N° 2

From 1970 - the year in which I was born - appears the mighty Ribeiro and Alpes' second offering which heaps on layers of doom over the beauty of Catherine's voice. At times she'll remind you of Diamanda Galas when she was at her peak in the mid eighties.

N˚2, however, is more cerebral and raw, with far fewer effects over her vocals. To be honest she doesn't really need them - her range is incredible, sounding like a more aggressive Edith Piaf. Despite owning a scratchy old record of this, I still like it a lot.

'15 aout 1970' displays moments of beauty with vocals and guitar that will be utilised in future, better recordings.

N˚2 is sometimes tuneless but always strangely alluring, particularly on the completely mental side 2, which sounds to me like some weird sacrificial ritual in a derelict graveyard.

'Poème non épique' in its 18 mins duration has many similarities in its beginning with parts of Floyd's 'Saucerful of Secrets' with very 'Nick Masony' drums and 'Gilmour' effect laden electric guitar. Ribeiro's, almost possessed by Satan wailings and vocal ululating will leave you thinking that she was a hideous old hag rather than the beautiful woman she actually was.

The start of an unbroken run of 8 good albums in a row. Only 3 stars here because it's SO in your face that I can't really find the place to listen to this madness without getting irritated. This is Ribeiro and Alpes stripped to the bone, raw, and all the better for it on this one album.