1974 Albums

The Blue Effect were another impressive progressive rock band to come from behind the Iron Curtain. The band’s name-the so-called “blue book” that postponed the members’ military conscription-was changed to Modry Efekt during the post-Prague Spring “normalization.” Formed by the Prague-born guitarist, Radim Hladík spent the 60s in a succession of beat-era groups, most famously with “bigbít” legends The Matadors. By 1968, he and vocalist Vladimír Mišík found their musical calling in The Blue Effect, adding drummer Vladimír Čech and bassist Jiří Kozel.

France never really took to rock ‘n' roll the way other Europeans did; in the 60s, French rock bands were few and far between, the yé-yé of Johnny Hallyday notwithstanding. Yet in the early 70s, "rock progressif" slowly infiltrated French culture; and of those bands that did emerge (Atoll, Catharsis, Mona Lisa), Ange was certainly the most quintessential. Formed in 1970 by brothers Christian and Francis Décamps, the band had consolidated into their most classic lineup in 1971, with Jean-Michel Brézovar on guitar, Daniel Haas on bass and Gérard Jelsch on drums.