CHETARCA

Crossover Prog • Australia

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Tour & shows updates
Press & news updates
Forum discussions
Videos (Youtube)
Buy music
Discography
Reviews
Official website

Chetarca biography
CHETARCA originated in Melbourne, Australia, in 1972 out of the ashes of the LANGFORD LEVER band, who were an unrecorded early 70s Melbourne act. The band initially consisted of Paul LEVER on lead vocals, harmonica and tambourine, Andrew VANCE on keyboards and vocals, John REES on bass and violin and Geoff GALLENT on drums, but before recording their self-titled debut album they also brought Bruce BRYAN into the fold on synthesizer, who also became the band's producer alongside the former LANGFORD LEVER guitarist Ian MILLER, who later played guitar with JOHN PAUL YOUNG and FLASH AND THE PAN. Although they were signed to the well-established Atlantic label, only around 1000 copies of the album were released in 1975, and to support the album the band went on a tour during which they opened for the ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA and FRANK ZAPPA.

CHETARCA have been described as a blues rock band who fused that particular brand of music with ELP inspired keyboard-based prog. The album opens with the band mixing some progressive instrumental sections into their characteristic bluesy jams and grooves. With no guitarist in the line-up, the sound is heavily dominated by piano, organ and synthesizer workouts arising from the dual keyboard assault of Andrew VANCE (piano, organ) and Bruce BRYAN (synthesiser) - this being tastefully augmented by Paul LEVER's wailing harmonica and bluesy vocals.

At times the music has a rather commercial sound, being generally quite rhythmic on the whole, but this is often offset by the dense keyboard parts and occasional dives into jazzy interludes and classical inspired textures - particularly in 'The Oceanic Suite', which is a 3-part, 24-minute long epic which takes up almost the whole of side two of the album, and most definitely extends well into the realms of progressive rock. Once the opening couple of tracks of side one are over, you'll hear some truly progressive music featuring dual keyboards and plenty of fresh ideas.

The band released a single 'Another Day/Fisherman's Nightmare' which remained for three weeks in the top 100 of the Australian charts in September 1975, peaking at number 75. When CHETARCA broke up, bassist John REES went on to form the successful pop-rock group MEN AT WORK, recording two albums with the band between 1981 and 1983, Ian MILLER went on to become a successful record producer, Andrew VANCE became one of Australia's leading jazz pianists, and Paul LEVER was tragically killed in the la...CHETARCA originated in Melbourne, Australia, in 1972 out of the ashes of the LANGFORD LEVER band, who were an unrecorded early 70s Melbourne act. The band initially consisted of Paul LEVER on lead vocals, harmonica and tambourine, Andrew VANCE on keyboards and vocals, John REES on bass and violin and Geoff GALLENT on drums, but before recording their self-titled debut album they also brought Bruce BRYAN into the fold on synthesizer, who also became the band's producer alongside the former LANGFORD LEVER guitarist Ian MILLER, who later played guitar with JOHN PAUL YOUNG and FLASH AND THE PAN. Although they were signed to the well-established Atlantic label, only around 1000 copies of the album were released in 1975, and to support the album the band went on a tour during which they opened for the ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA and FRANK ZAPPA.

CHETARCA have been described as a blues rock band who fused that particular brand of music with ELP inspired keyboard-based prog. The album opens with the band mixing some progressive instrumental sections into their characteristic bluesy jams and grooves. With no guitarist in the line-up, the sound is heavily dominated by piano, organ and synthesizer workouts arising from the dual keyboard assault of Andrew VANCE (piano, organ) and Bruce BRYAN (synthesiser) - this being tastefully augmented by Paul LEVER's wailing harmonica and bluesy vocals.

At times the music has a rather commercial sound, being generally quite rhythmic on the whole, but this is often offset by the dense keyboard parts and occasional dives into jazzy interludes and classical inspired textures - particularly in 'The Oceanic Suite', which is a 3-part, 24-minute long epic which takes up almost the whole of side two of the album, and most definitely extends well into the realms of progressive rock. Once the opening couple of tracks of side one are over, you'll hear some truly progressive music featuring dual keyboards and plenty of fresh ideas.

The band released a single 'Another Day/Fisherman's Nightmare' which remained for three weeks in the top 100 of the Australian charts in September 1975, peaking at number 75. When CHETARCA broke up, bassist John REES went on to form the successful pop-rock group MEN AT WORK, recording two albums with the band between 1981 and 1983, Ian MILLER went on to become a successful record producer, Andrew VANCE became one of Australia's leading jazz pianists, and Paul LEVER was tragically killed in the late nineties by a hit and run driver when crossing the road outside a Collingwood hotel from which he had just bought a takeaway. Ian MILLER died from cancer in 2009read more

CHETARCA Videos (YouTube and more)

Showing only random 3 | Search and add more videos to CHETARCA

Buy CHETARCA Music

DOUG LARSON IMPORTS — Buy prog rock music and rarities (Free shipping on orders over 10 CD's)
AMAZON.COM — Best-selling prog vinyls

CHETARCA discography

Ordered by release date | Showing ratings (top albums) | Help Progarchives.com to complete the discography and add albums

CHETARCA top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

0.00 | 0 ratings

Chetarca
1975

CHETARCA Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

CHETARCA Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

CHETARCA Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

CHETARCA Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

CHETARCA Reviews

Showing last 10 reviews only

Thanks to cristi for the artist addition.