Anyone like Malicorne?

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 26 Nov 13 - 04:07 AM

To be honest I'm not sure if it was 1994 - could have been any point between 93 & 99! I'd go for 94/95! No record of it on line. You could try contacting Folkworks who ought to have it on their books:

http://www.sagegateshead.com/about-us/folkworks/

The only thing I remember about the concert is that he sang Pierre de Grenoble.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST,nickp (cookieless at work)
Date: 26 Nov 13 - 04:05 AM

Sorry, I haven't a clue. I guess the Fylde organisers would have access to old programmes. Worth while contacting the festival - probably Alan Bell (his email is on their web page). It would probably be the end of August.
Nick

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Nov 13 - 07:20 PM

Messages to Jack Blandiver & nickp :

Many thanx for your contributions!

> Jack Blandiver : any chance to recall the exact date of the Gabriel Yacoub "Ballad Concert" presented by Folkworks in 1994 with Evelyne Girardon, Martin Carthy and Maddy Prior?

> nickp : do you know the exact date of the concert at the Fylde folk festival which occurred in September 1991 in Fleetwood, Lancashire, UK? Was it a duo concert with Jean-Pierre Rasle?

Lurulu

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: nickp
Date: 25 Nov 13 - 10:07 AM

Guest Lurulu,

These are the dates/venues. I hope they are correct!

with Nikki Matheson - Bath Arms Folk Club, Cheddar, Somerset - 18th November 1990

with Jean-Pierre Rasle - Christ Church, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire - 11th July 1991

with Jean-Pierre Rasle - Four Bars Inn, Cardiff, South Wales - 10th December 1991

with Jean-Pierre Rasle - Prema Arts Centre, Uley, Dursley, Gloucestershire - 15th December 1991

with Nikki Matheson - Hazelwood House, Loddiswell, Devon - 17th June 1993

solo - Amulet Theatre, Shepton Mallet, Somerset - 27th March 1994

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 25 Nov 13 - 04:27 AM

Gabrielle Yacoub appeared as part of a 'Ballad Concert' present by Folkworks at the Caedmon Hall in Gateshead in a stellar line-up that also featured Evelyn Giradon, Martin Carthy and Maddy Prior around - 1994? The concert was effectively an informal 'singaround' between the 4 performers with duets between Yacoub & Giradon and Carthy & Prior. Did they all do something together? Maybe they did. Great fun as I recall - I've still got Yacoub's 'Bel' CD that I bought that night, which, although very nice, isn't half as much fun as his full-on 80s synthpop 'Elementary Level of Faith' (ELF) from a few years earlier (which debuts his 'Les Choses les Plus Simples' very much as a pop song).

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Nov 13 - 08:52 PM

Message to Nickp :

Yes, I'm very interested in those Gabriel Yacoub concert dates in the UK with Jean-Pierre Rasle and Nikki Matheson!
Thanx in advance for digging them out!

Indeed, Malicorne is currently touring France. Hope they'll tourother countries such as UK, Spain, Canada, US in 2014, why not?...

As far as I know, the concert at the Fylde folk festival occurred in September 1991 in Fleetwood, Lancashire, UK.

I know nothing about a possible concert in Manchester...

Tahnx in advance,

Lurulu

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 14 Nov 13 - 06:58 AM

Seem?

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST,nickp (cookieless at work)
Date: 14 Nov 13 - 04:32 AM

I saw Gabriel a number of times in the southwest with (at different times) Jean-Pierre Rasle and Nikki Matheson. If guest Lurulu is interested in those dates for some kind of calendar I can dig them out.

I note that Malicorne have a number of French gigs lined up soon. It would be great if they could get over here. Love the live video but really would like to seem them 'for real'.

Nick

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST,Lurulu
Date: 13 Nov 13 - 06:23 PM

> Does anyone know which are the exact dates of these 2 Gabriel Yacoub shows in Manchester and in Fylde ?

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST,Gourmet Guest
Date: 11 Nov 13 - 05:51 AM

Is it best boiled or fried? With rice or pasta?

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 11 Nov 13 - 04:54 AM

Nice to see all those YouTube links I posted a few years back are still active down there. From hippy folk to 80s synth-pop - the Malicorne journey was never less than astutely observed. As Folk Roots once said - in the realms of Folk Rock Malicorne always knew what decade it was. I think they were unique in that respect alone!

