The rhythm section is certainly in the Magma style circa 1975, yet the melodies and dissonances of Eskaton’s music are entirely their own.
While Marc Rozenberg had switched from bass to keys and Gilles Rozenberg had since replaced De Raymond on keys, Bernardi moved from guitar to bass, and it’s his incredible impetus that makes 4 Visions one of the greatest of French progressive music’s successes. After a short break-up while several members left for their tour of national service, the band returned and opened for Magma, their musical father figure.Įskaton’s 4 Visions was recorded around 1978-9 and was not resurrected until Archie Patterson released it on his Eurock cassette label in 1981 (EC81002). It was this line-up that gigged from 1974 to 1977, often selling out venues. Xavier De Raymond (Fender piano), Gerard Konig (drums), Marc Rozenberg (bass), and Alain Blesing (guitar) shortened the name to Eskaton around the time they lengthened the line up to include vocalists Paule Kleynnaert and Amara Tahir, keyboards player Eric Guillaume, and guitarist Andre Bernardi. However it can’t be ignored that a strong Magma feeling is to be found in the bass playing (the schools of Moze, Top and Paganotti), the vocals (in the Stella Vander/Lisa Deluxe vein) and rhythms. The music throughout their career held a discernible Magma influence but it must be said that while Magma may have been some sort of stylistic prototype to the group, Magma’s penchant for striving for originality also has a mark on Eskaton, as the group would move farther and farther away from their roots as time went on. While the group’s members were as few as four and as large as eight, the music consistently remained at a high level throughout its career before vaguely disbanding in the mid 80′s after recording their unreleased fourth album. While beginning their careers with strong influences by Magma in both name (Eskaton Kommandkestra) and music, the Parisian group slowly and carefully forged their own view of celestial music over three albums and a single.
Of all the musicians and groups most influenced by Magma and “Zeuhl” music, Eskaton may have been the most impressive of all.
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