GAMME

I like the hidden and obscure, and this album certainly fits that criteria. Synopsis were of french origin and while that country had a blooming prog scene in the mid seventies, but like in any country that isn't in eastern Europe or is Japan prog rock prowess slowly faded away towards the end of the decade. Come Synopsis who released a fairly mediocre first album in 1979 which you are much more likely to find. Sadly this second, much improved album is rare and expensive and not available on anything other than vinyl.

Although released independently, Gamme has great transparent production, with many layers of heavy keyboard work, colourful drum and bass playing and a great sounding, piercing but very melodic lead guitar. Vocals are all in french well sung and inoffensive to the foreign ear, but the album is mainly an instrumental work anyway.

'Cités' and 'Tany Mena' are great longer pieces where the two Christians of the band really shine. 'Novembre' is an instrumental starting out acoustic before steadily developing on keys while the guitar sticks to one melody. It has a fantastic end section that sadly is over way too soon. The centerpiece on the second side is 'L'Homme Fou' which can be devided into two parts. The first one is in the same vein as 'Cités' before but at around six minutes the song shifts to full on space electronica with a stoic montone drum machine giving much room for the synths to carry the song to the end. An acquired taste and the second part does drag on a bit. The band ends their carrier on a good note with the ironically titled 'Prelude'. Not a perfect record, but well worth your time and money if a copy in good condition does show up again.

~ first published at 'audio.philip' on Instagram ~