Grandval is a French progressive rock project created by musician and composer Henri Vaugrand. He began playing bass at the age of fourteen and developed the material for his debut album A ciel ouvert over a period of nearly two decades. Although the earliest versions of the songs were written in English, Vaugrand later chose to perform them in French, believing the language better suited the tone and character of the music. His influences include French progressive rock groups such as Ange and Mona Lisa, as well as the atmospheric style of Pink Floyd. To complete the album, released in 2016, Vaugrand collaborated with several guest musicians, including Steph Honde (Hollywood Monsters), Jean‑Pierre Louveton (Nemo, Wolfspring), Kevin Serra, and Colin Tench (Corvus Stone). The project later expanded into a French‑speaking group based in Auvergne, formed by Vaugrand together with keyboardist Olivier Bonneau. Grandval’s music blends progressive rock with elements of chanson, psychedelic textures and folk influences shaped by electronic coloration. The project often explores themes situated between catastrophe and hope, expressed through poetic and atmospheric arrangements. Grandval originated in Périgueux in 2015, before Vaugrand returned to Auvergne the following year to record A ciel ouvert with drummer Martial Semonsut and several well‑known guest guitarists. The album evokes regional landscapes and narratives marked by melancholy and introspection, combining progressive rock with touches of rock, pop, new wave and classic French songwriting.
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Un nouveau destin
Descendu sur Terre
J’aime l’ennui
A ciel ouvert
Exondation
Il existe une étoile
Puissances de l’infini
Le chemin à l’envers
Maîtresse éternelle
Aktion T4