VOLUME III - 32 MARS

By 1973-74 the original years of Catharsis appear to have come to an end and the band had taken a break.Being under contract though, albums kept coming, based on earlier recordings of the band.''32 Mars'' was released in 1974 on the Festival and Galloway labels, the eponymous track had already appeared in the first ever single released by the band.

This has to be one of the shortest LP's ever recorded, clocking at 23 minutes and half of it is dedicated to a long version of ''32 Mars'', a tour-de-force of haunting, organ-drenched Psychedelic Prog with some Classical influences and a really dark atmosphere, dominated by chants and sinister moods.Somewhere between GOBLIN and VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR, this one is characterized by middle-placed sax scratches, neurotic organ waves and some soft piano lines with an ending section full of smashing percussion.Among the very good pieces recorded by the band.Second side contains no strangers to Catharsis fans.''Masq'' is a shortened version of the track already presented in their eponymous debut with Charlotte again behind the microphone.Kind of an Avant-Garde/Psychedelic Rock piece with focus on the Farfisa organ and Charlotte's operatic stylings with some more quirky organ drives added for good measure.''Les Chevrons'' is the same version as on Catharsis' self-titled sophomore release, where the band had taken a more symphonic direction, still displaying a love for dark soundscapes, but surfacing enough Classical elerments, that eventually refined their whole style.A short, 3-min. version of the opener will close the album, lacking the piano moves, the percussion grooves and most of the Avant-Garde touches for a rather organ-dominated version with slight symphonic overtones.

Extremely short album, which still deserves some praise for its haunting atmosphere and intense organ variations.Recommended, unless you feel that 23 minutes of music do not worth your money.CD reissue out on Spalax.