MEXICO

Sole album from one of the early wave groups (along with Moving Gelatine Plates, Sandrose etc) that progressively rocked France, Ergo Sum's music is sadly a bit over- looked, even by specialists. Their music was a rather unique genre of rock, jazz and so many other ingredients (but I would not call them a jazz-rock group proper), helped out by a violin, a flute and percussion instruments and weird-voiced singer.

From the Spanish-sung average title track (this song was not the opening track on the vinyl, Musea purposely changed it) to the rest of the tracks sung in English, the main danger is Ledissiez's voice (which sounds like Family's Roger Chapman), but past that feat, the rest of the group's oeuvre is really a must-hear for the era. The lengthy (almost 9-min) I Know Your Mother is probably one of the best-sung jazz-rock tracks written in France with Leonardi pulling a superb guitar solo towards the end. Albion Impressions is definitely more conventional prog rock and followed by the short flute interlude Lydie. Night road is a harder rocking track with a guest playing the Moog providing "strings" (less credible than the Mellotron) and other quirks that ends in a chaotic fade-out.

There is an underlying Spanish feel (almost Flamenco) on the following Unparalleled Embrace, while John's Nightmare glides on a Traffic-like groove. The lengthy Faces is not as good as most of the rest of the tracks, because it tries an Italian singer (Ramazotti or Zucchero) trick (and fails) but Leonardi's guitar saves the day. Second Rebirth's violin might recall a certain Jean-Luc, but the funky bass is stealing the show by teaming with the electric piano.

Bonus tracks include a Sampler album track All's So Comic (almost Caravanserai's Santana-esque in its ambiances, very very much in spirit with the album), the next year's single Tijuana/It's Me (the first having a déjà-entendu feel, while the latter has good b-side value) and an expandable short instrumental version of the title track. Overall these add to the album's general excellent quality. Although I'm not thinking that this album is indispensable or even essential, it is a very excellent album that will furbish your rock collection.