Forgas Band Phenomena - Soleil 12 (2007)

Now for my secong post.Well this is one of my favorite instrumental prog rock albums just like the above post Atlas from Sweden (hope you liked it).Forgas Band Phenomena is a french octet with drummer Patrick Forgas as the leader.Their music a blend of canterbury and jazz-rock wich is in one way unique.The melodies and riffs stick to your head from the very first.

Bandleader Patrick Forgas has been described as 'the French answer to the Canterbury scene', and this album of his is proudly marketed as: 'for fans of Soft Machine, Pierre Moerlen's Gong, Bruford, National Health.I agree on that.

True, the music on SOLEIL 12 often resembles THIRD (and BUNDLES) era Soft Machine, and it will also remind you of Pierre Moerlen's Gong at their gentlest (especially of the Gong albums that came after EXPRESSO II). Forgas reveals a familiar preference for unhurried, repetitive, riff-driven compositions. His drumming style is close to Pierre Moerlen's. The sound of three brass players (trumpet and saxes) playing the main themes in unison is unmistakably Soft-Machine like.lead guitarist Sylvain Ducloux tends to sound like a typical Allan Holdsworth-disciple.Also an excellent work from the violinist Frédéric Norel!

These four trakcs on the album are played Live! Yes that is correct, Live performance played unmistakably well, almost like studio-like version.

It's trully a gem!

Live, released in 2005

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Soleil 12 (9:22)
2. Coup De Théâtre (34:47)
3. Éclipse (8:16)
4. Pievre à la Pluie (18:18)

Total Time: 70:43

Line-up / Musicians

- Patrick Forgas / drums
- Sylvain Ducloux / guitar
- Igor Brover / keyboards
- Kengo Mochizuki / bass
- Frédéric Norel / violin
- Stanislas De Nussac / Tenor & Soprano saxophones
- Denis Guivarch / Alto saxophone
- Sylvain Gontard / trumpet, flugelhorn

Download

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