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 10 Nov 13 - 09:39 AM

Yes I do

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST,Lurulu
Date: 10 Nov 13 - 07:45 AM

Message to Ross Campbell :

In you post on 09 Feb 08 - 09:22 PM, you wrote:

"I saw Gabriel Yacoub play solo a couple of times, once at The Band on the Wall in Manchester when they had a brief spell of bringing in a few artists from the folk world, and later at Fylde when he played brilliantly to a slightly bemused audience."

> Do you remember the exact dates of these 2 Gabriel Yacoub shows in Manchester and in Fylde ?

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: nickp
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 05:35 AM

My CD & DVD have arrived. They're great!!

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: nickp
Date: 26 Mar 11 - 01:04 PM

Thought i'd just do a refresh as there was earlier interest in the issue date of the recordings

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: nickp
Date: 25 Mar 11 - 08:58 AM

DVD and CD now available from amazon.fr or from Gabriel's own website - both links in earlier posts

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 22 Oct 10 - 05:21 AM

Its bonanza time for Malicorne fans on YouTube right now! So much up there youre spoilt for choice really. Like this studio mime complete with Gothic sets & folk dancers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDijzXxwCbI&feature=related

I was never too convinced by the 80s europop of Balançoire en Feu ; here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLirN4I2v10&feature=related

And what about Big Science, 1,2, 3?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIk77hexm9U&feature=related

*

All of the recent gig is up there, including L'Écolier Assassin, of course:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLCy3yorBDE&feature=related

*

And a studio mime of Le Luneux featuring Marie at her most alluringly folksy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYW4Wx7sK3o&feature=related

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: nickp
Date: 22 Oct 10 - 04:21 AM

Thanks, I guess it will be available elsewhere, if not, I'm sure there are ways and means!

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: ClaireBear
Date: 21 Oct 10 - 05:42 PM

I have a friend in France getting one for me, and he will be looking into whether the DVD can be acquired for other zones. I doubt he'll do this until it's actually released, not while it's available via pre-order...too hard to get full info then. I will report in as soon as I hear back.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 21 Oct 10 - 05:25 PM

Lots of Malicorne on YouTube, including:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsMjvaTE-HA

How cool's that? And there's anmy amount besides, including footage of the recent gig.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Oct 10 - 04:58 PM

Amazon France

Available on 8th November...

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST,nickp
Date: 21 Oct 10 - 04:46 PM

Can't find anything obvious. Any chance of a web link?

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST,nickp (cookieless)
Date: 21 Oct 10 - 04:40 PM

Amazon here I come!!!!

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST,Yves
Date: 21 Oct 10 - 03:34 PM

A concert DVD from the july reunion concert is on preorder now (Amazon &c). Release date : nov 8th.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 05:31 AM

I expect a few YouTube live clips soon. Meanwile, going back a bit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS477VFRkpQ

I've always loved this - not least for the hurdy-gurdy solo; not the sort of thing you'd hear these days & more's the pity really! Not strictly speaking Malicorne, but they did feature a similar arrangement on their live album, although with a lower crumhorn that the one used here.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: ClaireBear
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 03:13 PM

Malicorne should be just about leaving the stage now, right? I hope someone was able to go to the reunion concert and will let us know how it went!

And I hope there's soon to be a video...

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: ClaireBear
Date: 17 May 10 - 12:13 PM

Refresh again -- Malicorne reunion concert 15 July -- see my post above.

Cheers
C

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Monique
Date: 16 May 10 - 05:43 PM

They are reuniting for this concert only:
"Trente ans après leur séparation, Gabriel Yacoub réunit pour une première et unique fois tous les membres originaux du groupe mythique Malicorne..."

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: nickp
Date: 16 May 10 - 11:06 AM

I hope it's being recorded/filmed. So wish I could be there.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: ClaireBear
Date: 16 May 10 - 10:48 AM

My sentiments exactly!

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Mick Tems
Date: 16 May 10 - 05:14 AM

Malicorne re-uniting? Oh, joy!

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: ClaireBear
Date: 15 May 10 - 06:34 PM

I just happened across the information that five original Malicorne members -- Marie, Gabriel, Hugues, Laurent, & Olivier -- are reuniting for a Francofolies concert in La Rochelle, France, on July 15, 2010. Thought perhaps it was time to refresh this thread...

video announcement

I hope some of you who are more local than California is (sigh) will be in attendance -- and that there will be a recording to be had here, later on. Had I but world enough, and time...

