French Prog!

avestin wrote: Norm Cash wrote: I'm really disappointed not to see any mention of XII Alfonso on this poll/thread! "The Lost Frontier", "Odyssees", and the "Claude Monet" series are terrific albums! Here's a mention to dis-disappoint you   XII ALFONSO The Lost Frontier , Odyssees, Claude Monet - Volume 1, This Is, Claude Monet - Volume Deux, 1889-1904 I read you review of Claude Monet - Volume 1 but can you tell me and for those not familiar with them, a little more about this band and their albums, please?

I think, gents, you are missing the point. I believe that we are talking here about 70's French prog, as otherwise it would be a MUST to include in the list following great French prog bands:

Taal

4/3 de trio

Halloween

Aside Beside

XII Alfonso

Nil

Thork

Silver Lining

Cafeine

Xang

I believe there will be a lot of people to discuss above bands, but this would be another topic/poll all together.

 

eugene wrote: avestin wrote: Norm Cash wrote: I'm really disappointed not to see any mention of XII Alfonso on this poll/thread! "The Lost Frontier", "Odyssees", and the "Claude Monet" series are terrific albums! Here's a mention to dis-disappoint you   XII ALFONSO The Lost Frontier , Odyssees, Claude Monet - Volume 1, This Is, Claude Monet - Volume Deux, 1889-1904 I read you review of Claude Monet - Volume 1 but can you tell me and for those not familiar with them, a little more about this band and their albums, please?   I think, gents, you are missing the point. I believe that we are talking here about 70's French prog, as otherwise it would be a MUST to include in the list following great French prog bands: Taal 4/3 de trio Halloween Aside Beside XII Alfonso Nil Thork Silver Lining Cafeine Xang I believe there will be a lot of people to discuss above bands, but this would be another topic/poll all together.

I am aware that it began as a 70's music thread but Nrom gave me an excuse to do so, I thought we could expand this a little but for the sake of good music.

The main group that came to mind when I saw this "French Prog" thread (MALICORNE) isn't even listed.  So the list seems rather incomplete...

(no vote)

 

eugene wrote: avestin wrote: Norm Cash wrote: I'm really disappointed not to see any mention of XII Alfonso on this poll/thread! "The Lost Frontier", "Odyssees", and the "Claude Monet" series are terrific albums! Here's a mention to dis-disappoint you   XII ALFONSO The Lost Frontier , Odyssees, Claude Monet - Volume 1, This Is, Claude Monet - Volume Deux, 1889-1904 I read you review of Claude Monet - Volume 1 but can you tell me and for those not familiar with them, a little more about this band and their albums, please?   I think, gents, you are missing the point. I believe that we are talking here about 70's French prog, as otherwise it would be a MUST to include in the list following great French prog bands: Taal 4/3 de trio Halloween Aside Beside XII Alfonso Nil Thork Silver Lining Cafeine Xang I believe there will be a lot of people to discuss above bands, but this would be another topic/poll all together.

Exactly!!!

This poll concerns French prog bands from the '70s. But recommendations about "new" French prog are well accepted.

Flip_Stone wrote: The main group that came to mind when I saw this "French Prog" thread (MALICORNE) isn't even listed.  So the list seems rather incomplete... (no vote)

If you think MALICORNE should be in the list, you should pick up the option "Others" and explain why.

Who voted 56 times for TAI PHONG???

avestin

It's always a pleasure to pass on some info about a band to a fellow prog-head. As I mentioned in my review of Monet Vol I, I discovered XII Alfonso thanks to some correspondance I had with session guitarist Ian Bairnson. He pointed me towards a partial mp3 of a track he played on, and I liked what I heard. The album wasn't easy to get hold of, but I managed to track one down. It took a few listens to get into it, but after a while I came to enjoy it a lot.

I went after the band's earlier material, and discovered that both The Lost Frontier and Odyssees were - how shall I put this - a bit less influenced by French folk/traditional music than the Monet disc. No surprise, as the Monet disc was the first of a trilogy of concept albums based on Monet's life and times, so it makes sense that the music will reflect that turn of the century feel.

The earlier albums are also conceptual in their outlook. The Lost Frontier is influenced by medieval Northumbria and Hadrian's Wall in northern England, while Odyssees has a space travel theme.

Unfortunately, the live album "This Is...." isn't particularly strong, but I tend not to hold weak live efforts against bands.

The new Monet disc, Vol 2 1889-1904, carries on where Vol 1 left off, and if anything has drifted more towards the folk/trad influences.

XII Alfonso's music is certainly hard to pin down. They are certainly NOT heavy at all, nor would I call them "folk-prog". You might say that their music is theatrical at times - more suited to stage production. However, you'll hear a very wide range of styles and influences throughout their albums.

If your taste veers more towards melodic, softer prog rather than the prog metal side of things, XII Alfonso are well worth a listen.

ANDREW wrote: Who voted 56 times for TAI PHONG???

nice to see the 10 votes for Kobaia also none in several days... 10 in 4 hours...

micky wrote: ANDREW wrote: Who voted 56 times for TAI PHONG??? nice to see the 10 votes for Kobaia also none in several days... 10 in 4 hours...

SAME THING AS DUN's "EROS"!!!

ARACHNOÏD

Yep, just one release