Lagger Blues Machine
Band members Related acts
|
line up 1 (1969-71) - Jose Cuisset -- guitar - Christian Duponcheel -- keyboards - Jean-Luc Duponcheel -- drums, percussion - Michel Maes -- bass
line up 2 (1971-75) - Jose Cuisset -- guitar - Christian Duponcheel -- keyboards - Jean-Luc Duponcheel -- drums, percussion - Michel Maes -- bass NEW - Vincent Mottoulle -- keyboards NEW - Carmelo Pilotta -- woodwinds, sax
|
- Burning Light (Christian Duponcheel) - Downtrip (Jose Cuisset) - Dragon (Christian Duponcheel)
|
|
Genre: progressive Rating: 2 stars ** Title: Lagger Blues Machine Company: Amber Soundroom Catalog: ASLP 041 Year: 2006 Country/State: Belgium Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: German reissue Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5216 Price: $50.00
|
I lived in Belgium for several years during the mid-1970s and can remember a couple of friends telling me The Lagger Blues Machine was one of the country's best bands. That statement may have been true (though I still harbor major doubts). On the other hand, recognize that Belgium's a fairly small place so the competition wasn't exactly fierce. No matter, good luck finding an original copy of this obscurity; let alone a copy that's reasonably priced. On the other hand, in spite of the rave reviews that have been plastered on it, unless you're a true hardcore collector, you'd be fine having a cheaper reissue in your collection (hint, hint).
Formed in the late 1969s, Lagger Blues Machine featured the talents of guitarist Jose Cuisset, brothers Christian and Jean-Luc Duponcheel (keyboards and drums respectively), and bassist Michel Maes. The group apparently managed to attract some media attention on the Belgian club circuit and following a 1970 Brussels concert performance (they opened for Wishbone Ash at a local shopping mall), CBS records decided to sign them to a contract.
Released in 1972, "Lagger Blues Machine" was somewhat of a misnomer. In spite of the band name (which was apparently chosen as a sly nod to the band's appreciation of a good brew before, during and after performances), the majority the five selections featured a distinctive progressive feel that borrowed liberally from contemporary Dutch, French, and UK bands. Keyboardists Duponcheel and new addition Vincent Mottoulle were credited with penning the material. Duponsheel contributed three selections and Mottoulle two. Exemplified by the extended instrumentals 'Symphonie 1ere Partie' and 'Symphonie 2eme Partie' Duponcheel's material reflected classical influences, with occasional detours into jazz-rock fusion, avant garde and even conventional rock segments. The extended 'Symphonie 1ere Partie' actually included a brief vocal performance, though the lyrics were unintelligible, sounding like someone with their pants on fire - Imagine someone adding lyrics to Focus' 'Hocus Pocus' and singing it in a similar yodel-styled delivery. Unfortunately stretched out over thirteen minutes the song kind of lost focus after awhile. In contrast Mottoulle contributions like ''Darknessly'' showcased a more conventional sound complete with some nifty lead guitar from Cuisset, though it also suffered from some hideously flat and unintelligible vocals. Recommendation - well it didn't do much for me, but then my tastes are pretty mundane and it's hard to imagine all of those experts being wrong ...
"Lagger
Blues Machine" track listing: 1.) Symphonie 1ere Partie (instrumental) (Christian Duponsheel) - 13:56 2.) Darknessly (Vincent Mottoulle) - 6:54 3.) Tanit (instrumental) (Christian Duponsheel) - 1:05
(side
2) 2.) Born To Be Alone On a White Desert Island (Vincent Mottoulle) - 8:57
By the mid-1970s the group had called it quits. Christian Duponcheel went on to play with Dragon and Burning Light, before carving out a career as a renown art collector specializing in African (Congo) sculpture. Guitarist Cuisset showed up as a member of Doctor Downtrip.
|
|
Genre: progressive Rating: 2 stars ** Title: Tanit Live Company: Frichrivan Catalog: 88326 Year: 2006 Country/State: Belgium Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: gatefold sleeve; 500 copy press Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5222 Price: $40.00
|
Released posthumously with help from well known Belgian record collector Phillipe Collignon, "Tanit Live" was recorded at the previously mentioned October 1970 Brussels concert, where the group served as the opening act for a lineup consisting of Warhorse, Pete Brown & Piblokto and Wishbone Ash. Released in 1992 by the small Frichrivan label, the collection featured for extended, largely instrumental tracks. To be honest, none of the performances were particularly impressive, or entertaining. Like the title, the lead off 'Test About a Rehabilitating Personality' was little more than a lame jam session with the band taking their sweet time getting into a groove. 'Ode' was just as long, though it at least boasted some decent if unstructured guitar from Cuisset and something approaching a melody - not anything you'd want to remember, but there was at least some semblance of structure. There were also some vocals, but I'll be damned if I can tell you what the words were. The two flip side compositions weren't much better. Adding to the problems, the album was marred by poor sound, including some strange channel separations and poorly miked vocals ('Ode'). Credited to Stephane Cahon, the fantasy album cover may have been the standout feature.
"Tanit
Live" track listing: 1.) Test About a Rehabilitating Personality (instrumental) 2.) Ode
(side
2) 2.) Firedance (instrumental)
|
BACK TO BADCAT PAYMENT INFORMATION