Incidentally my French is very rusty, so there may be more or better information to be gleaned that I am not getting. Please share, if so.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: rich-joy
Date: 06 Nov 08 - 02:24 AM

Just found the "FolkYourself" blogspot too, which has many European folk LPs (from all over) ....

Cheers, R-J

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 12:29 PM

Pierre De Grenoble is not a Malicorne recording but a release from Gabriel & Marie Yacoub before Malicorne was formed. They did however subsequently recycle some of the material into the band's set. See my post of 9 February above.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST,Michele Callaghan
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 10:41 AM

I have been a fan of Malicorne since the 70s. I saw them live and Gabriel Yacoub several times. The vocals, musicianship, and material are excellent. Check out their Pierre de Grenoble and Yacoub's Trad Arr in addition to the ones listed here.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Anne Lister
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 05:04 AM

Was a huge Malicorne fan ...also a fan of le Grand Rouge, when I lived in Lyon. I'll have to check out my vinyl and find out what I have and what I can now transfer to CD to listen to again in the car.

As to the Time Has Told Me blog ...we've already had this discussion several times over, but if the bloggers would only ask the makers of the music whether they wanted their back catalogue music to be available for download it would make their actions more acceptable. It would then give the makers of the music the chance to make their own choices about free downloads instead of feeling ripped off. When we contacted them about the Burnt Feathers album they were decidedly unpleasant and unhelpful, and considering they were supposed to be fans of my music this left me somewhat baffled.

Anne

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 03:39 AM

Someone seems to have disabled the facility to unzip downloaded files from this pirate site, which is a jolly good thing. I know a number of artists who have been trying to get their illegally uploaded work off the site for the past year.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Anglo
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 03:11 AM

How do you download from this site? Looks very interesting, with some of my favorites, but I am a technological dummy.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: rich-joy
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 02:50 AM

I have only just "discovered" the blogspot called "Time Has Told Me". It's been going a coupla years and presents old and obscure folk and acoustic LPs for download (and also some more recent CDs! :~)

I noticed a fair swag of Malicorne, Yacoub and Quebecois, French, Breton, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian and other European folk-rock bands, amongst the selections.

Whether or not you agree with the poster's actions, there is a wealth of folk info about the artists and recordings offered, which I really appreciate.

Definitely a site in which to pleasantly lose some time!!


Cheers! Rich-Joy

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Mick Tems
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 08:41 AM

It was Christian Vesvres!

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Mick Tems
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 05:45 AM

"Also nice are La Chifonnie and Le Grand Rouge..."

La Chiffonnie were absolutely amazing. Among the musicians were Diane Holmes-Brown (from England!), her husband Hal Colombes and two young brothers, Patrick and Serges Desaunay. La Chiffonie broke up; I think Diane and Hal parted. Hal reformed La Chiffonie, and they did a CD called Nouvelles Escales (EPM 983432). Among the tracks was a pretty stunning "Dans la Ville de Paris".

Guitarist Serges Desaunay recorded a solo LP, and accordionist Patrick Desaunay delighted the Llantrisant Folk Club crowd when he played, with vielle musician Patrick Bouffard and a bagpiper - I'm sorry, but I have forgotten his name.

Mick Tems

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 04:47 PM

Malicorne's drummer was Jean-Pierre Arnoux who invented a contraption consisting of a strung ironing board and a motorised wheel wih guitar picks ha plucked the strings and he then added harmonics.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: ClaireBear
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 03:49 PM

No drums? I'm confused.

When I saw Malicorne live, there were certainly drums. In fact, as I recall, there was a drum set as large as my bedroom, plus the odd conga and hand drum. That was on the rock and roll side of the stage, where the electric guitar and bass players were. On the other side (what I thought of as the early music side of the stage) were the violinist, a woodwinds/reeds player, and Marie on vielle-a-roue and dulcimer. Gabriel stood in the middle.

Frankly, I don't agree with the Steeleye comparison. I'm far from fond of Steeleye...I never felt they brought much to the music beyond mere electrification, which was never enough for me. Malicorne, on the other hand, brought a wonderful, twisted sense of harmony and some really interesting instrumentation, not to mention brilliant arrangements. And although I don't actually adore the voice of Gabriel Yacoub (and found Marie's downright grating much of the time), I found that the sum was much greater than the parts.

