Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Etron Fou Leloublan-Les Trois Fou's Perdegagnent


Crazy French prog, like Frank Zappa on crack, these lunatics hit all the bases. You never know what's next, you just know it'll be an unexpected mind melter.Rythmically intense, vocally over the top, but completely tight musically! Fantastic stuff!! this is the review from the all music guide.
''The full title of Étron Fou Leloublan's second album is Les Trois Fous Perdégagnent (Au Pays Des...), which could translate to "The Three Fools Lose'n'win (In the Land Of...)" — granted, it doesn't make more sense in English than in French. On this opus from 1978, Francis Grand picks up the saxophone where Chris Chanet (aka Eulalie Ruynat) had left it. Despite his inventive growls and screams, he simply cannot tame the devastating rhythm section (and madcap creativity) of Ferdinand Richard and Guigou Chenevier. This album is a studio construction, filled with overdubs and intro/outro collages. The group has gained better knowledge of the possibilities offered by a recording studio, but still operates on a shoestring budget. The writing marks a step forward in cohesion, excitement, and zaniness. Instrumental tunes and passages are complex and fast (the opener, "Face à l'Extravagante Montée...," makes a good example). The songs absolutely make no sense, part Henry Cow circa In Praise of Learning, part pataphysical surrealism and circus freak show (the Mothers of Invention meet Camembert Electrique-era Gong). The album culminates in "Le Désastreux Voyage du Piteux Python" (The Disastrous Journey of the Pitiful Python), a loosely knit narrative backed by illustrative music and dominated by the many voices of Chenevier. French proficiency is not that important to appreciate Étron Fou's provocative Rock in Opposition, but you'd better have a sense of humor.''
The download is in the comments, Enjoy.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath


Great Lp from 1970 of the Chris McGregor led big band. I came across this Lp on a recent record buying excursion to my local mom and pop music store. It was a surprise to see it staring up at me from the racks, Couldn't wait to get it home and throw it on the old trusty Rotel. African influenced free jazz with a touch of Ellington, It did not disappoint. Here's what the all music website had to say. ''An album that fuses the influence of African music, jazz-rock, and free improvisation, Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath shares affinities with the '70s music of Don Cherry and Miles Davis. Somewhat of a legendary album amongst collectors of British jazz and fusion, the LP was originally released in the '70s and in early 2002 finally became reissued by the Italian label Akarma. Enlisted on the session were the talents of a group of extraordinary musicians from the free jazz, progressive rock, and improvisation scenes. Chris McGregor led the group on piano and African xylophone with Malcolm Griffiths and Nick Evans on trombones, Mongezi Feza on pocket trumpet and Indian flute, Mark Charig on cornet, Harry Beckett on trumpet, and Dudu Pukwana on alto saxophone. Ronnie Beer's tenor saxophone is outstanding, and pitched up against Alan Skidmore's tenor and soprano saxophone, completing a massive horn section, are two bigger names: '70s U.K. jazzman Mike Osborne on alto saxophone and clarinet and John Surman on baritone and soprano saxophone. Brotherhood of Breath created one of the defining recordings of ethno-jazz with this album; with an expansive use of African-inspired melodies, they trace textures which culminate in an ecstatic peak on "Night Poem," the album's 20-minute standout track. Not to forget, the album is driven by the organic pulse of the rhythm section — bassist Harry Miller and drummer Louis Moholo, no less — who will be names familiar to fans of British free jazz. This album comes highly recommended to fans of Don Cherry, Afro-beat sounds, and the Sun Ra Arkestra.''
Download link is in comments, Thanks and Enjoy!!