Warren Bernhardt......Piano
Bryson Graham.......... Batería y
percusiones
Jean
Ristori.................Bajo, violonchelo, voz
Peter
Lockett..............Guitarra, violín, voz
Patrick
Moraz..............Teclados, voz
1ª cara:
- Introduction
- Passing years
- Such a beautiful day
- Pale sky
2ª cara:
- Basia
- More tea vicar
- God
Escuchando este Lp te das cuenta
que estás ante un grupazo, una sólida formación que actúa como un motor donde
los engranajes funcionan a la perfección. Pero lo mejor de todo es que se trata
de su primer y prácticamente único trabajo que vio la luz. Sus orígenes son de
Suiza, aunque su sonido totalmente internacional encajaba sin duda en la música
de la escena progresiva inglesa o en parcelas del krautrock alemán. Contaba en
sus filas con un monstruo de los teclados y en este trabajo concretamente del
hammond, que no era otro que Patrick Moraz, que poco después alcanzaría la fama
allá por donde pasaba y también en solitario. Si esta banda hubiera continuado
posiblemente habrían pertenecido a ese conjunto de grupos que alcanzan una fama
mundial reconocida. Pero debido a la mala gestión que se llevo a cabo en sus
comienzos, con un desafortunado lanzamiento de este trabajo en cuestión hizo
que la formación se deshiciera y cada uno tomase un camino diferente.
Ciñéndonos a la obra hay que
decir que se trata de un trabajo con unos temas muy maduros, sólidos, plenos de
potencia, imaginación y virtuosismo sobretodo a cargo de Moraz y su órgano que
no tiene un respiro y sus cabalgadas arriba y abajo en el pentagrama son
constantes. Se aprecian muchas similitudes en ciertos temas con ELP, en la
estructura de los desarrollos y en la manera de tocar el órgano, así como a
otros contemporáneos como YES ó unos CAMEL que aún estaban por llegar.
Composiciones bien realizadas, complejas,
cambios constantes en las melodías y ritmos, acompañados de arreglos densos en
los que no se escatima. Más que sinfónicos hay que considerarlos hard
progresivos siendo la guitarra la que ayuda a catalogarlos de ese modo. Escuchándolos
el oído no tiene un momento de descanso aunque para tomar aire nos brindan
alguna canción suave en la que la voz abre una puerta a la sensibilidad.
Realmente podemos oír fragmentos
psicodélicos, progresivos, sonidos sixties e incluso alguna incursión
jazzística. Esta banda estaba destinada a triunfar, pero como muchas otras se
quedaron sin entrada.
Puntuación: (De 1 a 10): 8,4
Oh yeah... a tasty treat for collectors. The band Mainhorse remain known only to a small circle of fans. Patrik Moraz is known for his appearances in Yes and The Moody Blues . But what was he doing pales at his achievements in the lesser-known bands - Mainhorse and Refugee ( except maybe Relayer Yes). Mainhorse captivated me from the first listen...nearly 20 years ago It seems that the classic art- rock composition - guitar , Hammond , bass and drums can not be surprised if you already be heard many plates. But - This album is a surprising and unique. First of all, thanks to beauty of each composition. It's ''Such a Beautiful Day''is one of those tracks , at which not only the day, but the year is beautiful . Although songs structure is filled with the sounds perfectly , adding a shot or cause the disorder of symmetry of the universe. Or ''God'' - where shivers run from the top of the head to the tailbone . All of the compositions on the album are played with verve and undeniable commitment. The sound is very raw, unsmoothed, but by this takes on authenticity.
ResponderEliminarThe history of MAINHORSE started in '68 but unfortunately, it's not very well documented. The prime mover was Patrick MORAZ, a very talented, Swiss born keyboardplayer leader of the group: The Patrick Moraz Trio and The Patrick Moraz Quartet. Other members of MAINHORSE were Peter Lockett (lead guitar, violin and vocals), Jean Ristori (bass, cello and vocals) and Bryson Graham (drums and percussion). In 1970 the band signed a contract with Polydor, a year later their eponymous debut-album was released, plate proved to be very promising. Unfortunately It remained unnoticed, not enjoyed commercial success and as it turned out, the first album Mainhorse became her last, the lack of interest in plate directly contributed to the disintegration of the band. Drummer Bryson Graham went to play with GARY WRIGHT and SPOOKY TOOTH. In '74 Patrick MORAZ founded REFUGEE and replaced RICK WAKEMAN in YES and in The Eighties he joined THE MOODY BLUES.
The album "Mainhorse" opens with (how original) the song "Introduction": fluent 'heavy progressive' with floods of Hammond organ and fiery electric guitarplay, the sound has echoes from ATOMIC ROOSTER, THE NICE and early DEEP PURPLE. The following "Passing Years" is a slow, bluesy like song with mellow organ and a bit melancholic vocals. Then again 'heavy prog' with swirling organ and biting electric guitar in "Such a beautiful day", the climate evokes THE NICE and QUATERMASS. In "Pale sky" a wailing violin and howling electric guitar colour a bluesy atmosphere, topped by strong Hammond play and dynamic drums. This song features halfway a jam with violin, guitars, electric piano, experimental sounds and a hypnotizing rhythm-section, to end with a sensitive electric guitarsolo and loads of Hammond. Next is "Basia", an up-tempo and catchy song with strong organ - and electric guitarplay, a pumping bass and cheerful vocals, halfway MAINHORSE surprises with a swinging electric pianosolo. The track "More tea vicar" contains subtle changes of rhythm, from soft jazzy to fluent heavy prog with a classical sounding organ (like EKSEPTION), assorted percussion like glockenspiel and fiery electric guitar. The final composition "God" (almost 10 minutes) is the most alternating and dynamic one with many changes of climate with Patrick MORAZ on organ and the 'Klavio-synthesizer' and strong electric guitarwork, it sounds like a blend of THE NICE and ATOMIC ROOSTER. In my opinion this album deserves a second change, it's not very original but sounds powerful and exciting with good compositions. And, most important, this album contains the first impressive steps from Patrick MORAZ as a keyboard-wizard.