| # | Artist | Song (click to play) | Album | Year | CD label |
| 1 | Tiemko | Episode | Ocean | 1990 | Musea |
| This album and "Parade" (1992) are completely instrumental, except for a couple of "hey!"'s. The group is highly original. They have carved out a very distinct sound. I am sometimes reminded of Frank Zappa's instrumental music, and also of Shylock. The music is ever changing with new ideas. After more than 2 years of listening, this album becomes something new for me everytime I play it. The song "Bonbon Tres Sucre" makes me think of what Al DiMeola & Chick Corea used to sound like playing together in the 70's. | |||||
| 2 | Shub Niggurath | Yog sothoth | Les Morts Vont Vite | 1986 | Musea |
| Now, this is some dark depressing music! If you are in a good mood and want to get depressed, put this album on. This album is comparable to Univers Zero, Magma, Art Zoyd and Present, Shub has only one more release which is reportedly not as good as this one. | |||||
| 3 | Shylock | Le Quatrime | Gialorgues | 1976 | Musea |
| The album proper contains only 3 tracks, but, the CD re-issue contains 5 bonus tracks which were recorded in 1981. The extra tracks are duets of the guitarist and keyboardist, which somewhat hint at Frederic L'Epee's later work in Philharmonie. Shylock only released 2 album, this being the first. Like the track from _Ile de Fievre_ we heard a couple of weeks ago, this album has soaring guitar, and sometimes grandiose riffitude. | |||||
| 4 | Joel Dugrenot | Half Fish, Half Bird | Mosaiques | 1989 | Mantra Records |
| Joel was the bass player in Zao. On this solo album, he has guest musicians Fred Frith, Pierre Moerlen, David Cross, and others. This is a fine fusion album with lots of tasty violin. But, the bad news is that this is a VERY hard-to-find CD :-( The music oft reminds me of Bjorn J:Son Lindh's fusion albums of the 70's and 80's. | |||||
| 5 | Versailles | Le tresor de Valliesres | Le tresor de Valliesres | 1994 | Musea |
| Versailles is perhaps one of the unknown prog greats of 1990's. This is their third album, which is the work of a very skilled and mature band. Their newest "Blaise et Benjamin", is reportedly their best. The band is most often compared to Ange and Mona Lisa. I believe that the most recent incarnation of Mona Lisa is actually the original vocalist backed by the members of Versailles. The instrumentation consists of the usual guitar, bass, keyboards, flute. As on most other French prog albums, according to the credits, there are no drums. But, they sure make up for it playing "batteries" :-) | |||||