Marsupilami - Marsupilami (1970/2005 Remastered Edition)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Album: Marsupilami - Marsupilami (Remastered Edition)
Released: 1970 (2005)
Genre: Proto-Prog
File Format: EAC->APE3.97, CUE, LOG, Scans(full, 600dpi)->RAR(259.64MB)
Source: Breathless/Get Back - 52012
Highly collectable early '70s UK progressive band with interesting arrangements and atmospheric production. Complex, yet retaining a flowing forward movement, the music is never dull and carries the listener. Flute, spiralling guitar, percussion, keyboards and sculptured vocals enmesh the mind in a maze of sound... - Album Description
Weird early seventies British band that did the Nektar trick and transplanted themselves overseas (this time in the Netherlands.) The only band that I can compare them too would be East of Eden, and if you haven't heard them, than I can't really compare them with anyone else. Excellent and very ahead of its time progressive music, in the mid period Crimson ethic, with weird and oblique melodies and harmonies... - New Gibraltar Encyclopedia Of Progressive Rock
MARSUPILAMI were an English proto-prog outfit who relocated to the Netherlands. The complexity of their music is quite unusual for the times - we’re talking 1970 here, when the big guns such as YES, GENESIS and CRIMSON were barely coming out of the woodwork. A mixture of blues, experimental jazz and hints of folk, their music is often dark and foreboding, favouring perilously complex structures. Try to imagine a mixture of KING CRIMSON, JETHRO TULL, the STRAWBS and EAST OF EDEN.
Their two albums feature weird/oblique melodies and harmonies, lots of heavy keyboards, electric guitar and flute (at times purposely off key), with the drummer pounding on his skins as if his life depended on it. This is very early prog and you particularly feel this in the organ work, which has a typical early 70’s psych feel. - ProgArchives.com
Marsupilami were next to Gryphon the best band on Transatlantic. They played progressive rock with impressively advanced song structures for its time. With the exception of Genesis, King Crimson, Gentle Giant and some others, few bands surpassed Marsupilami when it came to complexity in 1970 (Yes hadn't even figured out how to write 10-minute long epics yet). The 11-minute instrumental "Ad Initio Ab Finem (The Opera)" is a striking example of their sound and style. The arrangements are full of organ, guitar and melodic flute. The themes, melodies and riffs are creative and inspired, just like the playing. There are lots of interesting details and unexpected twists in all of the 5 long tracks on the album. The closer "Facilis Descencus Averni" (both tracks on side 2 had Latin titles) starts with a theme that is repeated by the flute afterwards, but now played intentionally out of tune. The drummer often had a quite intense and furious style of playing, just check parts of the opener "Dorian Deep" and the swinging and upbeat instrumental passages of "Born to be Free". There is also some occasional use of harmonica here, something that makes me think of Subject Esq.'s album. "And the Eagle Chased the Dove to its Ruin" is the most vocal oriented song on the record, but still maintains the complex song structures that dominates the other tracks on this strong and convincing debut. - VintageProg.com
A personal favourite album of mine from the era, from one of the most obscure bands but also, despite making only two albums, one of the best bands too. This incredible debut is testimony to that. Marsupilami were, as far as I'm aware, a group of British ex-pats who resided in the Netherlands. They had the honour of being the first prog band on Transatlantic, and along with Gryphon, one of only two prog bands- Transatlantic was one of the best folk labels of all time, featuring the wonderful Bert Jansch, Pentangle, Mr Fox and many others- including a pre-fame Mike Oldfield in Sallyangie with his sister Sally. They have a very distinctive sound that cannot be compared to anyone else.
'Dorian Deep' sets the tone of the album- a wonderfully operatic opus with lots of dramatic vocals, much spacey organ accompaniment and lots of jazzy guitar- the band get pretty heavy too, with some furious drumming and thunderous bass playing. Terrific stuff. 'Born To Be Free' starts out with a bluesy feel, with some neat guitar flourishes and great organ accompaniment, plus ominous and bleak vocals. This track then speeds up into a very uptempo jazz rock interlude with terrific solos on guitar. 'And The Eagle Chased To The Dove To Its Ruin' was the first track I heard of the band, and sold the album to me right there; it was one of the most mindblowing musical experiences I had ever had in my life. It starts out very doomy, with some unusual chord changes on guitar and organ, with funereal vocals, which turn into some pseudo poetic rambling. The bass playing propels this track into a fast and stupendous prog masterpiece- operatic caterwauling, lovely flute playing, great organ fills and Steve Howe-esque guitar runs. It then slows down into a more tranquil part, until going into a flute tour-de-force with some of the most amazing vocals you'll ever hear, and lots of heavy guitars. This then reverts to the main theme, before coming to a sudden holt. Truly astonishing. What's it about? Lord knows- but it sounds AMAZING. 'Ab Initio Ad Finem (The Opera)' is an extremely dramatic instrumental, with lots of complex solos on guitar and organ- really great stuff. 'Facilis Descencus Averni' has some more incredible vocals and wild flute, guitar and organ playing- with some crazy evil cackles for good measure. Again- terrific stuff, and truly shows high drama at its peak.
So there- one of the most bombastic prog albums ever made, and consequently one of the best, being a true favourite of mine. Deserves a place in any prog fan's collection. - Review by salmacis, ProgArchives.com
--------------------
A progressive rock outfit whose albums are now collectable. Their first effort is full of atmospheric, moody, rambling songs which were typical of the progressive rock era. It's full of fine organ work and nice flute, though the guitar playing is a bit dodgy. Pete Bardens played on their second album. One track from this, Prelude, was later included on the Transatlantic 1970 compilation, Heads and Tales. This progressive piece begins with wild vocals and manic guitar work which mellows into a keyboard solo with the wild vocals returning at the end. Certainly they were one of Transatlantic's most exciting outfits.
1. Dorian Deep
2. Born to Be Free
3. And Eagle Chased the Dove to Its Ruin
4. AB Initio Ad Finem (The Opera)
5. Facilis Descencus Averni
|
