LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Label: Paisley Press

Mémoriance’s Et Après... is a beautifully strange entry in the French progressive rock landscape of the mid-1970s. The album favours long, carefully developed pieces rather than short song forms, allowing keyboards, guitar, rhythm section and vocals to move through dramatic changes of mood. There is a strong theatrical quality to the music, but it feels less mannered than some of its contemporaries, with the band creating atmosphere through patience, contrast and melodic detail.

What makes the record especially appealing is its balance between symphonic ambition and a slightly raw underground character. The extended compositions shift from reflective passages to more urgent instrumental sections, while the French vocals add a distinctive emotional intensity. Rather than sounding like a straight imitation of the better-known French prog groups, Mémoriance created a compact but memorable album with its own identity. This Paisley Press edition restores the group’s 1976 debut in its original four-track form.

1. Je Ne Sais Plus – 8:47
2. La Grange Mémoriance – 10:59
3. Et Après... – 10:23
4. Tracsir – 4:48