Posts tagged Catharsis

(Review from progarchives.com)

In their first album of new material in three years (the previous album was composed of unreleased early recordings), Catharsis has forgotten a bit their psych roots and developed a stronger symphonic sound.

Although an organ-dominated sound, Catharsis’ music sounds a tad different than other bands, as Bocquet’s organ is a Farsifa, rather than the usual Hammond. Right from the first notes of Palace, you’ll see easily that you are in a very different kind of musical realm. Some tracks like Melba still have a Floydian streak, but most include a fair bit of very tasteful brand of symphonic rock between Camel and Genesis.

The highlight of the album is clearly the 10-mins title track, which spends all its duration throughout, changing through a myriad of moods and ambiances much like a better version of Camel (and even sometimes close to Caravan and Genesis) and French compatriots Carpe Diem. Also among the better tracks is Docteur Pleu, which has some delightful spacey sounds as well as some near-orgasmic breathing over a not-so steady beat, before breaking into a very Genesis-type of close.

Line-up:
- Roland Bocquet / organ, piano, vocal
- Charles Eddie / percussions, vibraphone
- Claude / guitar, sitar
- Michel / bass

Track List:
01. Palace – 5:38
02. Tango – 2:45
03. Docteur Pleu – 6:01
04. Styx – 3:07
05. Melba – 5:10
06. Le Bolero du Veau des Dames – 10:31

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(Review from progarchives.com)

“32 Mars” is kind of an EP, clocking in at just 23 minutes; it is short even for French albums of the time.

The title track is included in a full and single version, in addition to the alternate versions of the title tracks of their two previous albums — “Masq” and “Les Chevrons”.

Starting with a cool organ playing a catchy tune, “32 Mars” grows to a full spectacle of psychedelic and experimental showmanship. From the entire band playing in a full fledged lineup to the solo piano playing and then to tribal percussion and other instruments (such as a wacky style sax), this has the full gamut of what this band was capable of – not only in terms of playing and instrumentation but also in being able to create varied psychedelic textures and soundscapes. It’s a great ride made up of smaller segments that make it up a varied whole. The goofiness shown in some parts of the tracks balances the more psychedelic and spacey parts, adding distinction to the sound.

Line-up:
- Yves de Roubaix / bass, guitar, vocals
- Charlie Eddie / drums, percussion
- Roland Bocquet / keyboards, vocals
- Patrick Mouila / vocals, guitar, percussion

Track List:
01. 32 Mars – 11:08
02. Masq – 4:15
03. Les Chevrons – 4:59
04. 32 Mars – 3:07

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(Review from progarchives.com)

Catharsis is one of those French pioneering groups that forged ahead and paved the way for many of their compatriots. Their first album was recorded early spring 1971. The band was at the peak of their productivity at the time, the sessions apparently produced a lot more material put on tape than just this album (which surfaced in later releases).

The sound is a mixture of easily accessible tunes, strange wordless chanting, high hippie spirits, Arabian elements, strong percussion and a few avant-garde excursions. It has a very spontaneous feeling, as if the group was assembled for some kind of occult ritual using music to reach a higher consciousness.

Four long tracks on this debut album from a group that has their own distinctive sound, even though they were obviously Pink Floyd and Amon Düül II inspired, but with some more symphonic touches. Indeed outside the strange ethereal female vocals, courtesy from Charlotte, the group was a septet. Through a percussive and gradual start, the track develops into an interesting psych rock, over which Charlotte’s vocals (sometimes joined by the others) are soaring, then bizarre effects and percussion derail the progression of the title track and render its outcome unpredictable. We are going thru a few Bolero (Ravel) measures, than joined scats vocals, then an uncertain landing. Rising from that shaky ground and with baffling percussions and effects, 4 Art 6 develops slowly, remaining a bit irritatingly on low dynamics that when they finally come to acceptable level, there are some very weird (even a bit objectionable) vocals. Starting the flipside, Cantique is not about to change that with Charlotte’s scats taking on a mystical or liturgical note and if the male pagan chants coming just after, then superposed to Charlotte’s. Tunnel Exatique doesn’t drop the ball either.

Masq is certainly a charming album that does bear the era that saw it born, a rather enjoyable piece of symphonic psychedelia, but repeated listening could prove somewhat difficult if one is not entirely comfortable with female aerial scats.

Line-up:
- Roland Bocquet / organ, piano, glock, vocal
- Niles Brown / guitar, violin, clochettes, vocal
- Charlotte / vocal, violin, crecelle, clochettes, grelots
- Yves de Roubaix / guitar, vocal, crecelle
- Charles Eddie / percussion, tarabocca
- Allain Geoffroy / charango, piano, moulinette, vocal
- Patrick Moulia / guitar, tambourin, scie, guimbarde, crecelle, harmonica, vocal

Track List:
01. Masq – 6:16
02. 4 Art 6 – 8:43
03. Cantique – 6:58
04. Tunnel Exatique Part 1 – 7:18
05. Tunnel Exatique Part 2 – 2:41

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