Ocean -

Ocean was a French hard-rock band that released the album God’s Clown on Crypto in 1976, followed by three albums on Barclay at the turn of the 1980s.

Members: Georges Bodossian (guitar, synthesizer, vocals), Robert Belmonte (vocals, percussion, 1976-2004), Noël Alberola (bass, vocals, 1976-?), Bernard Leroy (drums, percussion, 1976-79), Jean-Pierre Guichard (drums, 1979), Alain Gouillard (drums, 1979-83, 2010-present), Robert Calfati (drums, 1983), Farid Medjane (drums, 1983), Bennie Sloyan (guitar, 1983)

Background

Guitarist Georges Bodossian founded Ocean in 1974 in the wake of the progressive music movement. He chose the name after listening to recent Yes double-album Tales from Topographic Oceans.

The initial 1974 lineup included keyboardist Sylvain Nardelli, bassist Jean Paul Souillot, and drummer Daniel Buffet. This formation played early shows with bands like Caravan and Magma at youth houses and pop festivals. In 1975, Buffet cleared for ex-Solitude drummer Alain Baudet and the band performed frequently on the Parisian club scene, particularly at the Gibus. By autumn, the group dissolved due to military obligations and internal burnout.

Bodossian searched for a heavier group in the vein of Cream and Jimi Hendrix with a vocalist like Robert Plant. He soon met vocalist Robert Belmonte (ex-Stratageme, Aspic), drummer Bernard Leroy, and bassist Noël Alberola at the Aspic/Black Moon headquarters. They immediately recognized a “magical” chemistry. Bodossian proposed they adopt the name Ocean to utilize its existing repertoire and touring connections.

The core quartet spent a year working, playing at venues like the Gibus and Golf Drouot, before self-producing their debut album. They cited Led Zeppelin, King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Deep Purple as influences, merging Hard Rock and progressive/Jazz-Rock trends.

God’s Clown

Ocean released their debut album, God’s Clown, in October 1976 on Crypto.

God’s Clown presents a four-piece French band navigating hard-edged progressive rock with heavy, intricate guitar work and dynamic rhythmic shifts.

The album foregrounds Georges Bodossian’s guitar and synthesizer contributions, supported by Bernard Leroy on drums and percussion, Noël Alberola on bass and vocals, and Robert Belmonte on vocals and additional percussion. The tracks flow as interconnected suites, blending extended guitar passages, angular riffs, and sudden tempo and dynamic changes. Georges Bodossian wrote all eight tracks.

God’s Clown opens with “Sunnyday,” a 7½-minute piece featuring extended guitar leads, spacey synth textures, and sharply turned rhythmic shifts. “Strange Rain” combines chanting and angular vocal lines with heavy guitar outbursts and dynamic rhythm changes. “Love Is Blind” is concise, with contoured guitar lines and alternating vocal textures. “The Loneliness of the Long Distance” emphasizes dramatic guitar solos over pulsating drums and bass.

Side B features “From Death to Life,” which builds from quiet passages into powerful, explosive guitar and vocal moments. “Fields of Pain” layers deep, repeating guitar melodies with spacey synths, while “The Juggler” intensifies rhythmic drive and vocal interplay. “With the Sound I Can Escape” closes the album by returning to the energy and tonal palette of the opener.

A1. “Sunnyday” (7:35)
A2. “Strange Rain” (4:55)
A3. “Love Is Blind” (2:55)
A4. “The Loneliness of the Long Distance” (5:17)

B1. “From Death to Life” (4:04)
B2. “Fields of Pain” (7:30)
B3. “The Juggler” (3:33)
B4. “With the Sound I Can Escape” (5:00)

Sessions spanned thirty days at Studio Family Sound in Paris, France, with producer Germinal Floréal Tenas, engineer Jean-Pierre Sedjerari, and assistant engineers Gérard Pernet and Nany. The album was mixed at the same studio.

God’s Clown features artwork by Philippe Huart. Photography credits go to Fabrice Laurent.

Between Albums

Following the debut’s release and securing a contract with Crypto, Ocean began touring extensively across France, playing hundreds of concerts annually. After a show at the Rose Bonbon club, EMI Publishing offered to finalize a contract with a major label. For six months, the band prepared new tracks, which EMI produced as demos that appeared on the first Barclay album.

Bernard Leroy cleared for ex-Ange drummer Jean-Pierre Guichard. Though CBS offered a deal, Barclay ultimately signed the group in June 1979. They opted to switch from singing in English to French at the insistence of their publisher and label, adopting a more direct Hard-Rock direction.

Océan (1980)

Ocean released their self-titled second album in early 1980 on Barclay.

The album mixes jazz-inflected rhythms with rock-oriented structures while maintaining the band’s angular, contoured instrumental lines. Vocalist Robert Belmonte fronts a reconfigured lineup with guitarist Georges Bodossian, bassist Noël Alberola, and drummer Jean-Pierre Guichard.

Belmonte and Jean-Marie Moreau wrote lyrics across the album, while Bodossian and Alberola composed the music.

Musically, the album alternates between concise, punchy tracks and extended, contemplative pieces. Side A opens with the satirical “Je Suis Mort de Rire,” followed by the textured, expansive “Les Yeux Fermés.” “Menteur” and “T’As Qu’A T’Casser” add sharp rhythmic shifts and contoured vocal interplay. Side B features “Happy Birthday” and “Paye,” longer tracks with layered instrumentation, while “Où Et Quand Tu Veux” and “Joue” close the album with balanced pacing and guitar-led passages.

