PINK FLOYD
The Successors
ECLIPSE SOL-AIR
Many of their fans call them the “mini version of PINK FLOYD” – and what bigger compliment could you give a group that’s still practically pretty new. The multicultural septet fronted by loopy Philippe inspire with Art Rock of the old school in a new guise, and can definitely hold their own with the very best when it comes to their stage show.
Philippe, why do lots of your fans call you the “mini version of Pink Floyd”?
Well, I guess to some extent we pick up somewhere from the time when the Art Rock of the ‘70s came to an end, when PINK FLOYD, GENESIS and even MIKE OLDFIELD in some respects were at the top. It’s got to the point now where we’re tempted to accept the label when we have to describe ourselves in just one word, because it’s always harder to say, “we sound a bit like this and that and this” than simply, “we sound like them”. Although we might have totally different instruments, the question is always there somehow, “How would PINK FLOYD sound today if they were as young and active as we are now?”
Are there any particular phases which have had a strong influence on the group?
Of course. My absolute favourite is “Atom: Heart Mother”, partly because of it’s link with our “Reactor Song”. But in terms of influence I have to go back a bit: my dad always used to play stuff to me to get me off to sleep, in other words PINK FLOYD, GENESIS or OLDFIELD. So really I’ve been influenced more or less since the day I was born, haha.
Have you incorporated certain elements from FLOYD in your music?
We try to create our own sound. But what is similar is that we are not so heavy on the guitar and more focused on an even mix of guitar and keyboard so that both instruments are equal. What I really love is what makes something like “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” so great: there’s just the one tone, one sound, which then builds up with tension from something somewhere in the background. The sound then goes away and something rocky builds up again. We might be a bit heavier on the rock than PINK FLOYD, but then I think music in general is heavier these days than it was then.
One thing you’ve definitely taken from that time is a love of exuberant stage shows.
And that’s important, too, to really get the music across. Just standing up and playing PINK FLOYD in jeans and a T-shirt would be pretty hard to swallow – it’s meant to be a total package after all, and in a kind of way it’s a substitute for drugs. If you listen to PINK FLOYD, you won’t need ecstasy any more.
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“About the group”
ECLIPSE SOL-AIR were formed in 2003 as a school kids band project. The style was defined right from the outset, Philippe calling it “Music à la PINK FLOYD mixed with theatrics à la PETER GABRIEL”. Last summer saw the release of their debut album “Bartok’s Crisis”, with inspiration from the great composer, and they are currently on tour with the tribute group FLOYD RELOADED.
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“My dad always used to play stuff to me to get me off to sleep, in other words PINK FLOYD, GENESIS or OLDFIELD.”
Eclipse Sol-Air singer Philippe.