Arc for symphonic - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Thanks Sagi!

Pity all collabs didn't post their findings in the public forums - especially for an obscurity such as this...For one thing it opens up the possibility that a former band member (or friend of) might spot the thread and provide us with background info that wouldn't otherwise have been available.

The YouTube sample of the album uploaded by ProgLine actually contains some misleading info - he states that Jean-Louis Decourchelle was a second keyboardist with the band, whereas on the back of the CD inlay it credits him with 'régie lumières' which I think means that he looked after the lighting...presumably when the band played live (his brother Bertrand took care of recording and mixing duties).

The info I found is as follows:

Arc was a French prog band who released a single album "Maquette" in 1980. Their music is a serious attempt to recreate the dramatic French language and prog music of Ange, Mona Lisa, or Synopsis with great vocals and keyboards. This is a typical French form of rock and is a fantastic addition for lovers of French progressive rock. Five long tracks with impressive swathes of guitar and keyboard. The original LP was pressed only 500 times, and is very rare. A copy was sold in the 90s for more than 500 €.

1977-1980
Serge Ferrand / lead vocals (ex Exhibition / Cascade / Psaume Rouge)
Patrick Loiseau / guitar, backing vocals (ex Troubles)
Jean-Francois Mesuron / bass, backing vocals
Jean-Louis Besnard / keyboards
Frederic Morice / drums (ex Troubles / Cascade)

1980
Francis Poulet / lead vocals (ex Mona Lisa)
Patrick Loiseau / guitar, backing vocals
Jean-Francois Mesuron / bass, backing vocals
Jean-Louis Besnard / keyboards
Frederic Morice / drums

1. Quand (7:10)
2. Oraison Funebre (6:04)
3. Ami (9:51)
4. Souffle Colore (11:50)
5. Les Cites (10:28)

Recorded and mixed between 5th October 1979 and 30th March 1980, with a CD re-release by Tachika Records, Japan, KO 80.0413 (http://www.discogs.com/ARC-Maquette/master/803073).

Further info:- Serge Ferrand continues to perform solo accompanied by soundtracks. Patrick Loiseau plays today in a sixties covers band The Roaders. Jean-Louis Besnard continues in the country-blues duo YOYO (and also Solo). Frederic Morice is in a band called X RAY POP.

http://france-heavy-rock.over-blog.com/article-arc-1977-1980-114979648.html. The page contains some decent band pics, but they all have 'FranceHeavyRock' written across them, so their use on our site might not be possible...but there is always

or

Edit: This band was suggested for inclusion here again on 11th December 2016: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=109643.

I have included some further links in this later thread giving info about the record label which was apparently responsible for the album's release (Le Kiosque d'Orphée).

Edited by yam yam - January 01 2017 at 13:58

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:

Sounds a bit cheesy like Mona Lisa wannabes

But IMO is the borderline between Symph and Neo

I voted YES

Iván

Agreed, it is another borderline case, but me too am inclined to say YES.

It is a YES vote from me. Arc are Symphonic due to the over emphasis on keyboards and YESish vocals. I like it in a guilty pleasure kind of way.