IRISH COFFEE

I mentioned already in my review of the first "Machiavel" album, that Belgium was a desert in terms of rock bands. "Irish Coffee" might well be an oasis in the midst of this. Like other few legendary ones : Kleptomania, The Pebbles, Lager Blues Machine, Jenghiz Khan, Wallace Collection...almost only known in Belgium only (except Wallace of course who had a HUGE hit in 1969 (it was number in TWENTY countries and will pave the way for ELO).

Irish Coffee disbanded after the death of their very good keyboard player, Paul Lambert.

This album features, indeed great organ throughout all the numbers (but the intro for "Can't Take" is one of the finest moments available).Really close to Jon Lord's ones. The link with Purple is also valid with the vocals. Similarities with Hughes during "Cant Take" and "The Beginning Of The End". It features a Boléro-like intro (one of my fave number on this album), really close to prog.

It is true that "Irish Coffee" sounds almost like a hard-rock band but not only. The closing number, for instance, is more "Mark I" oriented. Somewhat psychedelic.

This is a good album. A rarity to discover if hard-rock is your taste (or heavy-prog as it is now accordingly categorized on PA). Three stars.