Cruciferius - A Nice Way of Life. 1970 France

Like a lot of people, I was drawn to this title due to the Magma connection, in particular one Bernard Paganotti. I had a chance to hear this album in the late 80s, and it didn't sound anything like Magma. Therefore it isn't any good! What? Ah, the impetuousness of youth! Recently I had the opportunity to hear the album in full for the first time objectively. And what you find is a band with similar influences to Magma at this time. A mix of jazz, pop, and psych exploring the boundaries of rock during this era. It's not a common sound for France, though one can find similarities in groups such as Alice, Eden Rose, Frantz, Iris,and yes, even Magma's sprawling 2LP double set. And their side group Univeria Zekt. So while not a jaw dropper, it's a fine historical piece well worth a CD reissue, especially if some relevant bonus tracks can be found.