VU D'UN CHIEN

To follow a band's discography and see what happens with the music during the years is very interesting. Now I have examined some great 70s proggers late records. I found they(for example Caravan) were great dispite changing members, styles and instrumentation. Ange's "Vu d'un Chien" is another example of that.

Ange's seventh record was made in 1980 and got a mostly blue cover with a picture in a heyhole. At that time Ange consisted of Francis and Christian Decamps, Jean-Pierre Guichard, Robert Defer and Didier Visieux. The two brothers were the only original members left. What's most significant Ange here is the very dramatic vocals we hear right from the start in "Les temps modernes" which is a fast hard rock song with great guitar that screams in the solos. "Les Lorgnons" is a classical Ange song and the best on this record. It also features a great guitar solo and the keyboards reminds me of the German symphonic band Novalis. Just unfortunately I can not speak or understand french. "Foutez-Moi La Paix" is short but special with its uninhibited vocals. "Je Travaille Sans Filet" is also very rocky and in the end we hear a church organ and strong guitars. "La Suisse" is different. It is both mainstream and polished to an intelligent unit with a great perfektion of the sound. And what would the 80s be without languishing saxophone. "Personne Au Bout du Fil" is not very interesting, a fast rock song but "Pour un rien" contains much more interesting stuff. The ending and title track "Vu D'un Chien" ends up with a symphonic background with a praising audience.

In terms of progressivity this isn't the most complicated Ange record but that doesn't make it less good. I think Ange managed to seek out new life forms for their music with keeping its spirits. This is better than "Par les fils de Mandrin" which had som inferior tracks but not as good as "Cimetière..." or "Carricatures".