Eskaton - Icare (France, 1985)

This was also originally posted on mysteryposter in 2006, then re-posted 2009 (according to Wayback Machine). Eskaton, from the Paris area, were one of the best Zeuhl groups towards the end of the 70s. Their three main albums (from 1979, 1980, and 1983) were all reissued by Soleil Zeuhl in the past few years. This record was their last effort, and was never released. A few songs were included as bonus tracks on the reissues, but the whole thing has only been passed around as a bootleg. I have no idea where the original came from (before it got to Mystery Poster), or how it made its way onto the internet as 320k mp3s, but I am pleased to have it, and happy to pass it on again. More info on Eskaton can be found in an interview with guitarist Andre Bernardi here.

This is real-deal 80s prog. If you're a 70s proghead ideologically opposed to 80s prog, this may not be for you. If you're open to 80s sounds but not that into prog, you might still be into this. I personally love 80s prog. Although much of it can be pretty bad, there are tons of gems to be discovered (Prog Not Frog has featured a few great ones recently). The good stuff usually shows a pop influence, giving up some of the more esoteric prog extravagances, highlighting some of the more melodic and groove-oriented features. The recordings often sound bizarre: 80s prog bands seemed to be really open to new synths and digital effects, but the way they used them sounds nothing like what you hear in new wave or disco music from the same time. This strangely affecting synthetic sound is definitely present on this recording, but is made weirder by the lo-fi transfer quality of this copy. Super fuzzy, always making me think of it as "VHS sound quality." The versions of these songs included with the reissues sound a lot clearer. I've also noticed that the versions on this copy are pitched up. The tracklisting is also a bit dicky, with the endings of two songs separated for no reason. I love the way this copy sounds, though.

The music is unorthodox prog with a pop tendency, without sounding commercial (at all). That is to say: mostly 4/4 rhythms, catchy hooks and nice riffs, but mixed with dissonant harmonies, strange chord voicings, spacey synth sounds, intricate fills, drones, strange lyrics. Synths, guitars, and dual female vocals are the prominent sounds. The lyrics are in French, and the mood varies from upbeat and joyous to hypnotic and brooding. Great album meriting deep listening.

Eskaton - Icare
Unreleased, 1985

1  Marcel 
2  Autant le temps
3  Le gros délire
4  Le bruit
5  New-York
6  Le chant
7  Le cri
8  Unknown track 1
9  Unknown track 2
10  Unknown track 3
11  Unknown track 4

Link

And for some real VHS sound quality...

LOSP - Poules Mortes (France, 1986?)

LOSP (or Losp, or L.O.S.P.) is another name for the group Los Paranos, an underground new-wave band from Lyon featuring Christophe Petchanatz, who would later found the Klimperei project, alongside Françoise Lefebvre/Petchanatz (also of Klimperei) and sometimes "M. Ferrero", "R. Sapin", and Laurent Fauconnet. This C60 was put out by Medicinal Tapes, a label which, according to Discogs, was "the house label for the Urbain Autopsy project." 1986 is my guess for the release date, since that's when most of the other Medicinal tapes were put out. Losp/L.O.S.P./Los Paranos were active from the late-70s through the 80s.

I unfortunately don't have a scan of the cover, and my copy of the tape is in storage in another country. The tape was given to me by José (who ran NANINANI mail-order and the Paha Porvari label) when I visited him in Nassandres back in 2006. This rip has been sitting on a hard drive since 2007 or so.

The tape is a mixture of several different styles prevalent in the 80s underground tape scene: lo-fi synth-pop, atmospheric industrial, acoustic vignettes with guitar or piano, children's melodies, field recordings, noise. The faux-naive instrumental style of Klimperei is definitely visible here, but mixed with equal parts punk attitude and psychedelic weirdness.

More info here and here. If you feel so inclined, you can make a donation to Christophe Petchanatz here.

LOSP - Poules Mortes 
C60, Medicinal Tapes, 1986?

A1  Moor I        
A2  Bavière        
A3  Each Element        
A4  Trottinette        
A5  Factory        
A6  Bibopeuloula        
A7  No Narrow Nights        
A8  Après Le Tilleul       
A9  Moor II        
A10  Mobile    
B1  Nappins!        
B2  A F.        
B3  Médecine
B4  Le Ponton        
B5  Vox        
B6  Assiette        
B7  Gloude       
B8  'Feel Like        
B9  Mystery        
B10  Au Bois  
B11  Ma Copine (Short Piece)        
B12  Exode        
B13  Tempête        
B14  Finale

Link