Gérard Manset ‎- Lumières (1984) FR 1st Pressing - LP/FLAC In 24bit/96kHz

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Gérard Manset ‎- Lumières (1984) FR 1st Pressing - LP/FLAC In 24bit/96kHz

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Gérard Manset ‎- Lumières (1984) FR 1st Pressing - LP/FLAC In 24bit/96kHz

Close

×

Gérard Manset ‎- Lumières (1984) FR 1st Pressing - LP/FLAC In 24bit/96kHz

Close

×

Gérard Manset ‎- Lumières (1984) FR 1st Pressing - LP/FLAC In 24bit/96kHz

Close

Gerard Manset biography
Parisienne singer-songwriter GERARD MANSET was always surrounded by the veil of mystery. Born in 1945, ,he discovered rock music while attending Ecole des Arts Déco and started playing guitar (he also plays piano). He self-financed his debut "Animal on n'est mal" which passed unnoticed, probably due to the student riots in 1968. The albums was quickly forgotten, however his second album simply labelled "Gerard Manset" received good reviews, which encouraged him to record "La Mort d'Orion" shortly after. La Mort d'Orion is one of his seminal works - a delicate and melancholic album, in structure similar to a symphony and entirely different from the contemporary musical stream (symphonic progressive rock included).

Despite the audience's interest, he refused to gain commercial success from the circum stances, started immediately to build his own studio ("Le Studio Milan") instead. In 1975, he released "Y'a une Route", which sold in 300.000 copies and instantly launched him into a national stardom.

He was horrified.

From the very beginnings, Manset was avoiding public exposure; moreover, he never performed his songs live, claiming "it would be immodest and totally ridiculous" playing his songs in front of the audience and saying he would feel like exposed in a zoo. Such a person, whom always refused to give any interviews or to do promotional commitments certainly needs not a star status or media interest. Perhaps because of his uncompromising attitude he gained a cult following.

However, in the light of his last commercial succes, he released an album with symbolical title "Rien à Raconter" ("Nothing To say")(1976), while 1978's "2870" distanced him even more from the musical mainstream (and added more substance to his eclecticist qualities).

During the 80's and 90's he became less focused on music, probably tired of the media and fanbase pressures: he published a few novels, took extended trips to Asia and South America, and focused more on his other artistic side: painting and photography. His post-seventies albums are much more relaxed, tranquil, often stripped down to the basic musical ingredients.

Why is this artist listed at Progarchives.com:

The majority of Manset's music is not fitting under the wide blanket of progressive rock; not even rock in general, since he's primarily a chanson songwriter. However, he toyed with various expressions attributed as prog rock - from psychedelia to progressive electronic, blending it with French music. Moreover, his album "La Mort d'Orion" is a progressive masterpiece of unsurpassed inspiration, uncompromisingly meandering through the fusion of styles, not hesitating to implement from rock music in any of its forms, from the classical, folk, even electronic music. It's both be dramatic and severe, of highly elaborated complexity, melancholic, introspective, honest, and to sum it up - highly recommended.

By Moris Mateljan, 2008, progarchives.com

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