Exposé Online banner

Step Ahead — Step Ahead
(Musea FGBG 4037.AR, 1982/1992, CD)

by Mike Borella, 1993-10-01:

Step Ahead Cover art Step Ahead was one of France's best symphonic bands and this, their only release, was a quite a rarity, not only in availability but also in quality. In the early eighties, few bands kept the progressive flame alive while all too many decided that sounding like Genesis was the best way to appeal to progressive fans. Step Ahead managed to derive a certain amount from Drama era Yes and some others but remains original in composition and atmosphere. Driven by Christain Robin's searing guitar work, the band created and pleasant yet powerful sympho album that deserves a listen by prog-heads and neo-proggers alike. Keyboardist Claudie Truchi plays with a wonderful style - she doesn't just bang chords during guitar solos or vocals lines - instead she plays complex multi-threaded semi-classical lines. Herrhythm playing is fantastic. Perhaps the best since Keith Emerson. Vocalist Danny Brown has a high pitched, strong tenor, and the band is rounded out by a solid rhythm section, capable of making the album worth listening to for the bass and drums alone. This disc contains five extra tracks, two of which are previously unreleased, destined for Step Ahead's second album, which never was finished. These two and the three live tracks are mediocre quality and not worth buying the Musea pressing for if you already have the out-of-print Japanese pressing. However they do add a nice touch for completists. Step Ahead may have been a precursor to the Marillion sound that dominated the mid-eighties, but I maintain that they are the most worthwhile of all bands that adopted that sound. They were original, yet their music contains a familiar flavor, thoughtful lyrics and listenable groove that makes its underlying complexity almost deceptive.

by Henry Schneider, 1993-12-31:

This CD includes Step Ahead’s only album recorded in 1982, three live tracks recorded at the Théâtre de Verdure, Nice, November 1982, and two previously unreleased tracks recorded at Step Ahead's rehearsal studio in 1982. The additional five songs are not of the same technical quality as the rest of the songs. Christian Robin and Musea included them as a document of their musical value for the band’s fans. Christian Robin reworked these tracks at Mr. Potier studio, Metz-Magny, in October 1992 to give them the best sound quality possible under the circumstances. Step Ahead was Christian Robin (electric guitars), Danny Brown (vocals), Gérard Macia (Ovation Adamas acoustic guitar), Claudie Truchi (keyboards, Bösendorfer Imperial grand piano), Antoine Ferrera (bass), Jean-Yves Dufournier (drums), Alain Lejeune (keyboards), Philippe Recht (bass), and Emmanuel Riquier (drums). Together they produced symphonic progressive music along the lines of Yes, FM, and Rick Wakeman. Christian’s voice sounds like Jon Anderson with more body. If you appreciate middle of the road progressive music, Step Ahead is an album to explore.

Filed under: Reissues , 1992 releases, 1982 releases

Related artist(s): Step Ahead

More info

Latest news

2021-04-01
New Aristocrats Live Album on the Way – No foolin'! These supreme musicians toured Europe early in 2020, just before touring ceased to be a thing musicians could do, and there were some hot performances captured. On May 7, some of these will be releases as Freeze! Live in Europe 2020. » Read more

2021-03-25
Return of Jerry Lucky's Progressive Rock Files – After much consideration and surprisingly, positive feedback, Jerry Lucky is announcing the launch of the progressive Rock Files podcast, featuring the latest progressive rock music from around the world. » Read more

2021-03-14
Jewlia Eisenberg RIP – The sad news has come out that Jewlia Eisenberg has died. As a founding member of Charming Hostess, Eisenberg changed the face of music, bringing together Balkan klezmer, American folk, and experimental rock in a distinctive blend that garnered much praise. » Read more

2021-03-11
RIP Roger Trigaux – The sad news has come to our attention that Roger Trigaux, the guiding force of Present and former member of Univers Zero, passed away on the evening of March 10, 2021 after a long ilness. » Read more

2021-02-14
SoundQuest Fest 2021 – SoundQuest Fest, first experienced as a live festival in Tucson Arizona in 2010 was created by ambient music pioneer Steve Roach. This 2021 event will unite a worldwide gathering of artists and audience members together for a 3-day online event unique in the realm of ambient music. From March 26-28th a continuous flow of streamed performances, audio-video wonder worlds and deep immersion zones will burn bright on Roach’s YouTube channel. » Read more

More news

Previously in Exposé...

Herbie Kritzer - The Tree Lizard – Californian Herbie Kritzer is clearly someone who enjoys having fun with music. Even his name sounds a bit cartoon-ish, and there’s certainly a streak of sly wit and boy-ish playfulness to many of...  (2005) » Read more

Various Artists - Giant for a Life - A Tribute to Gentle Giant – The second of two tributes to rock's most misunderstood progressive band is another hodgepodge of tracks from the Gentle Giant catalog. Most bands seem to adopt the policy of covering the original...  (1998) » Read more

Fripp & Eno - No Pussyfooting & Evening Star – Enough has been said about No Pussyfooting, a record of singular stature and importance to the gradual adoption of the avant-garde by popular artists, that if its creative success and pervasiveness...  (2009) » Read more

The Doors - Box Set – The Doors, you ask? Can one appreciate modern rock poets like Peter Hammill and the Fish-fronted Marillion without acknowledging the influence they received from the charismatic vocalist Jim Morrison?...  (1998) » Read more

Daevid Allen's University of Errors - Money Doesn't Make It – I’ve had the privilege of seeing this new hybrid project live at the Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco a few months ago. I was surprised both then and now as to how fresh and vital the new...  (1999) » Read more

Random review

Listen & discover

Ciccada playing and dreaming live

More recommendations
Paul Sears - Angels & Demons That Play book

Print issues