AME DEBOUT

In honour of Catherine's recent passing I re-visited this 1971 album, spinning it all last week. She was 30 years old here and I'm surprised she was only four years younger than my Mom. "Ame Debout" is the first of a three album run that is the pinnacle of their careers. How cool is it that Laurent Thibault produced this album. Big fan. They brought in Patrice Lemoine for this album to play organ. He would play keyboards with GONG briefly in the mid seventies.

While the first two records by this band were more in the experimental folk realm, this one goes beyond that. It's like there is a pall cast over this recording. Dark with vocals like I have never heard before. She improvises these wordless melodies like I have never heard. Angry, theatrical and passionate. She does not hold anything back here folks. The price of admission.

The two part "Alpes" tracks are my favourites, especially "Alpes 2" but combined we get thirteen minutes of great music, lots of it instrumental. Plenty of atmosphere but intense as well. We get Moullet singing on "Alpilles" which is more folk sounding. I'd also mention "Aria Populaire" for the emotion it brings to me. Of course that opening title track which is the longest at almost 8 minutes is so impressive for Catherine's vocal display. She has to be heard to be believed.

She could have been a model, using her looks to make some money, but instead she chose to use her voice. For this I am grateful, and I call that integrity.