The Blow Mind - We Won't Go Back to the Past / They're Coming. 1970 France

The only release from this obscure French band. Released in 1970, it's pretty much nonstop guitar solos over mumbling English vocals. Really captures the wasted ethos of the era. Not going to win any awards for composition or skillful playing, but that's part of the allure honestly. This is for us guys who enjoyed playing football in the mud when we were kids.

The second track looks to be on at least one legit comp (on World in Sound) that has another song I quite like.

2/10/20

Tac Poum Systeme - Asmodaï / Il fait bon / Josica / Emotion. 1971-72 France

Tac Poum Systeme were a band from Paris and one of the leading lights of the era, but disbanded before releasing a full LP. They left behind 2 singles and a lengthy cut on the Groovy Pop Session compilation. I didn't realize until now that Fernand Pena was one of the key members of the band, as I've owned his album with the group Puzzle (1977) for some years. And it's considerably different to the harder rocking Tac Poum Systeme.

After hearing both singles back to back, the winning song by a good margin is 'Asmodaï'. Sounding like Cream, but with a heavier fuzz attack ala Blue Cheer, it's one of those early 70s European hard psychedelic rock classics. The flip side 'Il Fait Bon' is good but rather nondescript when compared to the A side.

As for Tac Poum Systeme's second single, the band is already looking to chart. 'Josica' is clearly pandering to the masses, and is mostly a swing and a miss. It has some rougher edges regarding the guitar work, so there's some redeemable value. 'Emotion' is Tac Poum Systeme imitating the Rolling Stones - again perhaps a bit heavier - but nothing to get too excited about.

And yet another familiar name is brought to the fore. The producer is none other than Claude Perraudin, who I know from his electronic oriented Mutation 24 album.

The best part of this single is the picture sleeve. That would make a great album cover. Perhaps if they do find some extra material from the band to make a full album, that's the cover they should use.

Speaking of that, something tells me this era of Tac Poum Systeme has more recorded material hiding in a vault somewhere. Time to unleash that.

2/6/20

Berenice - Alors Dieu Chatia l'Homme / Please Pretty Girl. 1970 France

I have to admit that I'm drawn to psychotic ramblings in French, even if I have little idea of what they're going on about. The language is so perfect for it. Berenice gives me that pleasure on 'Alors Dieu Chatia l'Homme', along with some wicked fuzz soloing at the end. 'Please Pretty Girl' is a slow cooker, but not without merit. Definitely a band that had some innovative ideas. Whether or not they ever explored them beyond this single remains to be heard.

2/6/20 

Virus - Le Temps de Vivre / Mary-Jeanne. 1973 France

'Le temps de vivre' is a silly French pop song (like really silly). 'Mary-Jeanne' is completely different, and shows that Virus were an atmospheric prog band at heart, calling on early Pink Floyd and the neighboring Krautrock scene. Hard to imagine it's the same band. It's like those crazy American 45's that have a fuzz blaster on one side, and then some hillbilly song or something nutty like that on the other. Would be most interesting if Virus recorded more that has yet to surface.

2/4/20

Balthazar - La Marche des Travailleurs / C'est Bon. 1968 France

The A side is punk psych with French vocals, hyperactive drums, and fuzzy guitar. The B side predicts the French Theatrical movement as brought forth by Ange and the likes. But much more psychedelic of course given the year. A pioneering work. 

Confusingly there is another French band with the name Balthazar that are apparently pure pop. 

10/22/19

Zeugma - Témoignage / Le Magicien. 1978 France

When you name your band Zeugma, then one can only presume a Magma styled masterpiece awaits. Or at least some off the rails hyper prog album like Yezda Urfa. I said something very similar recently about the Swedish band (have to look it up...) Zthürehz. And like said Swedish band, Zeugma is nothing of the sort. 'Témoignage' is a decent hard rock song, with a couple of cool breaks. 'Le Magicien' is a fairly dull folk rocker with little to offer beyond a nice bit of guitar at the end. Not a bad way to spend 11 minutes, but you probably won't do it again.

5/10/19

3éme Oeil - La Haine Reine. 1983 France

The stylized 3éme Oeil, sometimes referred to in written form as Troisieme Oeil, released this one 45 in 1983. And it sounds for all the world like an early 80s rock album. Hard edged AOR is the name of the game here, though with more progressive styling than that may imply. 'La Haine Reine' conjures up similar era Journey, with vocals in French of course. 'Les Mutants' is a fine instrumental, serving up a sound not that dissimilar to Rush's Moving Pictures era. The latter half adds in some fine Moog synthesizer work, and for the last 30 seconds, all hell breaks loose into a mid 70s prog rock extravaganza! These guys had the chops and the knowledge. They came around either too late or too early depending on one's perspective. Certainly they would have been a force in the 90s prog rock revival, especially if they eschewed any commercial ambition.

5/10/19

Triptyque - If You Are in a Bad Mood / Don't Worry. 1970 France

These three troublemakers were all in and around the Heldon camp throughout the 1970s. Alain Renaud was also involved with Triangle, and the music here is similar to that fine band's debut. Mostly hard psych rock sung in English. Would make for excellent bonus tracks.

5/10/19

Algue - Descente aux Enfers / Les Enfants. 1981 France

Interesting. I knew the name Algue sounded familiar, and that's because their moniker sits with the Jean Luc Hamonet album, which I own (and need to revisit again). I guess I'd thought Hamonet was the leader of a band called Algue. I'm just now catching on that Algue were their own group, and likely Hamonet hired them on for his sole recording.

Prior (or maybe after, we'll get to that in a minute), Algue released this extended single (nearly 11 minutes) with two tracks. 'Descente aux Enfers' is a fine rock song with extended jamming toward the end, which gives off a whiff of a west coast psych feeling. The song itself is relatively non distinctive however. The gem here is 'Les Enfants'  - which conjures up the ghost of none other than Jimi Hendrix. Mostly instrumental with some fierce wah wah guitar soloing. Great stuff. If the Hamonet album ever does get reissued, it sure would be nice to append these two tracks to it!

Now to the date of the recording. The "generally accepted" date is 1981. Once again, I'm at a loss where that comes from, as there is no date on the single itself. And there is no corroborating data (that I could find). The French Discography book (i.e. the analog internet for you kids scoring at home) calls out 1984. The problem is... this single sounds more like 1972! Then again the Hamonet album is from 1982, and it certainly sounds earlier than that one, so I question 1984 for sure. Who knows... perhaps the story will emerge one day. Pay no mind to that, check this one out if you have the chance.

Ownership: SP: 1981 private. With picture sleeve. Recent online acquisition (2022).

5/10/19 (first listen / review / new entry); 7/25/22 (update)

Hazard - Le Chemin de L'Oubli. 1974 France

Hazard were a very obscure band who played many concerts throughout France in the early 70s, but only left behind this one single in 1974. For my tastes, Hazard are the exact type of band one hopes (begs?) for a quality archival release to emerge. That mythical album which was recorded and well preserved, but never released. We can dream right?

The music here belongs to the French theatrical progressive rock genre of Ange and Mona Lisa, but really it's much more than that. There's a space rock element that permeates, with synthesizers and mellotron providing the backdrop. In this manner I'm most reminded of Pulsar, especially at the time of Pollen. A full album of this could prove to be at the highest rating levels.

Ownership: SP: 1974 private. With very nice picture sleeve. Recent online acquisition (2022).

5/10/19 (first listen / review / new entry); 5/29/22 (update)