This super rare early '70s UK progressive psych private pressing was only recently located and raved about in Record Collector.... Long tracks with guitar, flute, percussion bass, sax etc. similar to King Crimson, Colosseum... Freak Emporium
Never really a full group of musicians per se, Connivence was more of a collective name for artistes, solo or groups from the same region: Hull, just across Ottawa opposite the river and into Quebec land. These artistes actually found easier to share recording costs and release in 77 on the same record their personal tracks, but also playing on each other’s works. From single artists Legault, Soucy to the groups Oasis (jazz-rock) and Nous Autres (sometimes close to Anthony Philips), this Connivence name housed dramatically different styles but most of them worthy of a listen to progheads. The “group” will produce three albums (until 84) with different line-ups and the second one will be heavily induced by Syncope (another prog group). The third one is more electrified or electronified and jazzed-up.
Harmonium's Serge Fiori and Sequin's Richard Seguin were already aware of each others talents, several years before their sole album as a duo. The pair appeared side by side as backup singers for Gilles Valiquette's album "Valiquette est en ville" in 1976. Already, the two voices blended magnificently. It was during this same year that Seguin (the group) packed it in for good., and Richard participated as backup singer for Harmonium's "L'Heptade". Harmonium, in turn, sees things slow down to a full stop in 1977. Both Fiori and Seguin were looking for other outlets which could sustain their creativity, resulting in "Deux cents nuits à l'heure" in 1978. This album, marrying the pair's progressive and balladeer sides, sees the continuous participation of the majority of Harmonium's most recent line up. Read full story at ProgQuebec
KC is a talented Parisian composer and multi-instrumentalist - Les Chants De Maldoror from 2002 is his first album and takes its title from the controversial novel of the Count De Lautreamont. The music itself is completely instrumental! 
A privately pressed and very rare album, Siegfried, il drago e altre storie was the first and only LP released by this Turin band, that was active from 1974 and that had previously recorded two tapes and some tracks posthumously released on CD in early 90's.
Very little is known about this obscure band. While progressive music was modestly popular in Japan even in the latter 60s (and particularly psychedelic music), few Japanese bands emerged prior to the mid-70s, and by then interest in the genre was temporarily waning throughout Europe and the Americas. Like many early Japanese progressive bands, MAHOUJIN’s single release was completely instrumental, with heavy use of keyboards and synthesized percussion. The album features Hammond, mellotron and moog as well as electric and traditional piano. The band’s sound has been most compared to ELP.
Lagger Blues Machine were a Belgian band from the late 60's/early 70's that played something like progressive jazz rock. Their sound is a bit difficult to classify, but Soft Machine (although "rockier"), Eiliff and Moving Gelatine Plates could serve as reference points. The tracks are usually in the 7-15 minute range with a strong emphasis on instrumental interplay. Vocals are rare and not very good. Just like with the Moving Gelatine Plates, instrumental interplay between sax/flute, keyboards and guitar is preferred to long solos for one instrument only. Although not as sophisticated or brilliant as Soft Machine's Third or Moving Gelatine Plates, Lagger Blues Machine's progressive jazz rock (i.e. rock fusion) is one of my favorite albums in this style. Sjef Oellers Gnosis 2000
Basically, the masterpiece here is the 17-minute suite entitled "Histoire Sans Parole". The epic starts off with one of the most beautiful flute, mellotron, acoustic guitar themes ever recorded, followed by countless beautiful themes for the remaining 15-minutes. The other songs on the album don't really match the quality of the epic, but they are nothing to complain about. I really like "Dixie", a fun song drenched with early American-jazz influences. The one thing that most listeners will catch is that HARMONIUM didn't have a drummer, yet the lack of drums doesn't take away too much from the music due to the increased interaction between flutes, saxes, acoustic guitars, piano, and mellotron. I would say that HARMONIUM were inspired by early GENESIS, and the calmer moments from early KING CRIMSON. Overall, what a perfect album to start your French Canadian prog collection with! Steve Hegede Prog Archives
A band from Tuscany, formed in the mid-70's in Siena, they released a self produced nine-track tape, Antichi confini, in 1976, and being part of the international Gen christian movement they were invited to play in various european Genfest festivals.
A year after releasing the classic album “La Marche Des Hommes”, Canada’s MORSE CODE released another masterful concept album titled “Procreation”. Following very closely their patented formula of progressive rock, this album will simply make all prog fans drool. Imagine a blend of HACKETT’esque guitar swoops with lots of beautiful mellotron/organ, creative bass and drum interplay and highly imaginative song writing and you have "Procreation". MORSE CODE is really a perfect marriage of classic ANGE with GENESIS ! Vocals are sung in French and really remind me of the theatrical presence of Christian Decamps (ANGE's vocalist). This album showcases the epic 26+ minute epic title piece which blends a highly British 70's prog character with their unique Québécois flavour. Overall another killer album that everyone needs to have in their collection... absolutely essential album! loserboy
