Caillou ~ France

Jazz Rock / Zeuhl

Facebook

Bandcamp

Latest: Volume II (2026) Coming soon

UMR review page for Caillou

12/10/13 (new entry)

Rhùn ~ France

Zeuhl; Jazz rock 

Facebook

Bandcamp

Latest: Evil Erbez (2026). June 3

After a decade of silence, Rhun has become very active and are releasing their third album in four years.

UMR review page for Rhun

12/14/13 (new entry)

Minimum Vital ~ France

Progressive rock; Folk rock

Facebook

Latest: Le Royaume (2025). 12/12

Released ahead of schedule. Was originally planned for 2026.

UMR review page for Minimum Vital

7/24/11 (new entry)

Halloween ~ France

Progressive rock

Facebook

YouTube

Latest: Psy-Ko (2024)

Another band from the great late 80s and early 90s period that has unexpectedly reformed. It's been close to 25 years since we last heard from them.

UMR review page for Halloween

11/24/24 (new entry)

Aquaserge, France

Avant prog; Canterbury styled; Space rock

Facebook

Bandcamp

Latest: La Fin de L'Economie' (2024). 

Ce Très Cher Serge, Spécial Origines (2010)

Aquaserge reminds me of a time when the French reigned supreme in the creativity department. Think back to the early 1980s, when France was bursting at the seams with interesting bands like Dun, Catastrophe, Eskaton, Asia Minor, Abus Dangereux, Rahmann, Nuance, Art Zoyd, Synopsis, and many more. Aquaserge combines Canterbury, space rock, and general wackiness to create a fun filled progressive extravaganza. To me, these qualities all add up to primo Gong, though Aquaserge are more complex, more jamming, and less silly overall. Makoto Kawabata of Acid Mother's Temple provides some splendid acid guitar, and it's in this kind of setting that he shines most brightly.

---7/04/11

Other albums heard: A L'Amitie (2014)

7/04/11 (new entry)

Zanov, France

Progressive electronic

Facebook

Bandcamp

Latest release: Lost in the Future (2023). Just released!

Virtual Future (2014)

Welcome back Pierre Salkazanov (aka Zalkazanov)! If the digipak cover is any indication, it appears Zanov rediscovered his old analog keyboard toys and picked up right where he left off with In Course of Time. It's as if he walked into the basement, saw the massive equipment, and said "Hmmm... let's see if these things still work, shall we. Oh great - they do." This is old fashioned, all-fat-analog instrumental 70s sequencer based synthesizer heaven. Somewhere between Klaus Schulze's Timewind and Richard Pinhas' Iceland is the sound of Virtual Future. As if the Egg label is still with us, and we've been transported back 35 years. Even though there are a myriad of homegrown electronic artists today, it's refreshing to hear how the old masters used to do it. I can listen to this kind of elektronik musik all day.

Moebius 256 301 (1977)

I have some thoughts up on this blog already about Green Ray, Zanov's debut. His sophomore effort continues in that vein. The late 70s was filled with budding electronic musicians getting ahold of (very expensive at the time) analog synthesizers and making a go at being the next Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Vangelis, or Jean-Michel Jarre. Most became obscurities as soon as they were released, but Pierre Zalkazanov did manage to receive 2 releases on the venerable Polydor label (even though he kept his day job - presumably to afford the equipment!) and had a great reputation in France - probably the most innovative country during that era. The album starts off with 3 vignettes, similar to Richard Pinhas' Chronolyse, before launching into lengthy excursions. The energy level is high, and this is the dynamic electronic music many of us crave. Excellent on the whole.

Green Ray (1976)

This was originally a CDRWL item. Here are my notes from then, slightly updated: Sequencer based electronic musician, whose real name is Pierre Zalkazanov. Given the one man nature of the recordings, Klaus Schulze would be the obvious influence. Though musically there's just as much Tangerine Dream Stratosfear here than, say, Mirage or Blackdance. And surprisingly very little Heldon touches, given how influential Richard Pinhas was in his own country (at least when talking the underground). There were very few artists in this field during the late 1970s, while today there are hundreds, so Zanov deserves credit for being one of the pioneers. Though from a purely musical perspective, Green Ray isn't quite as well developed as his more recognized peers of the day. All the same, always nice to hear those fat analog synths battle it out on tape!

