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Review Summary: This is another obscure album of prog rock music. But it’s one of the greatest French prog rock albums from the 70’s. “La Clef Des Songes” is the debut and only album of the French progressive rock group Pentacle and was released in 1975. The line up on the album is Gerard Ruez, Claude Menetrier, Richard Treiber and Michel Roy.
Pentacle is a French progressive rock group formed in 1971 in Belfort, France. The origin of the group’s name was chosen by a friend of the band. Pentacle is a cabalistic sign, despite the musicians had no mystical leanings. They liked it and duly adopted it. They released only one album. The album was produced by Christian Descamps, the vocalist of one of the best and most known French progressive bands of the 70’s, Ange. The music is simple and elegant, in contrast with the bombast of many of their contemporaries’ compatriots. Their music has some influences of Genesis, Moody Blues and early King Crimson, and the lyrics of the entire album are in their mother tongue, the French.
According to Pentacle, the recordings of the band’s debut album were earmarked for February 1975 at the Citadelle Studios in Besançon. Pentacle’s repertoire consisted of six tracks with French words, written mostly by Richard and sung by Gerard. The recordings were made over eight days and put onto a 16 track tape. As the group didn’t had much time to record, they worked from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, sometimes dragging the sessions out till of the midnight.
Pentacle had decided to call their album “La Clef Des Songes” after one of the tracks and asked Yvan Campello, who was an amateur painter, to design the cover art of it. Pentacle suggested some ideas and from Yvon’s three projects the group chose a drawing of a man suspended in mid-air, superimposed on a surrealistic dreamy background and holding a key in his hands, the key of the dreams, certainly. The album was released in May 1975 and sold only 3.000 copies.
As many single albums of the progressive rock music of the 70’s, Pentacle’s French music has not received much recognition until very recently. The reissue on CD by Musea Records with more three live bonus tracks, created a legion of progressive rock fans who expressed their love for the album through forums on the Internet. This has helped Pentacle to finally get out of the obscurity and have some of the attention they deserve. However, “La Clef des Songes” still remains an obscure album for more than 40 years. But at least, the band left us with a just over half an hour of splendid music. Undoubtedly, “La Clef Des Songes” deserves to be heard by all fans of the progressive rock music.
Their music doesn’t have the dominance as is the case with Ange and Mona Lisa. All compositions range in quieter climes and are free from any bombast. The use of the French language installed a subliminal elegance into their music. Bypassing striking or even superficial instrumental escapades, “La Clef Des Songes” impressively proves that it also can develop rock without these elements, the typical character of the classic progressive rock. The soulful singing of guitarist Gérard Ruez is pleasant and well suited to the often melancholy character of the album. In many ways, the album sounds as if it had been released in any other period of time. Its compositions have an abundance of bodies and mellotrons, and the original arrangements of the band make this a unique and beautiful album in many ways, not specifically sounding like any other band, but as a mixture of the best sounds that the progressive rock has to offer.
The overall quality of the album doesn’t detract. All instruments fit very useful into the overall concept of “La Clef Des Songes”. Powerful and dominant trips to the string and key instruments are amazing. Pentacle’s only album convinces rather by his musical unity and rewards the lovers of romantic embossed direction of progressive rock with beautifully elaborate musical details, which emerge only gradually from the beginning quite unremarkable overall character of the music. In particular, the fantastic last two tracks “Complot” and “Le Raconteur” mark the highlights of the album. From a ballad song each approach using well-dose organ and guitar develops a slowly increasing musical intensity. It’s a pity they hasn’t released more albums in the coming years. This debut is indicative they would have a bright future ahead.
Conclusion: Although this is the only Pentacle’s effort, this is a mature and versatile exceptional album that should be heard by all fans of progressive rock music. Despite its rather obscure status, this is one of the most important French progressive rock albums of the 70’s, and deserves to be considered as such and can be described as a beautiful, amazing and exciting trip. This is an album that most fans of French symphonic progressive rock will really like, a quartet solidly in the vein of Atoll, Ange, Mona Lisa and Pulsar. In fact this is one of the best French albums, with great arrangements, lush keyboards and a warm spacey atmosphere. With some mediocre quality sound, sometimes, the quality of the three live bonus tracks is remarkable. I’m very impressed with them. The live versions are great and are better performed than their studio versions, especially the live version of “La Clef Des Songes”. It’s simply superb.
Music was my first love.
John Miles (Rebel)
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Album Rating: 4.0
Here it is a truly obscure prog rock album from the 70's, one of the best French prog albums indeed. It was written in "la langue de Molière et Balzac" which means, it has French lyrics. I'm convinced it is pratically unknown here on Sputnik. I had to create the band and add the album on the site in the last week.
