18.10.2008.
Arkham - Arkham (1970-72) (@256)
Request of Theressa.
(Review from progarchives.com)
Arkham are an early 70s progressive band that featured keyboard player Jean-Luc Manderlier who would later join Magma, drummer Daniel Denis who would later form Univers Zero and drummer Patrick Cogneaux. As you will have guessed, their music is highly reminiscent of the avant-garde giants. This all-instrumental trio (keyboards, bass and drums) never actually recorded any official album, although tapes of their many shows and rehearsals between 1970-72 resulted in this archival album later released.
Arkham aren't nearly as dark as Magma or Univers Zero, their jazzy overtones placing them a little closer to Soft Machine. The three musicians, who show some maturity, are obviously pouring their hearts out through out the album, which exudes an intensity that can't be ignored.
This archival release is a hodge-podge of old studio and live cuts (1970 thru 1972) and starts with the excellent 'Upstairs in the Granary', a solid hunk of progressive, still a child as a musical format, with great playing and the classical-meets-jazz feel these early proggers produced. 'Eve's Eventful Day' is equally good with top notch syncopation and nice melodies. The eight-minute 'Monolithic Progression with Anticipated Rapture' is aptly named, slows down a bit and allows a better look at this accomplished outfit with a Doors homage and some freakout jazz. 'Brussels Shortly After' is a muddy affair of little note, and 'Bleriot: Visibility Poor' plays out like some ancient B&W horror flick. An early form of minimal rock fusion is also heard here, as it is throughout the music on this historic retrospective. The driving 'With Asays of Bias' (featuring a tremendous live drum solo from Daniel Denis) continues the twirling neo-classical workout and surprisingly tight kinetics-- at over 10 minutes, it is this album's epic. Part 3 of 'Eve' is spectacular quasi-symphonic rock, 'Riff 14' is a remarkable, lovely warble a la Steve Reich, and 'Tight Trousers' finishes with some terrific carousel jazz rock.
Arkham shows a group of young musicians who weren't afraid to experiment with offbeat musical styles and were the precursors of a lot of good things to come.
Line-up :
- Jean-Luc Manderlier / hammond organ, electric piano, clavioline
- Daniel Denis / drums, whistles
- Patrick Cogneaux / bass and some strange frequency modulations
with
- Claude "Piccolo" Berkovitch / bass (3)
- Claude Deron / electric flugelhorn (8, 9)
- Christian "Djoum" Ramon / bass (8, 9)
Track List :
01. Upstairs in the Granary - 5:13
02. Eve's Eventful Day, Pts. 5-6 - 3:24
03. Monolithic Progression With Anticipated Rupture - 8:02
04. Brussels Shorty After - 8:32
05. Bleriot: Visibility Poor - 8:20
06. With Assays of Bias - 10:23
07. Eve's Eventful Day, Pt. 3 - 4:47
08. Riff 14 - 8:50
09. Tight Trousers - 4:40
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