Ange

Formed at the end of 1969 in Franche‑Comté, around Belfort, Héricourt and Vesoul, Ange emerged from the merger of Christian Décamps's dance orchestra Les Anges and the group Évolution led by his brother Francis. From the outset the band embraced a theatrical form of progressive rock, combining French lyrics steeped in medieval and fantastical imagery, dark or dreamlike atmospheres, and long structures inherited from symphonic rock. After a first 45 rpm single, Tout feu, tout flamme, recorded in 1971, Ange released Caricatures in 1972 and went on during the 1970s to produce a series of landmark albums for French progressive rock, including Le Cimetière des arlequins (1973), Au‑delà du délire (1974) and Émile Jacotey (1975). During this period they also performed outside France, notably at the Reading Festival in 1973. The lineup regularly evolved around the Décamps brothers; following Francis's departure and a farewell tour in 1995, the project was relaunched in the late 1990s with Christian Décamps supported by his son Tristan on keyboards and vocals, and musicians such as guitarist Hassan Hajdi. Ange has since maintained a steady discography — La Voiture à eau (1999), Souffleurs de vers (2007), Moyen Âge (2012), Émile Jacotey Résurrection (2014) and Heureux ! (2018) — and has staged numerous anniversary tours and concert recordings. Still active on stage in the 2020s, Ange continues to explore French‑language progressive rock focused on storytelling, stagecraft and the interplay between spoken/sung voice, keyboards and guitars.