Edition Speciale ~ France

Horizon Digital (1978)

---2008

Horizon Digital has long been considered my favorite of their three albums. The group started inauspiciously with Allee des Tilleuls, a misfired attempt at American funk (ed: want to hear this again given my later interest in funk). But the follow up Aliquante was a punch between the eyes – a fast paced, tightly interwoven instrumental fusion album, indebted to Mahavishnu Orchestra to be sure, but of the highest quality. Most folks rate Aliquante the best, and it's understandable why. Horizon Digital combines the high energy fusion of Aliquante with a much better understanding of the funk they tried on their debut. After mixing those two, they took the end product and added some Zeuhl elements, ala Zao, to create a diverse, and highly creative effort. 

The CD also includes five bonus tracks (totaling around 27 minutes) of a proposed 4th album from 1980. These tracks are fully developed and show the band incorporating the French New Wave movement. One can hear the same type of sounds as also found on Superfreego, Lievaux – Transfo, Foehn, and Odeurs.

---7/10/2026

And that's the last time I heard Horizon Digital, missing the advent of UMR by one year. Time to build out a band page for Edition Speciale. It's probably been even longer since I heard Aliquante.

Horizon Digital is one of those albums that intersects both the progressive rock and jazz fusion genres. The shifts in tone and meters, coupled with some light French vocal sections, points to the former. The overall sound recalls the late 70s fusion era. The music is highly melodic and well composed. There are traces of mid 70s Soft Machine as well. The complexity within the tight constructs of the composition would later be explored further by the Forgas Band Phenomena.

This isn't an album you hear too many folks talk about, but for my tastes it is an essential addition to any progressive rock collection. 

I also really enjoy the artwork that adorns the gatefold cover.

I'm going to dial back some of my enthusiasm for the bonus tracks. The blues number is forgettable and 'Open it Up' is sung in English - not a good plan. The new wave influences are mostly muted, only heard in the synth work. I wasn't aware of the Boogie Funk genre in 2008, but that's a more accurate reference to their overall sound. Closer to disco than rock or fusion, but with an 80s slant. Some of these tracks would command hundreds (or thousands) of dollars in the 45 market were it American and on some private label. I find them pleasurable, though not enough for me to keep. 

Ownership: 1978 RCA (LP). Gatefold with pictures of the band. Acquired in 1992.

Previously owned: 2007 Musea (CD). Booklet with history and five bonus tracks. Acquired in 2008.

1992; 2008; 7/10/26 (review)

Also own: Aliquante

7/10/26 (new entry)