5/26/10; 11/5/14 (new entry); 1/21/22

Alco Frisbass, France

Progressive rock; Jazz fusion

Facebook

Bandcamp

Latest album: La Mystere du Gue Pucelle (2021)

Alco Frisbass (2015)

At first I wasn't so sure this is something I needed to hold onto. Alco Frisbass' debut starts off with more than a whiff to the avant prog genre. There's ties to genre champion AltRock here, and the circus themes point to groups like Miriodor. But then the duo begin to add many soft touches. There's a soft jazzy undertone that I find very appealing. There's also some odd musical combinations here, and when one sees that Thierry Paysson is involved in the background, it begins to make sense. There's a touch of the Medieval and other later historical references (witness the cover). As the music continues on one could make the conclusion that this is Minimum Vital playing the instrumental music of Caravan. Certainly more Canterbury influenced than avant prog or Paysson's outfit. The keyboards are more vintage than modern hence offering up sepia tones versus brassy digital irritants. Clearly repeat listens will go a long way to securing memory space. Alco Frisbass strikes a fine balance of old and new, unusual for modern bands. My initial rating was correct, I just had doubted it. No more. Keeper.

10/12/23 (new entry); 11/7/23

Forgas Band Phenomena, France

News: Forgas Band Phenomena's 6th album L'Oreille Electrique will be released by Cuneiform on October November 9th. Most curious how this one will turn out.

Website

Facebook

Samples

Location: Paris

Overview:  What makes the Forgas Band Phenomena so great is the synergy of an instrumental 7 piece band. So in addition to the standard rock quartet of guitar, keyboards, bass and drums - you also have dedicated members providing violin, trumpet and sax/flute. The music is tight and energetic, while never forgetting that their main premise is to rock your britches off. How many progressive bands today forget this last component?

UMR notes

VAK, France

News: VAK's second album Budo has just been released. The buzz on this one is enormous, so I picked it up right away. Can't wait to hear it!

Website

Samples

Facebook

Location: Paris

Overview: VAK are a band that is clearly rooted in the Zeuhl movement. The debut favored Eskaton whereas their next release was more dense similar to Jean-Paul Prat maybe. Magma fans everywhere should be rushing out to obtain these.

UMR notes

Scherzoo, France

News: Scherzoo 04 is out and I have it on the way to me now. The album promises to be more in the Canterbury mold. I'm excited about this, as I wasn't as keen on them moving away from Zeuhl to Avant prog.

Facebook

Samples 

Location:  Lyon

Overview: Scherzoo's sound is somewhere between avant prog and Zeuhl, whereas Thollot's solo works scratch the avant angle and add in some Heldon like electronic rock. Apparently they are now moving into a Canterbury direction.

UMR notes

Eclat, France

News: The band still actively posts, but no activity such as live shows or a new album since 2012's L'Esprit du Cercle. Last check: February 15, 2020.

Facebook

Location: Marseille

Overview: Eclat reminds me most of Minimum Vital, especially in regards to the energetic electric guitar and Medieval themed undertone.

UMR notes

Yang, France

News: In 2017, Yang released The Failure of Words. Of course we missed it altogether. Shoot we never even heard Machines (2009)! Band is still quite active. Last check: December 26, 2018

Website

Samples

Facebook

UMR notes

Setna, France ***Disbanded***

Zeuhl

Latest album: Guérison (2013)

Guérison (2013)

For my tastes, I feel Guérison is a definite improvement on their debut, though the band still needs to take off the leash a bit. The introduction of Ratledge-styled organ, and fuzz bass, gives the band a cool Canterbury edge. Setna are definitely more of a Zeuhl band now rather than an atmospheric jazz ensemble with Magma trimmings. But they still seem to lay back all too much. Sure would like to see Setna go all-in like Corima or Koenji Hyakkei - at least on occasion. All that emotional build up needs an epic climax... a release of anger.  

---5/8/13

Cycle 1 (2007)

If Zeuhl is the genre tag that must be applied, then it's Zeuhl in the same way Offering is rather than Magma. Cycle I is primarily an atmospheric jazz release with soft chanting female vocals. Electric piano, synthesizer, and saxophone are the other primary instruments of choice. Those coming to this looking for ripping Paganotti/Top-styled bass and insane martial Vander-like drumming, will surely come away disappointed. Certainly Setna sit towards the Magma side of Offering (especially as the disc spins on, and the last track features some fine Mahavishnu styled guitar from guest James McGaw), but still the metaphor holds. Ambient jazz Zeuhl.

---5/18/13

5/21/13 (new entry)

Neom, France ***Inactive***

News:  There has been no activity from Neom since 2013. Last check: December 26, 2018

Facebook

Location: Valence, Rhone-Alpes

Overview: Neom are one of many new Zeuhl discoveries by the French specialist label Soleil Zeuhl. Neom are more atmospheric and feature more guitar than many of their peers. A fine band.

UMR notes