I hope you enjoy it as I do. This is special indicated for lovers of Genesis and for those who like to hear French language on a rock album.
As usual your comments are welcome.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
@ Jethro
So, according with what I said in my other comment, this is especially an album indicated for you. I really hope you like it.
Cheers, buddy.
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Have had this sitting in my library unlistened to for years, ought to give it a spin some time
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Do that MeatSalad. You'll see this is an excellent album.
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See, the language barrier won't stop you from exposing these obscure gems to the public, pos. I'm listening to the album right now on YouTube and I really like it. It sounds very honest, written to stick with the listener, not progressive for the sake of being progressive and show off. The kind of music that's enjoyable to hear as much as it looks enjoyable to play
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Listening now and this is great. It's too bad that this was lost for so long before finding an audience. Better late than never, I guess.
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Sweet review. I'm looking forward to hearing this.
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I listened to it two times so far (minus the live cuts). I'm loving it, especially the first and last tracks
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
It feels good to hear a good prog album in French. The lyric themes are quite varied,,, Justice meets injustice, the fragile power and glory, time and space, real and illusion, good and evil, light and darkness, hope and desperation... etc...and lyrics are rather down to earth, not too ethereal like prog artists tend to do.
My favorite songs are probably ''Complot'', ''Le Raconteur'' and ''Naufrage''. I haven't listened to the live ones for not detracting from the album's flow.
Like you said on your review, album has similarities with Ange, but here it's a bit less complex, less adventurous. I love its soaring electric guitar that reminds me of Wishbone Ash Argus' ones.
Finally, I'm sure that an obscure prog band from Quebec, Morse Code - La Marche Des Hommes (1975) would be something you'd dig. They are also a keyboard centered band with a solid rhythmic section and they have a knack for gorgeous melodies and arrangements.
Well done review, my friend. Cheers.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
@Sabrutin
"See, the language barrier won't stop you from exposing these obscure gems to the public."
Of course not. I've no problem with language barriers, as you know. With a clear domine of the English language all over the world, especially in the music, we all must adapted ourselves to this reality. As you know too, my mother tongue is Portuguese language which is very different, in terms of gramatical construction, to English language. For instance, Portuguese is much more close to French because both are Latin languages. Anyway, I'm used to listen and review albums from any kind of origin, as you can see. However, I know that there are some people with problems about it, even on this site. For instance, I read before, here on Sputnik, one member saying that he never rate an album when he doesn't know its lyrics. So, as you can see, there are persons with language barriers.
About this album, I'm very glad that you are liking it. The album is really great. However, as you can see, it's a pity this is an album with less attention than many others. In general, people are more interested is participate in what they know very well than in strange things. This album has many things against it. It's an album from an obscure band, it's an album of the 70's, it's a prog album and above all, it's an album with lyrics in French. However, I really think it deserves the effort of put it here and discover it to the world. Pentacle deserves it, as many other obscure bands.
I'm very glad that you participated on my review. As you like "obscure gems", I can tell you that possibly my next four reviews are about another "obscure gems".
Cheers my friend.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
@Twig
I agree with you. It's great and is a pity that it was lost as many other things. As I said to Sabrutin, I will put other lost albums in the next weeks.
Cheers.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
@bnelso
Thanks man. Listen to it and enjoy it.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
@ Jethro
I'm very glad that you like the album. I'm very glad that you mentioned the lyrics too. As you know, I know a little bit of French but it's very important to have the opinion of a French speaker. I always thought that the lyrics are very down to earth.
My favourite songs are the same, especially "Le Raconteur" is a truly prog masterpiece.
I also agree with you about the simillarities about Ange. As I wrote on my review, Pentacle's music is much more simple, less bombastic and adventurous.
About the guitar work and the simillarities with Wishbone Ash Argus' I never thought abut it. I must listen that album again because I don't listen it for centuries.
You have mentioned already Morse Code, "La Marche Des Hommes" once. I must confess that I only know the name's band. Sincerelly I never listen that album, but I'm very curious about it. I need to check it, one of these days.
Anyway, in the next weeks I will put here another obscure albums from another obscure bands, and perhaps I have a sepecial surprise fot you.
Cheers, buddy.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Oh yes, bring the surprise, I can't wait ;)
Have you considered covering some Galahad?
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Then you'll see.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Nice review. I became very curious about it. I need to check it.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Nice man. I hope you enjoy it too.
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" I can tell you that possibly my next four reviews are about another "obscure gems"."
Interesting, I'll be there. By the way, I decided that I'll be on the hunt for a copy of this album. I want it on my shelf
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Great, man. A very wise decision.
By the way, who is the artist on your new avatar?
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Geezer Butler! I just noticed that you haven't rated any Black Sabbath album, it surprised me to be honest haha. Are they not your thing maybe?
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