Atoll

The French equivalent of prog-rock bands Yes and Genesis, Atoll recorded four albums in the mid- to late '70s with a lineup that stabilized by the time of the group's second album. L'Araignee Mal (1975) included vocalist/percussionist André Balzer, guitarist Christian Beya, bassist Jean-Luc Thillot, keyboard player Michel Taillet, and drummer Alain Gozzo. Gradually commercializing its sound beginning with third album Tertio, Atoll released only one more studio album Rock Puzzle before breaking up. In the late '80s, however, a new, pop-oriented version appeared. Including only Beya from the previous lineup, the band released L'Ocean and the live album Tokyo C'est Fini (both 1989).

The French equivalent of prog-rock bands Yes and Genesis, Atoll recorded four albums in the mid- to late '70s with a lineup that stabilized by the time of the group's second album. L'Araignee Mal (1975) included vocalist/percussionist André Balzer, guitarist Christian Beya, bassist Jean-Luc Thillot, keyboard player Michel Taillet, and drummer Alain Gozzo. Gradually commercializing its sound beginning with third album Tertio, Atoll released only one more studio album Rock Puzzle before breaking up. In the late '80s, however, a new, pop-oriented version appeared. Including only Beya from the previous lineup, the band released L'Ocean and the live album Tokyo C'est Fini (both 1989).

Atoll were a talented French ensemble who very much carried their own symphonic sound blending the finer aspects of fellow acts Ange, Pulsar and Mona Lisa. Their style is very theatrical in nature offering dynamic and melodic arrangements with some great song writing. Along the topics it is impossible to avoid the comparisons with Genesis, Yes and Mahavishnu Orchestra. The changes of members were another of the characteristics of this group who counted John Wetton among their members.
Recorded in 1974, "Musiciens-Magiciens" reveals itself as a great debut album.

Janet Jennings - Play-Pen (2019) {Atoll}
FLAC (tracks) - 16bit/44.1kHz - Official Digital Download (qobuz.com) -> 259 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 154 Mb
Full Artwork (jpg+pdf) -> 14 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2019 Atoll | ACD221
Classical / Modern Classical / Chamber Music / Voice

A varied recording of engaging and characterful new music by Janet Jennings, performed by Christina Wilson, Liam Wooding, Luca Manghi and Ben Hoadley. The project takes its name and concept from Jenny Doležel's painting Play-Pen, which featues as the cover image for the album and also inspired one of the piano pieces in the suite (Pictures At The Waikato Museum). Janet Jenning's specialist area of composition is setting text (particularly New Zealand poetry) to music. She is one of Aotearoa's leading composers for voice.

One of the best French progressive bands of all time IMHO who blended all the right elements. The music of ATOLL is complex, very elaborate and yet beautiful and delicate…

The French equivalent of prog-rock bands Yes and Genesis, Atoll recorded four albums in the mid- to late '70s with a lineup that stabilized by the time of the group's second album. L'Araignee Mal (1975) included vocalist/percussionist André Balzer, guitarist Christian Beya, bassist Jean-Luc Thillot, keyboard player Michel Taillet, and drummer Alain Gozzo. Gradually commercializing its sound beginning with third album Tertio, Atoll released only one more studio album (plus a compilation) before breaking up. In the late '80s, however, a new, pop-oriented version appeared. Including only Beya from the previous lineup, the band released L'Ocean and the live album Tokyo C'est Fini (both 1989).

The French equivalent of prog-rock bands Yes and Genesis, Atoll recorded four albums in the mid- to late '70s with a lineup that stabilized by the time of the group's second album. L'Araignee Mal (1975) included vocalist/percussionist André Balzer, guitarist Christian Beya, bassist Jean-Luc Thillot, keyboard player Michel Taillet, and drummer Alain Gozzo. Gradually commercializing its sound beginning with third album Tertio, Atoll released only one more studio album (plus a compilation) before breaking up. In the late '80s, however, a new, pop-oriented version appeared. Including only Beya from the previous lineup, the band released L'Ocean and the live album Tokyo C'est Fini (both 1989).