I've never had an opportunity to hear the other bands you recommend, but I will look them up, assuming I can find them in the wilds of California.

Cheers,
Claire

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 03:26 PM

Malicorne is all right but you have to like the voice of Gabriel Yacoub. Yacoub was a member of Alan Stivell's band before he founded Malicorne. Stivell was a rocker amongst the folkies and also Malicorne used electric insruments (but no drums!) For me, Malicorne sounds like a French Steeleye Span. Personally I like La Bamboche better.Their first three records are great. Also nice are La Chifonnie and Le Grand Rouge.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Roughyed
Date: 21 Feb 08 - 05:53 PM

Great band. I think they were on at Cambridge in 1975 but my memory is a bit hazy around that time. Still got a couple of albums and this has inspired me to dig them out. Thanks

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Giant Folk Eyeball (inactive)
Date: 21 Feb 08 - 05:06 PM

I bought a copy of La Bamboche's 'Le Saison Des Amours' on the strength of Nerd's comments above. I've been playing it a fair amount these past few days. You're right, they certainly weren't as groundbreaking as Malicorne, but a lovely album nontheless. So... Thanks!

Nigel

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Mick Tems
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 04:32 AM

I came across Malicorne when I was a founder member of Swansea Jack in the seventies. The BBC invited us to appear at the Brest festival, and the sight and sounds of Breton and French bands playing traditional music just totally amazed and delighted us. I brought a Malicorne album (old man and child gazing up in the evening with a starry 'M') and I treasure it to this day - "La Blanche Biche," "Quand Je Menai Mes Chevaux Boire"... I just wept with joy. I saw Malicorne at the Pembroke Festival after that - it was sheer magic.

I saw Jean Blanchard in Brittany on Swansea Jack tours; he and our agent were an item. Beau Temps Sur La Province played twice at Llantrisant Folk Club, once with accordeon diatonique master Michel Pichon joining Jean and Evelyne Girardon, and once with Bruno Le Tron on the melodeon. (Which reminds me: I have a CD which Bruno produced, and on it is is a Bruno-written tune called Vals de Noel, or the Christmas Waltz. Players know it as a session tune, but Bruno holds the original melody!) Bruno had a excellent band called Maubissons, with Serge Liorzou the Breton bombarde player and Ti Jaz drummer Olivier Le Gallo. Serge still holds workshops at the annual Grand Bal, held in Bath.

I think Jean is living near Lyon and is totally immersed in French bagpipes. If you see him, tell him that Mick Tems says "Bonjour"!

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Fliss
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 06:45 PM

Thought you might like the link

http://www.gabrielyacoub.com/

Must find Bel and give it a play.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: nickp
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 10:14 AM

Big fan of GY & M ever since hearing them mid 70's. My musical tastes have changed now but I still go back to them from time to time. It's a shame Gabriel hasn't toured here for many years. I caught a few of the gigs then and they were excellent.

Nick

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST,J. Temperance
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 04:16 PM

Battle of the Field I'll accept; quite possibly the only album of the Hutchings school of the four-square thump that actually maages to find the groove. I must confess to a certain nostalgia bias here, but everything I heard in the Albion Band / Hutchings name thereafter left me cold (including No Roses). I'm not one for quoting Folk Roots, but in their review of the (admittedly shite) Cathedrales de L'Industrie album (1986), they pointed out that at least Malicorne knew what decade it was.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 05:12 AM

I was intersted by the comment "What is interesting is that, alone among "f*lk-rock" bands, Malicorne, Dransfield (and Mr Fox) recognised the blind alley other bands of the day were backing into by simply plugging in and souping up trad songs with a four-square thump. They were important in that they led the way into creating new material and adding to an existing cultural heritage rather than just reworking it"

Good point well made, but let's not dismiss the pleasure of bands that plugged in and souped up trad songs. Compare the early Albion Band and Morris On albums to the Albion offerings of the 80s and 90s. They created new material all right, but it was dull as hell. Just my opinion, of course. I know some people like post-Swarb Fairport, but it just sounds bland to me

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 11:05 AM

Love'm. Have always thought of them as folk, though, not rock... will have to check them out on YouTube. Thanks for the reminder!

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Fliss
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 05:40 PM

First heard of Gabriel in Stivell's band in the early 70s. Saw them at the Dome in Brighton in early 1976.

