Posts tagged Maneige

(Review from progarchives.com)

Entering the new decade Maneige had a few changes, most notably a label change from the international Polydor to the local Trans-Canada and a change of drummer with Gilles Schetagne having left. Their fifth studio album was recorded at Quebec’s most in-demand Morin Heights studio.

One of the most notable change, the tracks are even shorter — only one track barely exceeds 5 minutes (the superb finale), the rest of them being inferior to 4 minutes. The general Maneige spirit is respected, alternating between jazz-rock/fusion and more symphonic rock.

Among the highlights of the first side of the album are “Ou-ça?” and “Popozoff”, which surprises us by its energetic symphonic twist. On the second side, opening on the excellent “Invitee De La Nuit”, but closing on the very worthy slow-developing finale “Cerveau Lent” is definitely the high point of the album.

Line-up:
- Alain Bergeron / keyboards, flute, saxophones
- Pierre Gauthier / drums, percussion
- Vincent Langlois / keyboards, percussion
- Denis Lapierre / guitar
- Yves Leonard / bass
- Paul Picard / percussion

Track List:
01. Tangerine – 3:16
02. Ou Ca? – 3:52
03. Tague Baissee – 3:43
04. Phobos – 3:43
05. Popozof – 3:59
06. L’Invitee De La Nuit – 3:35
07. Echec Et Mat – 4:16
08. Mi Vu, Mi Connu – 4:00
09. Cerveau Lent – 5:18

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(Review from seaoftranquility.org, progreviews.com, progarchives.com)

“Ni Vent… Ni Nouvelle” is jazzier than Maneige’s first two albums with the departure of pianist and composer Jerome Langlois resulting in a fusionish bent that’s underlined by the much shorter track lengths and the extended use of xylophones and saxes.

The newly acquired funkiness is immediately evident with the opening two numbers “Le Gai Marvin” and “La Fin De L’Histoire”. “Le Gai Marvin” is a short minute and half track which features some funky rhythm guitar lines from Denis Lapierre, dancing around underneath brilliant flute work by Alain Bergeron. “La Fin Histoire” adds guest violinists who bring a real fullness and depth to the overall sound as the song builds and builds in some great moments of tension and release before as keyboardist Yves Leonard continues the remainder of the track with some jazzy keyboard work.

Things really begin to heat up instrumentally by the third track “Les Folleries” as the percussion and drumming of Gilles Schetagne propels the rhythmic attack along while the listener is treated to tradeoff sax and guitar solos. In fact the whole song comes off as a real ensemble piece and one which gives each member a chance to show off their chops on their respective instruments.

Throughout the whole album, the band employs many different types of instrumentation from vibes, glockenspiel and piccolo which just adds layer upon layer to the bands sound and really makes the songs a wonder to behold.

The sound has still the distinctive Maneige twists and curves , sounding so “boppy” and happy , still mixing with such ease all acoustic and electric instruments. So moments are simply orgasmic to your ears.

Line-up:
- Alain Bergeron / piano, flute, recorder, piccolo
- Vincent Langlois / alto saxophone, guitar
- Denis Lapierre / bass, drums, timpani, cenceros, Chinese blocks
- Yves Leonard / taboukas, gong, darboukas, wood drum, woodblock, maracas
- Paul Picard / flexatone, spoons, basque drum, chimes, horn, vibraphone
- Gilles Schetagne / glockenspiel, tubular bells
with
- Denise Lupien / violin
- Chantale Remillard / violin
- Christiane Lampron / cello
- Andre Pelchat / soprano sax (5)
- Jean Prefontaine / viola

Track List:
01. Le Gai Marvin – 1:41
02. La Fin De L’Histoire – 3:18
03. Les Folleries – 6:07
04. Les Epinettes – 3:32
05. Mambo Chant – 5:22
06. Douce-Amere – 5:53
07. Le Gros Roux – 3:31
08. Au Clair De La Prune – 4:02
09. Juillet – 5:02
10. Time Square – 1:38

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(Review from progarchives.com)

This archival live album includes all the three songs from the “Montreal 1974/75″ release and adds four new ones. The actual recordings took place before the release of their debut and also between that one and Les Porches. Some tracks featured here were never recorded in a studio setting.

Such a song and the real tour de force is the 29-minute long “La Balloune”. It is simply astounding, stupendous, flabbergasting, horrifyingly beautyful, breathtakingly splendid. With Bergeron and Jerome Langlois flying from one instrument to another, there is not one second on this number that seems unoccupied by virtuosity & creative (as opposed to sterile) soloing.

Even so early in their career there are hints of the crazy rhythms but the incredible mastership of their respective instruments is awesome for a band with almost no prior recording experience.

Line-up:
- Alain Bergeron / flutes, piccolo, saxophone, piano
- Jerome Langlois / piano, clarinet, guitar
- Vincent Langlois / percussion, piano
- Denis Lapierre / guitars, synthesizer
- Yves Leonard / bass, double bass
- Paul Picard / percussion, drums
- Gilles Schetagne / drums, percussion, synthesizer

Track List:
01. Mambo Chant – 6:45
02. Les Epinettes – 3:50
03. Bullfrog Dance – 6:08
04. 1-2-3-4-5-6 – 7:26
05. La Balloune – 29:19
06. Manege – 4:45
07. Le Rafiot – 19:24

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(Review from progarchives.com)

During the boom of Quebec Progressive, Maneige first got noticed by local music scene and press after repeatedly blowing off stage Ekseption on a local tour and were offered a recording contract.

The music on their debut is probably one of the best example of what fusion music can be by blending in classical and folk elements together with jazz tones the whole thing having a very progressive rock ideal and could also fit the chamber rock style.

The lengthy Le Rafiot (the raft) takes up the whole first side, overall it builds impressively from an improvised free-jazz intro into the Rafiot piano motif. The resulting almost classical music Chamber Rock is not only incredibly impressive, but quite entertaining as well even if there are some dissonant improvs and incredible contrast and dynamic movements (the screaming sax, just before the sweetest of flutes). Clearly throughout this album, Gentle Giant, classic Tull, early Soft Machine and Zappa are at the heart of Maneige’s inspirations.

The flipside is made of three shorter tracks, of which “Une Annee Sans Fin” (Never-ending Year) starts of from dissonant onto such a sweet flute/vibe duo underlined by the three man rhythm section. The shorter “Jean Jacques” is again picking up on a piano theme, but soon evolving to a sweeping piano-led full out classical-fusion-jazz. “Galerie III” features Jerome’s brother Vincent on piano, allowing his brother more freedom. The track ends pretty much the same way the album had opened with “Le Rafiot”.

Coming with this edition are two bonus tracks, both with Paul Picard (who had a full-time job in the Hamilton philharmonic orch) on percussion replacing Vincent Langlois. First one, a Langlois piece, Tetdetdetet could have been another highlight of the album. Second is a fairly different version of Jean Jacques.

Line-up:
- Alain Bergeron / keyboards, flute, saxophone
- Jerome Langlois / keyboards, guitar, clarinet
- Vincent Langlois / keyboards, percussion (1-4)
- Denis Lapierre / guitar
- Yves Leonard / bass
- Gilles Schetagne / drums, percussion
- Paul Picard / percussion (5-6)

Track List:
01. Le Rafiot – 21:19
02. Une Annee Sans Fin – 6:40
03. Jean-Jacques – 4:16
04. Galerie III – 7:52
05. Tedetedetedet (Bonus Live) – 6:43
06. Jean-Jacques (Bonus Live Unedited) – 4:31

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