FORGET YOUR DREAM!

Switzerland is one of those oddball nation states in Europe. It's one of the few modern countries of the Europe that doesn't have its own language (unless you count dialects) and it's never really been an innovator in much as it just sits there in the Alps with beautiful views, tasty chocolate with visions of yodeling and alpine horns. Well there have been some excellent bands that have come from this neck of the woods but as far as the progressive rock scene is concerned, Switzerland was behind the curve and while excellent bands like Island and Circus created some prog classics, they didn't hit the scene until the late 70s.

As far as the early 70s are concerned, it was pretty much Krokodil, Toad and Brainticket leading the way but there were quite a few lesser known bands. PACIFIC SOUND was one such band emerging from Môtiers in the French speaking western part of the nation. This band was one of many smitten by the British invasion of the 60s and the psychedelic blues rock of the USA. The four friends of Chris Meyer (vocals), Mark Treuthardt (guitar, bass), Diego Lecci (drums) and Roger Page (organ, piano) started out in 1970 playing the psychedelic rock of the 60s and played a lot of live gigs before honing their chops to record an actual album.

It took two ears before the one and only album SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR DREAM! was released in 1972. An instant attention grabber with the complete with eyes skull sitting smugly in a bowl of something next to a cigar and glass of wine! You'd be tempted to think that the music contained within would be on the dark and macabre side of the music spectrum but not so. PACIFIC SOUND were very much stuck in the psychedelic later 60s and 1970 odometer change. This band was all rockin' the house with strong bluesy guitar riffs slightly teased out into more progressive territory. The obvious inspiration was the neighboring German band Murphy's Blend with strong grooves and the dominating organ excesses that kept it all so heavy psych and all!

The album featured eight tracks and ended before the 33 minute mark. None of the tracks were lengthy and pretty much quick and to the point. The tracks ranged from the more bluesy Hendrix meets Murphy's Blend organ soaked rockers to the slower tracks that seemed to be most inspired by Procol Harum. The Anglo influences are dominant but the early Krautrock psych seeps just enough to qualify it as a member of the club. While everything is decently performed, nothing on SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR DREAM! really stands out either as the band sounded like an average but competent band of the era trying to get their feet wet in the crowded world of rock and roll. The weakest link is clearly vocalist Chris Meyer, whose limited stylistic abilities will rub some the wrong way but personally i don't find it awful by any means. Hardly an essential album of any sort from the era but a decent relic worthy of an experience or two. Unfortunately truth in advertising for this album proved to ring true.