-=***> Kenneth Newman on the Ange <***=-
 KN> Well, yeah, they had two keyboard players and did some 
 KN> amazing things with a Hammond, making it sound really 
 KN> demonic and mellotron-like. But it would be hard to 
 KN> forget J-M Brezovar's really tasty guitar solos, real 
 KN> nice Stratocaster sound. 
I find Ange's first six albums very special and a treat. Then, and now, it
was the most theatrical that rock got.... most of it, was show off rock 
theatre, like David Bowie doing Kurt Weill and so on. Genesis did have
a go at it, but Peter burnt himself out with too many costumes.
But the material ( ecoute... ecoute ... ) that Ange did was superb for
what I call true rock theatre. Yes... excellent guitar work all the
way through.
 KN> Actually, it was Brel who wrote "Ces gens-la" for them, 
 KN> giving them their first hit single, which catapaulted 
 KN> them in France. I say hit single, but it is still a hell 
 KN> of a prog song. 
Most people do not know the history of French music, and do not go as 
far back as Edith Piaf and Gilbert Becaud... both are very theatrical
singers as well. That Ange follows these steps is no surprise. I even
consider their brand of "theatre" much more convincing and honest
than Genesis. 
 
 PS> FRUUP was around before them, doing it, for example. 
 KN> I've still never heard FRUUP. Are they worth checking 
 KN> out? 
You know, I really liked the one song Mr. Mite ( or something llike that )
from one of its albums, ans several other songs from the same. But if I had
to describe it, it would be hard. I think they fall into the area of
David Cousins and Strawbs, with a keyboard sound that favored a little 
more rock, than it did "prog". I thought that sound of theirs in this 
particular album was "meatier" than Genesis, and I felt that the fantasy,
or short story like stuff, was better. As it turns out, though, the 
story teller was Anthony Phillips. But Fruup had its own touch. I would
like to hear them again seriously, although I have on tape one hour of
music that has Genesis, Fruup, Pfm, Acqua Fragile, Ange .. and they
fit beautifully in there.  Good old radio days.... 
... freleng___that piglet will get his this time...
--- Blue Wave/DOS v2.20
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