Travelling - Voici La Nuit Tombée (1973/2000 Remastered Edition)
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Album: Travelling - Voici La Nuit Tombée (Remastered Edition)
Released: 1973 (2000)
Genre: Jazz-, Experimental-, Avant-Rock, Canterbury Styled Progressive
Gnosis Rating: 10.16
Mellow Records - MMP390
The last of the releases on the ultra-rare and now very collectible Futura Red label, this group’s sole album as leader’s Yves Hasselman dominating it from start to end. This does not mean that drummer Gremillot and bassist Goure are inexistent, far from it, as they support him quite aptly. Hasselman has a long history of recording with the greatest singers in La Chanson Francaise and is still active today.
Un-like most KB-lead trio, Travelling does not even attempt to sound or even make the slightest attempt at ELP, preferring a much more pleasant sound rather Canterbury- esque. In this regard, we might think of another trio with a three-letter name: Egg, but Travelling is more than that also, as they sing in French. But the use of a Fuzz- organ and the jazz-inflicted piano playing (sometimes resembling Keith Tippet’s style but much more melodic) cannot help but bring you to the verdict that this French music trio is definitely looking across La Manche (The Channel) at the first mid-size city in Kent. The first side of the vinyl is dominated by the sidelong title track and is a pure joy to hear with Hasselman’s voice somewhat not that far away from Wyatt and constant time-changes contrasting with the numerous switches from the Hammond to the piano.
Flamenco, the first track on the second side is not Spanish-tinged but somehow is a brilliant Kent adaptation with a Wyatt-like scatting reminding you of Andalusia with Nelson not just stopping at Trafalgar. Passo with its ever-present piano and Soleil with its Fuzzed-out Hammond are textbook case ot how a KB trio can sound other than an Emerson-clone band, both superb. Tout Compte Fa it (all considered) is a reflective piece where Hasselman joins both the keyboards in solo. While Shema is a slight return to the title track with Haqsselman scatting again to our purest of delight.
While not essential to the average proghead, this might just indispensable to the Canterbury nuthead, so it plainly deserves its fourth star, but to other progheads they should regard it asa non-essential. - Hugues Chantraine
In the mid- to late 60s, free jazz was a prominent feature in the Parisian nightclubs and overall had a strong foothold throughout France. On the vanguard for this movement of jazz was the Futura label. Today the label has attained a mythical stature; 1) because of the consistent high quality music the label produced and 2) the scarcity of the product. In the early 70s, the Futura label expanded its scope to include new and exciting experimental avant rock music which seemed to mesh well with the style of jazz the label portrayed. These albums were designated as the RED series and debuted, naturally enough, with a band called Red Noise.
Perhaps the most accessible of these RED bands was Travelling, a keyboard-based trio that probably represented best what the label was about: Jazz, rock and an experimental inquisitiveness. Their sole album is a combination of the early Canterbury movement circa Soft Machine 2, the continental equivalent in Supersister, piano jazz and avant-garde classical/electronics. In fact, the 18-minute title track has all these elements which include Wyatt-esque vocals (however, here in French), fuzz bass, fuzz organ, piano jazz, complex meters and echoed early synthesizers/machines; a contrast in tight ensemble playing combined with loose free improvisation. The other five shorter tracks are really just the same though more contained within the environment of a small composition. The closer demonstrates a melancholic sadness not displayed elsewhere.
Originals of any Futura album run into the small fortune area. Travelling is no exception and was a staple $600+ LP. Fortunately within the last year, Italian CD label Mellow Records released this so that everyone can hear this gem. - Tom Hayes, Gnosis
Travelling are a French band playing in the trio format (keyboards, bass, drums). Musically they have links to Soft Machine, Robert Wyatt and ELP. Keyboard player Yves Hasslemann has a fairly varied playing style, incorporating classical, blues and jazz elements. In contrast to Soft Machine's Mike Ratledge, Hasselmann plays piano more frequently, but occasionally fuzz organ can be heard as well. Nice album with some excellent piano and organ playing. - Sjef Oellers, Gnosis
This reissues an insanely rare 1973 album on the insanely rare Futura label. Traveling were a keyboard trio led by Yves Hasselmann. His piano & Hammond organ workouts are comparable to a lighter Dave Stewart or Mike Ratledge, while the rhythm section provide decent support. His vocals are also pleasant & fluent. For folks who dig the trio Hammond keyboard sound of bands like Collegium Musicum, 69-era Softs, Egg & Canterbury-style bands. - Wayside Music
I am not really into Canterbury and jazzrock but while listening to this album I got more and more and impressed, especially the keyboardplay is amazing, he is a virtuosic who also plays with emotion! In the title track he manages to let his Hammond organ deliver all the excellent sounds that it hosts, this is at the level of Keith Emerson and also the jazzy piano play is great. The overdubs on piano and organ create a captivating sound, this is supported by a very dynamic rhythm-section. The other four songs (between 3 and 4 minutes) contain a bit melancholic French vocals and lots of interestin work on the piano and (fuzzed) organ. An overwhelming CD that should be checked out by the aficionados of this category! - Erik Neuteboom, ProgArchives.com
TRAVELLING were a trio from France who released only one album(1973).The organ and piano dominates their sound that is without question Canterbury flavoured.SOFT MACHINE had to be an influence on these guys as the vocal style and fuzz organ certainly bring them to mind.This band does have it's own sound though and i love it.The side long opening track is one of the best songs that i've heard in a while.What a pleasure to listen to.Pure joy indeed. Voici La Nuit Tombee is an 18 minute ride that i have taken over and over again this past week.It opens with cymbals and bass before the organ quickly joins the fray, and it sounds fantastic.A full sound before a minute that includes piano,fuzz organ,bass and drums.Organ and piano then create a piece of heaven before the vocals come in.The light drums,organ and vocals are other worldly.Did i mention i love this song? Piano joins in.Vocals stop as fuzz organ returns.I could listen to this all day.Vocals are back after 6 minutes.The fuzz organ comes and goes.The piano takes the lead with bass and light drums 8 minutes in.This section is very jazzy.A spacey,experimental,eerie passage arrives before 10 1/2 minutes that changes 2 minutes later as an uptempo organ,light drums and bass melody arrives.Fuzz organ after 14 minutes.A change a minute later as piano again takes the lead.Vocals are back 17 minutes in.Amazing song! Flamenco features more bass,drums and piano.The vocal melodies a minute in are outstanding and a nice touch.Perhaps a nod to Mr.Wyatt.Some fuzz bass after that with organ.Piano starts to take over.This song blends into the next one Passo.The uptempo piano melodies continue but bass and drums help out here.This song then blends into Soleil as piano melodies continue to dominate.Before 2 minutes we get some fuzz organ joining the piano melodies. Tout Compte Fait opens with slower paced piano as the organ provides a nice background.This song blends into the final track Shema.This sounds better than the previous song because bass,light drums and vocal melodies are added. This is another French band that has impressed me to pieces.I had heard about them on the ProgEars site and am so thankful i did.A must have for Jazz and Canterbury fans. - John Davie, ProgArchives.com
The Futura label is one of France's most legendary and early labels, featuring many unusual experimentalists like Horde Catalytique Pour La Fin, Mahogany Brain, Red Noise, and Triode. Travelling was the end result of the band Introversion, a short-lived group who released one single three years prior to their Futura debut. Travelling's music is a combination of Canterbury and jazz influences; there are some noticeable strains of Caravan and Soft Machine in their music, making them distant musical cousins of bands like Moving Gelatine Plates. Travelling have endeavored to create their own style from these influences, using keyboards and electronic effects to create diversions from a more typical jazz-rock style. The fuzzed organ is certainly Ratledge-influenced, except that Yves Hasselmann (whowould go on to a notable solo career) has more jazz moves, and you can even hear the influence of Keith Emerson. The focus on the album is definitely on the keyboards, and accompanied by Jacques Gour on bass and Roger Gremillot on drums, there is little to distact from it. Hasselmann's vocals remind one of Patrick Forgas, in that he reminds one of a French Robert Wyatt, but they are few and far between. From 1973, the reissue of Travelling's sole album is of great interest to jazz-rock, canterbury, and early 70's fans, since the vinyl, as is the case with many of the Futura pieces, is so rare its almost non-existent. - Mike McLatchey, "Expose"
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