Prog Recommendations/Featured albums - Travelling

TRAVELLING — Voici La Nuit Tombée

Review by http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=325 - Sean Trane (Hugues Chantraine)
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog-Folk Specialist

4%20stars The last of the releases on the ultra-rare and now very collectible Futura Red label, this group’s sole album as leader’s Yves Hasselman dominating it from start to end. This does not mean that drummer Gremillot and bassist Goure are inexistent, far from it, as they support him quite aptly. Hasselman has a long history of recording with the greatest singers in La Chanson Française and is still active today.

Un-like most KB-lead trio, Travelling does not even attempt to sound or even make the slightest attempt at ELP, preferring a much more pleasant sound rather Canterbury- esque. In this regard, we might think of another trio with a three-letter name: Egg, but Travelling is more than that also, as they sing in French. But the use of a Fuzz- organ and the jazz-inflicted piano playing (sometimes resembling Keith Tippet’s style but much more melodic) cannot help but bring you to the verdict that this French music trio is definitely looking across La Manche (The Channel) at the first mid-size city in Kent. The first side of the vinyl is dominated by the sidelong title track and is a pure joy to hear with Hasselman’s voice somewhat not that far away from Wyatt and constant time-changes contrasting with the numerous switches from the Hammond to the piano.

Flamenco, the first track on the second side is not Spanish-tinged but somehow is a brilliant Kent adaptation with a Wyatt-like scatting reminding you of Andalusia with Nelson not just stopping at Trafalgar. Passo with its ever-present piano and Soleil with its Fuzzed-out Hammond are textbook case ot how a KB trio can sound other than an Emerson-clone band, both superb. Tout Compte Fa it (all considered) is a reflective piece where Hasselman joins both the keyboards in solo. While Shema is a slight return to the title track with Haqsselman scatting again to our purest of delight.

While not essential to the average proghead, this might just indispensable to the Canterbury nuthead, so it plainly deserves its fourth star, but to other progheads they should regard it asa non-essential.

Posted Friday, March 31, 2006, 05:32 EST | http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=73637 - Permanent link

TRAVELLING — Voici La Nuit Tombée

Review by http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=3684 - erik neuteboom (erik neuteboom)
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Symphonic Prog Expert

4%20stars I am not really into Canterbury and jazzrock but while listening to this album I got more and more and impressed, especially the keyboardplay is amazing, he is a virtuosic who also plays with emotion! In the title track he manages to let his Hammond organ deliver all the excellent sounds that it hosts, this is at the level of Keith Emerson and also the jazzy piano play is great. The overdubs on piano and organ create a captivating sound, this is supported by a very dynamic rhythm-section. The other four songs (between 3 and 4 minutes) contain a bit melancholic French vocals and lots of interestin work on the piano and (fuzzed) organ. An overwhelming CD that should be checked out by the aficionados of this category!

http://www.progwalhalla.com/ - www.progwalhalla.com

Posted Wednesday, May 17, 2006, 18:33 EST | http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=78532 - Permanent link