A1. “Je Suis Mort de Rire” (3:20)
A2. “Les Yeux Fermés” (6:55)
A3. “Menteur” (3:45)
A4. “T’As Qu’A T’Casser” (3:29)

B1. “Happy Birthday” (5:30)
B2. “Paye” (5:58)
B3. “Où Et Quand Tu Veux” (3:43)
B4. “Joue” (3:45)

Sessions occurred in July/August 1979 at Aquarium Studio in France with co-producer Andy Scott.

The album features a laminated cover designed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino and a printed inner sleeve with a photo of the band and credits.

Ocean issued the single “Je Suis Mort de Rire” with “T’As Qu’A T’Casser” as the B-side. Soon after this album, Guichard left, replaced by former Édition Spéciale drummer Alain Gouillard.

In January 1980, Ocean joined the French leg of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell Tour.” Following this, they embarked on a 60-date French tour from March to June 1980.

Four tracks from this album reappeared on the late-1980 split live/studio release Océan “A” Live + B. The live side was recorded during the French tour using The Rolling Stones Mobile One studio; the studio side at Aquarium Studio.

Océan (1981)

Ocean released their self-titled third studio album in April 1981 on Barclay.

The album blends Hard-Rock intensity with French lyrics, retaining the band’s signature angular riffs and contoured vocal lines. Lead vocalist and guitarist Robert Belmonte fronts the group; Georges Bodossian contributes guitar and backing vocals; Noël Alberola plays bass and provides backing vocals; Alain Gouillard handles drums.

Belmonte wrote or co-wrote all eight tracks, often collaborating with Bodossian, Alberola, and drummer Gouillard. Lyrics were primarily by Jean-Marie Moreau and Jacques Taulette. No cover songs appear on this release.

Musically, Side A opens with the bass-driven, punchy “Aristo,” moving into the riff-centered energy of “À Force de Gueuler!” and the slightly moderated “Attention Contrôle.” “Qu’on Me Laisse Le Temps” stretches over five minutes with anthemic guitar and rhythmic drive. Side B begins with the brief, energetic “Rock ‘n’ Roll,” followed by the slinky metal-inspired “Berceuse,” the rocker “Louise,” and concludes with the concise, title-chorus-driven “Dégage.” Tracks feature tight guitar leads, driving bass lines, and Belmonte’s shrill, expressive vocals that convey urgency and intensity.

A1. “Aristo” (3:14) — bass-led intro with angular guitar lines and shrill vocals
A2. “À Force de Gueuler!” (3:52) — standout guitar solo, energetic vocal phrasing
A3. “Attention Contrôle” (4:10) — moderate tempo with insistent riff patterns, tapped as a French single (b/w “Qu’on Me Laisse Le Temps”)
A4. “Qu’on Me Laisse Le Temps” (5:19) — extended track with anthemic guitar and bass-driven rhythm
B1. “Rock ‘n’ Roll” (2:56) — concise rocker with playful French phrasing
B2. “Berceuse” (4:14) — metal-meets-top-40 approach, layered backing vocals
B3. “Louise” (4:14) — power-driven rocker, released as a French single (b/w “Berceuse”)
B4. “Dégage” (3:00) — compact track emphasizing rhythmic drive and title-chorus repetition

Sessions occurred in January 1981 at Battery Studios in London with producer Tim Friese-Greene and engineers Mike Shipley and Nigel Green. Dennys Weinreich handled mixing.

The album features photography by Fin Costello.

Singles from the album include “Attention Contrôle” (b/w “Qu’on Me Laisse Le Temps”) and “Louise” (b/w “Berceuse”).

Ocean toured Europe in support of the album, opening for AC/DC in 1980 and Iron Maiden in 1981.

In 2000, Océan was reissued by Axe Killer with four bonus live tracks.

Postlude

The band’s time with Barclay ended in 1982 when Polygram (Universal) acquired the label and chose not to renew their contract. Following the departure of Bodossian and Gouillard in 1982, the band briefly replaced them with Benny Sloyan and Farid Medjane before officially disbanding in 1984.

Georges Bodossian founded his own recording studio and worked as a session musician, arranger, and director, composing for feature films and documentaries. He later focused on a Blues Rock band and worked on an archival project for Ocean.

Robert Belmonte and Noël Alberola attempted to continue Ocean, releasing the single “Spécial Polar” / “Super Machine” in 1983 with Robert Calfati (drums), and later Farid Medjane and Bennie Sloyan (guitars), but failed to produce the promised album. Belmonte and Bodossian briefly reunited in 1986 to record the 45 RPM single “Juste au bout du désert” / “Flash de nuit.”

Alain Gouillard became the drummer for H.F. Thiéfaine and later for Louis Bertignac, Mickey Finn, and The Blues Makers.

Gérald Pernet (the group’s sound engineer and “fifth member”) took over the technical staff for H.F. Thiéfaine for many years.

Belmonte and Bodossian had a desire to restart the band around 2001 with Gilles Polvé (bass) and Alain Gouillard (drums), but the reunion ended violently with the premature death of Robert Belmonte in March 2004.

Discography: