli (Nicolas Van MINGOT) close to Allan HOLDSWORTH's. "Soudain L'Eléphant..." (1992) got the blessing from famous French composer Gabriel YACOUB. He offered one of his compositions. Not to be missed at any price !!!