Alpha Centauri – Alpha Centaury (1976, LP, France)

Tracklist:
A1 La Montre (6:03)
A2 L'Arbre (5:50)
A3 Le Rire Des Pierres (2:01)
B1 Cage En Béton (2:43)
B2 Passant De La Nuit (6:35)
B3 Sans Nom (5:56)

Musicians:
Drums – Daniel Abhervé
Guitar, Vocals, Bass Guitar – Bruno Nevez
Organ, Synthesizer, Vocals – Serge Nevez
Bass – Gilles Dinner

ALPHA CENTAURY is a rare French band from the seventies. Like many others, they recorded one studio album, and that was it. As you can imagine, information is very hard to find. This is evidenced in the discrepancy in the spelling of the name. On the album, Centauri is spelled with a Y. However, if you try to search with that spelling, you find nothing. The band was comprised of Daniel Abherve on drums, Serge Nevez on keyboards and vocals, Bruno Nevez on guitar, bass and vocals, and Gilles on bass.

ALPHA CENTAURY have a lot in common with other French artists of the time, though not entirely as they have a distinct style of their own. The closest comparison that could be made is the sounds of ASIA MINOR. There is that darkness that was prevalent with other bands of the era, but they have more of a jazz influence. This style is blended with a touch of space prog, almost psychedelic in places. There is even a sprinkling of an operatic tinge in some of the vocals. ALPHA CENTAURY's self-titled album was released in 1976 on Mellow Labels. It is a rather short album at 30 minutes in length but has some amazing lead guitar with the lush sound of Steve Hackett and keyboards that lean towards a blend of GENESIS' Banks and PINK FLOYD's Wright.