Versailles ~ France

Blaise et Benjamin (1998)

Taking the sound of Le Trésor de Valliesres even further along their 1970's French heritage, Versailles have now fully embraced the space rock sound of Pulsar. Especially on the two opening lengthy epics  'Blaise et Benjamin' (15:21) and 'Poison de Passion' (19:19), whereas the two shorter tracks (short being a relative term here as both tracks clock in well over nine minutes each) return to their theatrical Ange and Mona Lisa roots. There is more room given to the instrumentals, and space is created for guitar riffs and solos, along with keyboard atmospheric sequences and organ demonstrations. If looking for English equivalents, or bands you may be familiar with, what you have here is classic Genesis meets Pink Floyd, both within their respective most progressive era. However, there's no mistaking Versailles' Gallic roots, and to repeat what the true influences are: Ange meets Pulsar. 'Poison de Passion' I believe to be Versailles' most 70's inspired track of their career.

This was to be the last album from the great Versailles, and they fortunately finished at the top of their game. However, the band essentially continued under the legendary Mona Lisa moniker for one final album, as they fulfilled the instrumental sections for lead vocalist Dominique Le Guennec. And Versailles' de facto leader Guillaume de la Piliere pushed on with three solo albums, though all missed the synchronicity of a full band effort.

Ownership: 1998 Musea (CD). Booklet has lyrics and photos. Acquired in 1998.

1998; 11/8/12 (review); 9/9/18; 6/6/21

Le Trésor de Valliesres (1994)

Versailles' 3rd album continues to mine the 1600's French bawdy theme of Don Giovanni, and expands upon the motif artistique of the theatrical French bands like Ange and Mona Lisa. The album cover art perhaps underscores this more than the music itself. Musically, Versailles doubles down on the direction of its predecessor. On Le Trésor de Valliesres, Versailles goes for broke on their early 1970s sound and composition obsession, going as far as adding mellotron and throwing in crazy progressive ideas / meter shifts / thematic inconsistencies wherever they feel like it. Add to that the Chris Squire inspired bass playing, and Gilmour (or perhaps more pointedly, Pulsar) styled glissando guitar, and you're in progressive rock heaven. Had this album been released in 1974, it would today be considered one of France's all-time great symphonic progressive masterpieces. But alas, this was 1994, an era that is today much looked over. But have no fear fellow intrepid travelers, the eventual discovery is coming. And we'll be awaiting when the ships arrive. For those that love Gallic progressive rock, this one is an all-timer.

Ownership: 1994 Musea (CD). Acquired in 1994.

1994; 11/8/12 (new entry)

 

Don Giovanni (1992)

Versailles debuted with the amateurish La Cathédrale du Temps, an album that was released before it was fully baked, and was an inauspicious start for the young French band. While today none of this is remembered, I do believe it hurt the band in the early 1990s, as I was certainly one who was put off at the time. But I was convinced to give them another chance with their sophomore effort Don Giovanni after much pleading. 

All that was wrong with Versailles' debut was corrected here. They put everything together on Don Giovanni for a mature progressive rock album in the theatrical French language tradition - itself a nationalistic response to the immense popularity of those pesky English and their blasted Genesis. So, in effect, Versailles are to Ange and Mona Lisa what IQ are to Genesis. And vocalist / guitarist / flautist and overall ringleader Guillaume de la Piliere is their spiritual heart, in the same way Peter Nicholls is for IQ. His vocals are the centerpiece to the compositions, but since most of the tracks clear (or are near) the ten minute mark, plenty of room is given for the most impressive instrumental work.

What is so striking about this release in 1992 is the pointed use of analog equipment, something that was highly unusual in its day. Hammond organ, string synths, Rickenbacker bass (or similar), acoustic and compressed electric acid guitar solos are all out of the 1978 French cookbook. If you've heard the private press French albums from this era (Arachnoid, Archaia, Nuance, etc...), then you'll know exactly the type of guitar sound I'm talking about here. 1992 is also the year Anglagard burst onto the scene, and yet Versailles went by with barely a mention. The good news is they continued on from here with two more albums (really three if you count the last Mona Lisa album), which are arguably even better and more powerful.

Ownership: 1992 Musea (CD). Booklet with lyrics and recording details. Acquired in 1994.

1994; 9/1/12 (review); 10/4/26

9/1/12 (new entry)