GUET-APENS

The last of the classic 70's, Guet Apens (best translated into Ambush) is also the first album where the original line-up is fading into oblivion, as both Haas and Brezovar are gone, but guitarist Claude Demet is an excellent replacement and even plays the flute like Brezovar did. I want for proof of Demet's immediate integration his co-writing credits on two tracks and was a local Belfort guy like the Descamps. On bass, was first recruited Piellard but he was gone during the recording process, so either Demet or Renard filled in to play the parts. Coming with a very "prog" artwork and an inner game artwork that relates to the outside artworks, the album was recorded in spring 77 and released early that fall, it's title referring to the constant difficulties encountered and the future critics for losing two long- time and essential members.

Opening with Colin Maillard, a mellotron-filled track that you'll find typically Ange-like filled with the usual dramatics, but maybe less wordy than in Delire , Jacotey or Mandrin. This first track sets the tone for the album and most of the tracks on the album follow more or less the same soundscapes with the exception of the 14-mins epic Capitaine Coeur De Miel that closes the album. Indeed Berger is also weighed down by trons of mello, underlined by Guichard's good drumming, while Trou Dans La Case is definitely brining out Demet's guitar, but in unison with the group. The short Virgule sounds like some early Genesis pieces with guitar arpeggios, while Reveille-Toi is straighter rock and is the weaker track here. As for the Capitaine epic, I already said it sounded different than the rest of the album, bur I find Christian over-doing it, a bit like in the previous albums.

For an album that was recorded during a stage of instability (change of management and musicians coming and going), GA is a rather excellent albums, given the difficult time. It (the album)'s major luck is that the tracks were not brand new anymore and well- rehearsed. I just wished that Musea would've released the Cd reissue with the extra track from those sessions Un Jésus Cloué that had not found space on the vinyl, due to time restrictions. It could've given another extra boost to GA.

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