CARICATURES

3.5 stars, really. Well, Ange is one of those bands you hear a lot about but actually not that many people do know their works. Not as much as other 70´s bands like King Crimson, PFM or even Eloy. However, when you got an album by a french band that you like (Mona Lisa) and hear they major influence seems to be Ange, then you have to watch for those guys, like any curious progheadlike me does. So I decided to start by their first album and follow them chronologically, if I can. Fortunatly Caricatures was not that hard to find.

From what I heard this a very good CD. It dated quite a bit, since it has many traits of the bands at the time, including a rather poor production. It is also has some of the early 70´s approach philosophy of ´anything goes´ (but - thank god - not too much). It has a strong influence of King Crimson and Genesis, but the vocal department is utterly french: not only Christian Decamps sings the album entirely in his native language and style, but also adds lots of theatrics and spoken sections. this might be a problem for some, since a lot of the meanings are lost for the ones who does not understand french (alas, like me). However, the music is strong enough to hold the listener´s atention most of the time.

Some tracks like the opener and the closer are a tad too experimental and abstract for my taste, but in general songs like Dignité and Le Soir Du Diable show they are also very talented and capable of writing some memorable tunes as well. A bit like KC, they knew how to balance the avant guard with beautiful melodies. The musician´s perfomances are excellent, marred only by the aforementioned weak recordings. Still this is a very strong record, and I can imagine the impact it had at the french (and international) music scene at the time.

I´m looking forward to hear Caricaturés follow ups and watch how this group developed with time and experience. For this was a very good starter. Recommended to all symphonic prog fans, specially the ones intersted in those important releases in the beginning of the 70´s.