Perhaps the most unheralded of all French progressive rock artists of the 1970s, Alain Markusfeld had no less than 6 albums throughout the 70s and early 80s, and none have seen a CD or LP reissue.
Le Monde en Etages. 1970 EMI
Le Son Tombe Du Ciel. 1971 EMI
Le Desert Noir. 1977 Egg
Platock. 1978 Egg
Le Desert Noir. 1977 Egg
Platock. 1978 Egg
Contemporus. 1979 Visa/Egg
Le Monde en Etages is a great psychedelic, proto-progressive type album. Has some of those unique French touches that penetrate most albums from there (effected vocal styles, weird sonic changes, experimental bits). Not to mention the sublime Hendrix styled guitar. Excellent.
More exploratory and adventurous than the debut, Le Son Tombé du Ciel is perhaps Markusfeld's finest work within a creative period that spans throughout the 1970s. He continues his love affair with Hendrix, and the psychedelic blues rock numbers on here prove it. But there's a new dimension added, one that is based in experimentalism, jazz, and folk. These latter elements show up in the incredible pleasant atmosphere, rather than as dissonant noise. In fact the last track 'Eve' is immensely beautiful, the female wordless voices taking you to a different world. This latter track seemingly the blueprint for the Lourival Silvestre "Fiction Musicale" album that would come along a few years later. Overall, an album that is very French, and I mean that as a high compliment. The album is housed in an incredible textured (single sleeve) cover and would be an excellent Japanese mini-LP candidate.
Need to review Le Desert Noir.
Platock is yet another victim of the malaise surrounding the artist. On Platock, Markusfeld turns mostly to the acoustic guitar, with bursts of electric throughout - as well as a few wordless voices. This isn't so much a prog rock album, nor jazz fusion, but rather a cyclical piece that draws from both genres. Similar in that way to Mike Oldfield, and perhaps more specifically Michel Moulinie. Something like an Inventions for Acoustic Guitar, though far less cosmic. It's a unique album, one that doesn't grab your attention on paper, but becomes mesmerizing over the course of the album.
Le Monde en Etages is a great psychedelic, proto-progressive type album. Has some of those unique French touches that penetrate most albums from there (effected vocal styles, weird sonic changes, experimental bits). Not to mention the sublime Hendrix styled guitar. Excellent.
More exploratory and adventurous than the debut, Le Son Tombé du Ciel is perhaps Markusfeld's finest work within a creative period that spans throughout the 1970s. He continues his love affair with Hendrix, and the psychedelic blues rock numbers on here prove it. But there's a new dimension added, one that is based in experimentalism, jazz, and folk. These latter elements show up in the incredible pleasant atmosphere, rather than as dissonant noise. In fact the last track 'Eve' is immensely beautiful, the female wordless voices taking you to a different world. This latter track seemingly the blueprint for the Lourival Silvestre "Fiction Musicale" album that would come along a few years later. Overall, an album that is very French, and I mean that as a high compliment. The album is housed in an incredible textured (single sleeve) cover and would be an excellent Japanese mini-LP candidate.
Need to review Le Desert Noir.
Platock is yet another victim of the malaise surrounding the artist. On Platock, Markusfeld turns mostly to the acoustic guitar, with bursts of electric throughout - as well as a few wordless voices. This isn't so much a prog rock album, nor jazz fusion, but rather a cyclical piece that draws from both genres. Similar in that way to Mike Oldfield, and perhaps more specifically Michel Moulinie. Something like an Inventions for Acoustic Guitar, though far less cosmic. It's a unique album, one that doesn't grab your attention on paper, but becomes mesmerizing over the course of the album.
Contemporus is Markusfeld's 5th album. Concerning the predecessor I wrote: "On Platock, Markusfeld turns mostly to the acoustic guitar, with bursts of electric throughout - as well as a few wordless voices. This isn't so much a prog rock album, nor jazz fusion, but rather a cyclical piece that draws from both genres. Similar in that way to Mike Oldfield, and perhaps more specifically Michel Moulinie. Something like an Inventions for Acoustic Guitar, though far less cosmic. It's a unique album, one that doesn't grab your attention on paper, but becomes mesmerizing over the course of the album." All of that could be said here, perhaps even more academic. Almost an unclassifiable record, but one that satisfies on multiple listens.
Priority: 1 (based on the strength of the first 2 albums)
Priority: 1 (based on the strength of the first 2 albums)
8/23/09 (new entry); 6/5/24
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