Have got Gabriel's 'Bel' on CD. Heard it some years ago and loved it. Gp on the website every so often. Have to use Bablefish to do the french for me for the forum.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Mrs Scarecrow
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 04:35 PM

I got Legendes in a second hand shop in Halifax in 1992ish ,I was immediately bowled over by it.Unfortunately it was stolen when my house was burgled in 1995 and it took me year of searching till I managed to replace it last year. Some how I doubt the burgler was as impressed withthem as I was.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Nerd
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 02:49 PM

When I was a teenager in NYC there was a record shop called "Grand Prix," on Broadway somewhere in the 90s. They always had remaindered albums from France. There I got everything from Malicorne and Tri Yann, and a couple from La Bamboche too. I miss that shop!

I've since replaced all the Malicorne with CDs--they are, as some here have said, one of the greatest electric folk bands of all time. I sing several things I learned from them. I once set the French words of "Le Deserteur," from Malicorne, to the English tune "The Deserter" from Fairport's version, because I could never get my voice around Gabriel's tune....

One of the things that set Malicorne apart was their use of early music and classical music as well as folk and rock. There were always Crumhorns, and sometimes whole string and brass sections. Brian Gulland, of the early music-rock hybrid Gryphon, was a member of Malicorne for a while. Now he's with The New Scorpion Band, if memory serves.

In my opinion, La Bamboche were not as groundbreaking a band as Malicorne. They were mostly an acoustic folk group, but briefly "went electric." They did at least three acoustic and two electric albums, plus a "Quintessence" best-of. I've got two on LP, one on cassette (!) and Le Saison Des Amours on CD. Their first LP had a really cool gatefold sleeve with a bande-dessinee style drawing of the group...I had it hanging on my wall for a while, and I still take it out now and then just to look at it.

The members are still around doing music. Bernard Blanc makes bagpipes, Jean Blanchard still plays, Evelyne Girardon still sings.

Jean Blanchard's online discography, here, has all the Bamboche albums listed. Some of the other projects there featured many of the Bamboche lineup, including the "Beau Temps" albums "Beau Temps sur la Province," "Beau Temps" and "Compagnie du Beau Temps."

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST,tony geen
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 10:41 AM

I bought a Malicorne 'greatest hits' type album on vinyl many years ago. Solely on the basis of that I would say their early stuff was brilliant and their later stuff sounded like Abba. So I mostly only play side 1.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 04:45 AM

I too have been bending an ear Malicorne-wards since our Noodle-fest with Nigel on Wednesday, although I must admit I got a bit distracted by a hitherto unknown CD reissue of Clive 'Clint' John's 1975 solo album You Always Know Where You Stand With a Buzzard picked up in Preston (the ever dependable Action Records of course) the following day...

Anyhoo - on vinyl I can still account for Malicorne (man & boy & constellation cover), Malicorne (tree cottage cover), Le Bestaire, and En Public - a further rake through the archive might reveal more, or less, such are the joys of living between homes (anyone want to buy a beautifully situated 4 bedroom terrace in rural County Durham, seven miles from Durham city & commanding impressive views along the Deerness Valley etc. ?). On cassette I think I've still got Cathedrals of Industry (which I believe ought to have been a Gabriel Yacoub album in the manner of Elementary Level of Faith but somewhat more overblown) and Balancoir en Feu (as well as those listed above). On CD - Gabriel Yacoub's Bel, which is a lovely thing indeed.

For those who haven't heard them, there's a few Malicorne songs on YouTube used for various short seqences etc. My favourite is Menez Du which I find a totally beguiling match of music & image.

And Ross, please bring Bacchu Ber along to the Steamer on Thursday. I once set The Elfin Knight to the tune of Chanson de Livre (?) which came from a Malicorne album, though which one I couldn't presently say. Methinks a revival is long overdue, so needs must I dig out the old hurdy-gurdy too, which has very definate overtones of that on Pierre de Grenoble, especially the solo on the title track which is an absolute treat. Certainly wouldn't get away with it these days now that the hurdy-gurdy has been well & truly sanitised by way of post-modern reinvention, though I'll do my best on Thursday, weather permitting!

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 04:42 AM

Inspired by this thread, I looked them up on youtube, WOW.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Giant Folk Eyeball (inactive)
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 04:25 AM

Never hear of La Bamboche, but I see there's still one album available, "La Saison Des Amours" ... going by the instrumental line-up, I might have to check them out. I sort of hoped people might do that 'I liked this which is in a similar vein' thing.

