Rictus "Ouverture" 1979 French Prog Rock

Rictus ‎ “Christelle Ou La Découverte Du Mal” 1979 France Private Prog Rock

Ultra Rare Original LP. 250 copies only for this mythic French Prog. 1st LP. 5 stars in Pokora 5001 book. …..

Christelle is a 6 year old girl. She is happy. One day she meets an Evil Genius who makes her have bad hallucinations. Each song is one of her hallucinations.

Reissue of a rare, 250 copy private press progressive rock album from France, rated 5 stars in the Pokora Books. Recorded on a 4 track Akai in the small town of Luxueil-les-Bains, this album was only sold at a few shows and in one local shop. Pressed at the small Le Kiosque D’Orphee pressing plant, this was truly a private offering with the band having made and glued the covers themselves. A long album, including the 14+ minute progressive gem ‘Theme Guerre’, the music spans from lo-fi fuzz laden numbers to strong progressive songs with numerous bridges and changes. Conceptually a Rock Opera, but plays like a full length progressive album that could rival anything from France at the time…..

It is understandable how such a complex, rather symphonic and almost theatrical concept, full of life, with a rich musical story line, by this French band wasn’t adapted in France but was instead released in Quebec, Canada, where they were very much open to such sub-cultural advancements like that of Rictus. The story, which was performed on stage too, was about a 6 year old girl who meets an evil genius, which makes her having those hallucinations; each track is such a hallucination. It contains a beautiful complexity in the musical themes with a great organist/keyboard playing (with some electronics), roaring and well accompanying fuzz guitars, and groovy, perfectly following drums. A few themes have easier rhythms, like a reggae-based rhythm on the 5th track, still fitting to the story and with enough arrangement to it to make this work. Never the less its qualities, I had to give the album many listens to get a better grip on all. This is mixing progressive music, theatre rock, baroque symphonic and goes also beyond all that like a vision with its own specific context. (The four bonus tracks are not as good but still fit to the context). …..

The original lineup was;

Daniel Corbont : Bass
Daniel Aizier : Guitar
Marcel Bony : Guitar
François Corbont : Drums
Pierre Pomet : Drums
Jean-Claude Schmidt : Singer
Rol Brultey : Keyboards

Daniel Fichter and Daniel Corbont : Sound engineers
Guy Mauvais : Slides
Lights : Agnès Brice

Pierre Pomet played a few shows with the band, but eventually left France and had to be replaced by Jean-Marie Wisselman (who plays on the LP).