Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes

French experimental progressive group that existed 1970-1980, rooted in the short-lived 1969 outfit Catherine Ribeiro + 2Bis. Fronted by Portuguese born female singer Catherine Ribeiro, Alpes was the multi-instrumental backing group led by Patrice Moullet and a roster of other musicians that changed over the years. Their music cross-bred folk and psychedelic musics, with avant-garde and space-rock elements, and often featured special home-made instruments like the Cosmophone (a guitar/lyre hybrid), Percuphone (a mechanical rhythm machine), Orgolia (a large metallic violin) and other inventions.