1976 Albums

Steve Hillage's second album, recorded at Bearsville Studios in New York, featured a different group of guest musicians—this time, all were Americans. Todd Rundgren took over the production duties and his Utopia compatriots subbed as the backing band: Roger Powell manned the keyboards, while Kasim Sulton and John Wilcox filled the rhythm section. Evidently Hillage and flat mate Chris Cutler were big fans, so he jumped at the chance to work with the American. The album, L, opens with a cover of Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man," though Hillage's signature is all over it.

Mona Lisa came from Orléans, France, and followed in the footsteps of countrymate Ange with their so-called "rock theatre:" a uniquely French style of progressive rock inspired by Genesis. A debut album L'Escapade, produced by Ange guitarist Jean-Michel Brézovar, was released by the Arcane label in 1974; but the following year's Grimaces showed progress. By their third album, the band had coalesced into a lineup of guitarist Pascal Jardon, keyboardist Jean-Paul Pierson, bassist Jean-Luc Martin, drummer Francis Poulet and vocalist Dominique Le Guennec.