| # | Artist | Song (click to play) | Album | Year | CD label |
| 1 | Halloween | Derniere Bataille | Merlin | 1994 | Musea |
| Halloween's Merlin is one of the best and most polished symphonic albums of the 1990's. The style is not far from other French symphonic bands of recent years like Hecenia. They put on one of the best shows at the Baja Prog festival in Mexico earlier this year. The vocalist, Geraldine, is wonderful to watch. She is very expressive and outgoing onstage. When listening to the album this week, I could see Geraldine in my mind. Violin is prominent throughout the music. This is an album that is both accessible on first listen, and also has alot of discover on subsequent listens. Unfortunately, the band only has 2 other studio albums, both of which are in the 80's, without Geraldine, and not as good. | |||||
| 2 | La Rossa | Wooden Monologue | A Fury of Glass | 1983 | Musea |
| For comparisons, you need look no further than Van Der Graaf Generator. The vocalist sings in a style exactly like that of Peter Hammill on the classic VDGG albums. The music is very dynamic and ever-changing. Fairly complex music. I think there is perhaps too many vocals, though. | |||||
| 3 | Jean Pascal Boffo | Bienvenue au pays | Carillons | 1987 | Musea |
| This is Boffo's 2nd solo release. It is a nice melodic guitar based album with a fusion/symphonic backdrop. This is perhaps a good cross-over album that "the whole family can enjoy!". Many of his other albums are reportedly very different from each other. The only other one that I have is Rituel (1991) which is in a similar vein to Carillons, but, not as good, I think. | |||||
| 4 | Kha-Ym | Georges | 10" GMT | 1979 | Roanna Music (Private LP only) |
| This is a weird album. It is a rare private release that sounds like it was recorded in someone's bedroom. I keep expecting to hear someone's mom come walking in the room and say "Billy, turn it down, it's getting late!". Some of the keyboards sound like one of those little $20 hand-held Casio synths. I found this song interesting, though, because the a long melodic line of a keyboard solo in it sounds exactly like a melody from a song on Man's _Back into the Future_. | |||||
| 5 | Tiemko | Le Retour du Hero | Parade | 1992 | Musea |
| This is Tiemko's third of (4?) releases. This album is about as good as _Ocean_, but, I give a slight edge to _Ocean_. More great complex instrumental prog comparable to Edhels and early Minimum Vital. | |||||
| 6 | Eclat | Cinq-quarts | Eclat vol 1 & 2 | 1992 | Musea |
| Available on 1 CD is Eclat's first 2 albums. These are decent prog albums with fusion elements and not a far throw from the influencial Minimum Vital. Their best release, though, is their _Volume 3_ which is veritable masterpiece of very original music. Unfortunately, I do not yet have it to give you a sampling. | |||||
| 7 | Hecenia | Le grimoire | Legendes | 1989 | Musea |
| This is a very excellent album of complex arrangements and beautiful soundscapes reminiscent of Genesis' _Wind and Wuthering_. Lots of soaring guitar leads. Very highly recommended to fans of symphonic progressive. I believe that they only have one other album, which is reportedly just as good as this. | |||||