BY THE SONS OF MANDRIN

I believe that their management (or the band, or both) did a serious mistake. Not by releasing an album in English, but willing to release one in 1976/1977.

This was not really the time any longer to attract the fans across the channel with prog rock. UK was invaded by the punk movement and the greatest and well established prog-rock bands had a very hard time, so what could expect Ange from this adventure ? Therefore probably, the project was abandoned untill... 2003.

I do not belong to the ones who believe necessarily that a band should only sing in its mother tongue. Since some reviewers have mentioned PFM, I just want to say that I discovered this great Italian band thanks to their albums sung in English ("The World..." and "Chocolate Kings" back in '74 or so).

At least it gave them more exposure and I am not sure that I would have discovered this band should they have decided to produce records in Italian only. But we'll never know for Ange. ..

My feeling is that Ange should have started as soon as 1972 to do such an experience, when prog-rock was at its peak. Then, maybe, Ange could have known even greater days.

The album "Par Les Fils De Mandrin" has had four lives :

the original record sung in French, a live version "En Concert Par Les Fils De Mandrin Millésimé 77" but only released in 2003, this English version, and finally a DVD called : "Live Tour 2003-2004 Par Les Fils De Mandrin".

Ange has received the help from the lyricist Micheal Quartermain to "transform" the complex French texts from Christian Descamps. I have to say that it is properly done. The lyrics appear on the leaflet as well as the story of the "tumblers". You will learn that each of the band member had a special role in the gang. Rather interesting.

This English version is well sung, IMO. I can only recomend it to the PA progheads for which the French language has been a barrier to discover this very high profile symphonic band. Three stars.

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