Forgas Band Phenomena (& related) ~ France

Roue Libre (1997)

In a recent post I featured Deus Ex Machina's Equilibrismo da Insofferenza. That same order included Forgas Band Phenomena's debut album. That's a lot of music to absorb at once! What a surprise Roue Libre was at the time. The only album that Patrick Forgas released that was even remotely interesting - to me at least - was Cocktail, an album from 20 years prior with funk and fusion influences. 23 years later from acquiring both the above albums, I can say with certainty that the veteran's new combo has held up better. Contained here are three instrumental tracks from a six piece band, totaling 45 minutes. Sounds like it could be a yawn fest. Yet it's nothing of the sort. The music continues to evolve, shift, explore, rock, and dance. It never stays in place too long - and it doesn't use crutches like aimless jamming or experimental noise to plow through the time. It's tightly composed and remains highly melodic throughout. Roue Libre is truly a brilliant work. There have been five more recordings from the Forgas Band Phenomena since, and they are all excellent, though this debut may very well be their best. This is one of many 1990s prog albums that have fallen into the forgotten category.

Ownership: 1997 Cosmos (CD). Booklet with historical info on the Free Wheel and some info about the band. Acquired in 1998.

9/8/98; 11/18/20 (review)

L'Oreille Electrique (2018)

The first thing one notices about L'Oreille électrique, Forgas Band Phenomena's 6th album, is just how direct it is. This is in-yer-face hard rocking progressive rock... ... via the Patrick Forgas filter. So do not fear FBP fans, the intricacies of prior albums remain, and while Forgas and new member Gerard Prevost (one with an impressive resume himself I might add) are piledriving the rhythms forward, there's still the delicate violin, trumpet, and saxophone adding what sounds like charted stage band music on top. Meanwhile guitarist Pierre Schmidt is rockin' like it's 1982, with shredding hard rock (not metal) riffs and solos everywhere. Such a juxtaposition of styles, which is what makes it work. Forgas has never been one to sit on a formula, and here he takes his jazz rock orchestra motif - and bashes it over your head. Great stuff. Forgas is now in his late 60s, and if anything, is projecting he has more energy now than ever. Bravo!

Ownership: 2018 Cuneiform (CD)

12/21/18 (review)

Soleil 12 (2005)

Patrick Forgas, I believe, must be some type of genius. Starting in the late 70s with the album Cocktail, Forgas was very much of his era in terms of creative songwriting and wonderful sound textures. Then after trying his hand at more pleasing commercial styled music, he disappears. 20 years after his landmark beginning he shows up with a new band in tow - now christened Forgas Band Phenomena. The latter word cannot be more underscored. Phenomena indeed. And now he is completely out of his time. For the better.

The brilliance comes from the fact that Forgas masterfully composes long suites of music, that never become boring or cliched. If I were to tell you the Forgas Band Phenomena is a jazz rock orchestra - or perhaps even a stage band - I suspect you would start running for the hills screaming NOOO THANKS all the way over. But in effect, that is what we have here. So yes, it does take a sort of genius to write a 34 minute+ song, and manage to keep ones attention throughout. Generally when I see that kind of length I expect a sequence of songs strewn together awkwardly as one. Or perhaps a high brow chamber styled music that forgets to rock out. Or even worse, lengthy instrumental solos to the point of painful, especially of the drum / percussion variety. But no, there's none of that. Sure there are solos - of course - but they are all pithy and impactful. It is progressive rock - meaning it does have heft. There's also a large palette of sounds here including violin, various saxophones, trumpet, sundry keyboards, along with the usual guitar, bass, and drums. The latter provided by band leader Forgas. In this way, Forgas is like Christian Vander - one who never lost a vision and has total control of what that is.

Though this is a live album, it will not seem as such. The first three tracks are all new, though the 34 minute opus theoretically was composed for a second album in the late 70s that never materialized. I'm certain it's been much expanded here regardless. The final piece is a live rendition from their second album Extra-Lucide. Excellent album.

Ownership: 2005 Cuneiform (CD)

11//05; 12/21/18 (review)

Cocktail (1977)

Patrick Forgas was known, even at the time of this release, as the French Robert Wyatt. The parallels are certainly there: Canterbury styled jazz rock, lead by a drummer, who sings with a high pitched insouciant voice. But perhaps it's the French part that gives Cocktail its unique edge, and you'll also hear artists like Gong, Dashielle Hedayat, and even Moving Gelatine Plates creeping in here and there. And, this being 1977 and all, it was hard to avoid those trendy funky grooves, and Forgas succumbed on occasion. Forgas compiles an all-star cast here, and in addition to the multitude of instruments Forgas plays himself, they add keyboards, guitar, bass, violin, saxophone, and flute. 'Monks' features a vicious fuzz bass groove, that reminds me of Hedayat's Obsolete. Elsewhere, Forgas writes little vignettes, each could have been the basis for a longer and more enjoyable track had he decided to flesh them out. These could serve as library / TV incidental music. For Side 2, Forgas does just that - writes a full opus - and gives us the 18+ minute 'My Trip' fulfilling the promise of Side 1.

Following this, Forgas piddled around with substandard releases, until he got serious again in 1998 with his Forgas Band Phenomena, a band that continues today and is one of the leading lights of progressive music. Great to see the old dogs showing the new pups a few things.

Ownership: 2008 Musea (CD). Includes 13 relevant bonus tracks. Acquired in 2012.

First copy to own: 1977 Gratte-Ciel (LP). Acquired in 1991.

1991; 9/5/12 (review)

Acte V (2012)

Patrick Forgas continues on with his 5th namesake Band Phenomena album. No surprises here if you're familiar with the great trajectory Forgas' career has taken since his early solo career from 1977 (has it been that long!?). What makes the Forgas Band Phenomena so great is the synergy of an instrumental seven piece band. So in addition to the standard rock quartet of guitar, keyboards, bass, and drums - you also have dedicated members providing violin, trumpet, and sax / flute. The music is tight and energetic, while never forgetting that their main premise is to rock your britches off. How many progressive bands today forget this last component? Anyone familiar with the early to mid 1970s European jazz rock scene will find much to enjoy here. Forgas, in addition to writing and arranging all the compositions here, keeps everything moving forward with his fine drumming precision.

Ownership: 2012 Cuneiform (CD). The booklet is a nice homage to their debut Roue Libre album. Features recording details, photos, and liner notes. Along with the CD, there is a full DVD of their NEARFest 2010 performance, which I have yet to view.

7/3/12 (review); 3/3/26

Also own and need to review: Extra-Lucide; L'Axe Du Fou

7/3/12 (new entry)