Eric Delaunay - Antagonisme! 1980 France

Not much is known about drummer Eric Delaunay's past. We learn from the liner notes of Musea's reissue of the second Asia Minor album that Delaunay had been an early member, but left prior to any recording. Then time passes, and he finds himself with a group under his own name on major label Vogue! How he was able to achieve this remains something of an unknown. Especially when one considers how noncommercial Antagonisme! really is. 

The album itself is all instrumental, built upon complex structures and themes. There's some fantastic guitar and keyboards here, along with Eric Delaunay's driving rhythms. Special kudos go to bassist Paul Amar who plays a major role throughout. Other than a couple of short keyboard atmospheric pieces, Antagonisme! is an energetic, well produced, instrumental progressive rock album. Well worth pursuing.

After this album, none of the other members resurfaced again, beyond Delaunay himself. He later formed Tiemko and one can easily hear his songwriting and approach being applied. Especially on their debut Espace Fini, but with more modern equipment (for better or worse).

Ownership: LP: 1980 Vogue. Single sleeve. Recent acquisition from a friend in Japan (2019)

No reissues exist as I update this post on 6/24/24. Sadly Eric Delaunay passed away in a deadly car crash in 1996.

8/25/10; 3/16/19 (new entry)