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ANOXIE progressive rock band

A band from Périgord (South West of France) founded by keyboards wizard Pascal Lachaize, Anoxie get some positive reviews in the musical press with their first EP published in 1986, "A New Dawn", featuring 'Visa For An Other World' and 'The Returning'. Then the band produces 'The Quest', a superb suite for the "Enchantement" compilation, a disc collecting the best French progressive bands, published by Musea in 1990 on the CD form.

Before recording a first concept album, the group, willing to keep the old demos, unpublished and live tracks of that time (1984-1987) from oblivion, gathers, according to Mellow Records' (an Italian label known for its reissues of seventies progressive rock gems) desire, several songs and remastered them. "Pastales" is a compilation testifying of Anoxie's first steps before the real thing !

Unfortunately, the band splits before recording that album in 1990. The band's testament, a live track ('The Man in the Moon'), has been released by Acid Dragon.

The complete lyrics of Anoxie's songs written by Thierry Sportouche (who lives in Lyon) are published and distributed by Aube Editions ("Blue poems and Songs"). Thierry Sportouche also wrote with Francis Grosse the story of "Seven Days Of A Life", a concept compilation (Musea), and in 1998 founded Silver Lining with Pascal Indelicato and Nicolas Mourachko. Lionel Gibaudan, Anoxie's bass player, joined XII Alfonso.

 


 

The first single "A new dawn", was a concept, and featured an insert with the lyrics and pictures. Two tracks : 'Visa For An Other World' and 'The Returning'. This record was privately released in 1986.

"A pleasure" (Harmonie - France).

"Excellent lyrics wrapped up in a very imaginary way" (Background magazine - Holland)

 

 


 

A compilation of Anoxie's first steps including old demoes, live tracks and the first single. Mellow records - 1994

 

"The music is very pleasant and reminiscent to Eloy, Genesis and Pink Floyd" (Background Magazine - Holland)
"The songs are complex with frequent changes of melodies and complicated rhythms... The sound is completly dominated by the omnipresent keyboards played by keyboards wizard Pascal Lachaize..." (Atropos - Spain)

"Beautiful lyrics" (Harmonie - France)

"It is rich in atmospherics and and contains some nice melodic passages. (...) A collector's item for fans of 70's French symphonic prog" (Progarchives - USA)

Read Jurriaan Hage's review.

 Now available here!


 

The famous "Enchantement" compilation with Anoxie's gem : 'The Quest' - Musea 1990

"Ambitious and complex... Captivating" (Harmonie - France)

"'The Quest'  is a slow building epic, filled with whispered vocals, penetrating guitar runs, hushed thudding drums and swarming keys" (Music uncovered - USA)

 

 


 

Thierry Sportouche (Anoxie's lyricist) co-wrote with Francis Grosse the story of the international version of "Enchantement" - Musea 1993

"A great album" (Paperlate - Italy)

"Beyond what we were waiting for" (Harmonie - France)

"First grade" (Yessounds - Spain)

"A must have" (Musicmania - France)

"Buy this CD!" (Background - Holland)

"The storyline gives this CD a greater sense of thematic unity than a sampler would... A superb album." (Music uncovered  - USA)

"A winner" (Gibraltar - USA)

 

 


 

"2001, a prog Odyssey?" (From the Lyon's Vault, volume 2)  features Anoxie's last track, 'The Man in the Moon'.

"The Man in The Moon (is) a simple, atmospheric and evocative keyboards and vocals piece" (Wondrous Stories - UK)

 

 


 

Watch out ! This is not a progressive album... Just a hard rock record produced by a homonym band from the North of France

 

 


© Acid Dragon - Thierry Sportouche - 10/2004