Released in a cardboard sleeve with German magazine "eclipsed" nr. 210 Mai 2019.
With the possible exception of Richard Pinhas' Heldon, Gilbert Artman's Lard Free was probably the premier French progressive group of the '70s. The prolific Heldon might win in terms of amount of material, but the three near-perfect albums by Lard Free (despite the truly wretched band name) probably have them beat in terms of overall quality. Although Artman, a drummer who also dabbles in synthesizers and piano, called Lard Free a group, he was the only constant member; all three albums have different lineups. 1973's Lard Free consists of relatively short pieces with prominent piano and saxophone parts, and as such is the most jazz-oriented of the three. The following year's I'm Around About Midnight consists of three long pieces with much more synthesizer; at times, it sounds almost like early (pre-ambient) Tangerine Dream, or perhaps Clear Light, the French collective Artman and the then-current lineup of Lard Free occasionally worked with around this time. 1977's Lard Free III, also known as Spirale Malax, is Artman's best work, a pair of side-long experiments that combine space music, jazz, and King Crimson-style heavy progressive rock better than many groups (including King Crimson) could ever hope to manage.
Circus has a reputation for having one of the more uncommon line-up of the genre - no KB and no electric guitars. Not so for the guitar for there are bits of it although staying discreet, some sounds I cannot see done other by a guitars through effects…
In 1997, Smokin' Granny had released a cassette that got the group some attention from prog rock magazines and radio shows. Two years later, the North Carolina group completed its first full-length CD, Sirius Matter. Half of it recuperates most of the magnificent Bat Cave session that yielded the cassette (but where's "Hydroglyfik"?). The remaining half-hour is made of a bunch of brand new tunes and improvisations…
The Broken Cloud is a true psychedelic experience.
This progressive-rock epic takes cues from bands such as Yes, King Crimson, and Pink Floyd. It grips you with music from both near and far, old and new, and from somewhere all-together different. From it's opening brigade of guitars, Hammond organ, and choral vocals, to its strange-even terrifying-marriages of Psychedelic Rock, Dark Ambience, Electronic Dance Music, Bluegrass, and Robert Johnson-esq Blues… You'll never be sure what's coming next! …and when the end is finally at hand you'll be lifted up into a thematic emotional high that you won't soon forget…
Dan Gibson (Montreal, January 19, 1922 – March 18, 2006) was a Canadian photographer, cinematographer and sound recordist.
Solitudes albums have sold over 20,000,000 worldwide.
- 15 Solitudes albums have been Certified Gold (50,000 units sold) in Canada
- 11 Solitudes albums have been Certified Platinum (100,000 units sold) or multi-Platinum status.