Ange - Tome VI (1977) [FLAC]
Label Musea
.: Tracklist :
Formed in late 1969 by brothers Christian Descamps (vocals) and Francis Descamps (keyboards) and later joined by guitarist Jean-Michel Brézovar, bassist Daniel Haas and Gérard Jelsh on drums, this French symphonic progressive rock band, similar to contemporaries such as Genesis and King Crimson, is undoubtedly France's most important prog band. Marrying prog rock influences with French folk and theatrical vocals à la Jacques Brel (Ange covered Ces Gens-là from Brel, and it turned out to be their first hit in 1970), Ange's music, but mostly their lyrics, are second to none. Thirty years later, after multiple lineup changes, charismatic and theatrical frontman Christian Descamps leads the new Ange generation alongside his son Tristan on keyboards, Hassan Hajdi on guitars, Thierry Sidhoun on bass, Caroline Crozat on vocals and Benoît Cazzulini on drums.
The classic line up (except for the drummer which changed often) recorded many cult classics, such as « Caricatures », « Le Cimetière des Arlequins », and a series of masterpieces like « Au-delà du Délire », « Émile Jacotey », « Par les Fils de Mandrin » and « Guet-Apens ». 10 years after « Guet-Apens », the same lineup would reunite and release two albums, « Sève qui Peut » in 1989 and « Les larmes du Dalaï-Lama » in 1992. While being modern, these albums nevertheless captured the main ingredients unique to Ange. Their latest albums, « Culinaire Lingus » and « ? » see the band as inspired and pertinent as ever, as if Descamps had found the secret of eternal youth.
This band is more than highly recommended, it is mandatory listening for fans of theatrical symphonic progressive rock, especially the period between « Caricatures » and « Guet-Apens ».
The obligatory double album from the 70's is also Ange's sixth (as the title indicates) and comes after the troubled Emile Jacotey. Normally this should find Ange at its peak period, with the end of the classic line-up soon to happen. Coming with a botched-up cover artwork, the least we can say is that the recording or the concert's PA is a bit weak.
Opening on three classic songs from Délire, both Fils De Lumière and Longues Nuits are well performed but it seems that the wildness of the studio versions is lacking, then the superb and explicit Ballade Pour Une Orgie (with much more explicit lyrics). Moving onto the last track of Side A, taken from the Jacotey concept, Ode A Emile is correct as well, but the whole things lacks the power we'd expect from them on stage. The B-Side contains the sole extended Dignité, from the Caricatures album, extended to almost 16 mins (from the original 10 mins) and comes with plenty of splendid moments of semi-improvisations, thus making it a "live epic". Definitely one of the cornerstones of their concerts.
Passing over to the other disc, the band attacks a then-yet-unavailable-elsewhere (to my knowledge, anyway) Le Chien, La Poubelle Et La Rose, a 13-mins epic that crescendoes with Brezo's guitar growling like we're not used to. Obviously this track dates from Au Delà Du Délire, because it's got too much personality, especially when vocals are concerned, even if they're not that present. The following Trace Des Fées (from Jacotey) pales in comparison, even if the crowd welcomes it. Side D starts with a big chunk of the conceptual Fils Du Mandrin album's second half with the three-part suite Hymne A La Vie lasting some 12-mins, done rather faithfully and the closing of the concert is as usual (back then) Ces Gens-Là, the moving Brel epic track. This album is the last with the classic line-up (except that drummer Jelsch had left a while but replaced with Guichard), but soon after both bassist Hass and guitarist Brezovar would exit as well.
I'm sure this album would gain from a slight remastering and maybe (if possible) a slight remixing so that this live album would then become the jewel it would've merited, despite coming about two years too late for me. I won't say this album is essential for Ange fans (I'm not a fan of Jacotey and Mandrin), despite sporting two interesting long tracks, but once touched-over , I'm certain it will.
From Progarchive
Songs / Tracks Listing
1. Fils De Lumière (4:32)
2. Les Longues Nuits d'Isaac (4:27)
3. Ballade Pour Une Orgie (4:38)
4. Ode à Emile (3.45)
5. Dignité (15:51)
6. Le Chien, La Poubelle Et La Rose (previously unreleased) (13:12)
7. Sur La Trace Des Fées (5:10)
8. Hymne À La Vie: Cantique (5:22)
9. Hymne À La Vie: Procession (5:22)
10. Hymne À La Vie: Hymne (3:00)
11. Ces Gens-Là (6:02)
Total Time: 71:24
PLEASE GIVE AT LEAST WHAT YOU HAVE TAKEN
STAY IN SEED PLEASE
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