Yes, Diane, agree entirely about Dransfield being an honourable exception to the inherent rhythmic clunkiness of UK folk rock. Shame 'The Fiddler's Dream' came out at the height of punk: not exactly a time when the world was waiting with baited breath for a folk rock concept album! More's the pity...

Cheers

Nigel

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: rich-joy
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 03:54 AM

Yes, I am happy to still have 2 of my Malicorne LPs - I was rather fond of La Bamboche too - anyone know what happened to them???


Cheers, R-J
(down under)

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Bee
Date: 09 Feb 08 - 09:38 PM

I only recently discovered Malicorne, thanks to CBC Galaxy, and was very impressed.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 09 Feb 08 - 09:22 PM

I saw Gabriel Yacoub play solo a couple of times, once at The Band on the Wall in Manchester when they had a brief spell of bringing in a few artists from the folk world, and later at Fylde when he played brilliantly to a slightly bemused audience. His vocal and guitar technique are the equal of the best in the UK. I don't think I ever saw the band play (surely I'd remember? Cambridge possibly?), but I have quite a few of their albums. The choice of material and the musical arrangements from Pierre de Grenoble to Cathedrales de l'Industrie are absolutely brilliant and would give most of the British or Irish folk-rock bands a run for their money. Of their contemoraries, Horslips occasionally came close in terms of inspiration, and later Clan Alba would stand comparison.

Most of their material seems to have been issued on CD and was still available the last time I looked.

A few years back, a tune cropped up in the soundtrack of "My Own Private Idaho". It nagged away at my memory for ages until a random playing of one of Malicorne's CDs revealed it to be "Bacchu Ber", a traditional tune from central France. I figured it out for guitar and if I remember to bring it along, I'll play it at the Steamer next week!

Ross

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: ClaireBear
Date: 09 Feb 08 - 08:37 PM

Yes!!! My favorite band of all time. I have it all on vinyl, though...saving up for CDs.

Got to see them live just once, in San Francisco. They were even better live than recorded.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Artful Codger
Date: 09 Feb 08 - 08:28 PM

Not familiar with Malicorne as such, but one album I treasure is "Pierre de Grenoble", which Gabriel Yacoub recorded before forming Malicorne. They later reworked many of the songs that appeared on that album.

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: redsnapper
Date: 09 Feb 08 - 08:07 PM

Excellent and influential band and I still play my copy of Almanach and a couple of pieces from it.

RS

Subject: RE: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 09 Feb 08 - 07:27 PM

Gabrielle & Marie Yacoub were first brought over to Britain by Robin Dransfield in 1973 before Malicorne was fully formed. They'd made Pierre De Grenoble though and played a series of concerts which Robin promoted to high acclaim and interest. Like Les Frères Dransfield, they started off with traditional songs from their own country and the parallel between the two bands continued as each ventured into self-written material composed in their respective traditions. However, Malicorne grew even bigger in size than Bellowhead, became a bit silly and disbanded in the early 80s.

What is interesting is that, alone among "f*lk-rock" bands, Malicorne, Dransfield (and Mr Fox) recognised the blind alley other bands of the day were backing into by simply plugging in and souping up trad songs with a four-square thump. They were important in that they led the way into creating new material and adding to an existing cultural heritage rather than just reworking it.

Rather like what the English Acoustic Collective and Chris Wood (who I've just been out to see promoting Trespasser) are continuing in fresh directions 30 years on.

Subject: Anyone like Malicorne?
From: Giant Folk Eyeball (inactive)
Date: 09 Feb 08 - 06:46 PM

The great French folk rock band, Malicorne, came up in a discussion (over noodles rather than over the net) with Mudcatters Sedayne and Rapunzel this week, causing me to dig out my copy of their masterpiece, 'Almanach', which I'm playing now and getting utterly bowled over by. Anyone else in Mudcatland like 'em? I personally believe they leave the UK folk rock bands of the late sixties and early seventies standing - they took the possibilities of folk rock much further, and don't sound dated in the way that most English folk rock, from Fairport to the Oyster Band and everything in between, does (with the honourable exception of the stellar Mr Fox). Almananch is almost a concept album and has a song for evey month of the year - as far as I know, nearly all traditional french folk songs (my understanding of the sleevenotes is patchy).

Anyone else a Malicorne enthusiast or am I alone, sad and deluded?

Cheers,

Nigel