Swiss Psych/Prog band Mainhorse were formed in 1969 in London,where keyboardist Patrick Moraz
and bassist Jean Ristori were in search of band members and found drummer Bryson Graham along with singer David Kubinec of The World of Oz fame through an ad.For financial reasons the quartet flew back to Switzerland,adding drummer Arnold Ott and guitarist Augusto De Antoni in the mix.
Before Patrick Moraz released the Mainhorse LP in 1971, he and bassist/cellist Jean Ristori founded
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| PATRICK MORAZ |
one of the most significant groups in prog rock history. In the summer of 1969, the two left Switzerland for England in an effort to form a new band. They found it in drummer Bryson Graham and singer/songwriter David Kubinec (World of Oz). Initially calling themselves Integral Aim - then Mainhorse Airline - and supporting acts as Free, Canned Heat and Humble Pie, the band did early symphonic
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psych-rock with better musicianship than the Nice, less freaked-out space explorations than Egg, and did it a full year before anyone had ever heard of ELP. Moraz's vibrant organ and Ristori's classical foundation led the way and came together with Kubinec's songwriting talents beautifully for these ten tracks recorded in a Swiss basement studio.
Kubinec would later suffer a heart attack and the original line-up dissolved, and Patrick Moraz
would go on to work with other prog greats, some of the key music from this period making it on to 1971's 'Mainhorse'. But these early sessions give a taste of the group's true potential and exposes a shadowed corner of the progressive underground to the light of day, giving fans a priceless missing link in prog's evolution.
DAVID KUBINEC'S MAINHORSE AIRLINE - THE GENEVA TAPES 1969 - 1970 (2016)
Opener 'Overture and Beginners' is an explosion of late 60s energy tempered by musical discipline,
powerhouse rhythms and wild organ runs. 'Blunt Needles', a startling look at drug culture, clips with jazzy street life and a ghostly church organ. Drowsy Beatles impression 'The Passing Years', funny jazz-pop of 'Make it the Way You Are', very prog 'Pale Sky' at 7 minutes complete with Eastern-style acoustic interlude, savage psych bit 'Directions for Use' and pastoral 'A Very Small Child'. 11-minute 'God Can Fix Anything' is enormous, almost Who-like, and ends things convincingly.
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Mainhorse Airline (Feat. Dave Kubinec & Patrick Moraz) – The Geneva Tapes (1969-1970)
Label: Flawed Gems – GEM 143
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Unofficial Release
Country: Sweden
Released: 2016
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock
TRACKS
01. Overture And Beginners 3:36
02. Blunt Needles 6:28
03. The Passing Years 3:28
04. Make It The Way You Are 5:01
05. Pale Sky 6:54
06. What The Government Can Do For You 4:26
07. The Daybreak Of Eternity 4:11
08. Directions For Use 4:18
09. A Very Small Child 4:29
10. God Can Fix Anything 11:27
Total Time 52:58
LINE - UP
David Kubinec - lead vocals
Auguste De Antoni - guitar
Patrick Moraz - keyboards
Jean Ristori - bass
Bryson Graham - drums
NOTES
Original Recordings made 1969-1970 owned by David Kubinec, (then as Mainhorse Airline), remastered by Graham Bonnett. Studio Album, released in 2016. Released under license from David Kubinec.
Flac Size: 225 MB
MAINHORSE - MAINHORSE 1971
I wonder how many Yes fans are aware of the historical fact that once Patrick Moraz playes in
the band Mainhorse? Anyway, on this album the 'Swiss poodle' delivers an impressive Hammond organ sound. The first song is "Introduction", it features fluent 'heavy progressive' with floods of Hammond organ and fiery electric guitarplay, the sound has echoes from ATOMIC ROOSTER, THE NICE and early DEEP PURPLE.
The following "Passing Years" is a slow, bluesy like song with mellow organ and a bit melancholic
vocals. Then again 'heavy prog' with swirling organ and biting electric guitar in "Such a beautiful day", the climate evokes THE NICE and QUATERMASS. In "Pale sky" a wailing violin and howling electric guitar colour a bluesy atmosphere, topped by strong Hammond play and dynamic drums. This song features halfway a jam with violin, guitars, electric piano, experimental sounds and a hypnotizing rhythm-section, to end with a sensitive electric guitarsolo and loads of Hammond.
Next is "Basia", an up-tempo and catchy song with strong organ - and electric guitarplay, a pumping
bass and cheerful vocals, halfway MAINHORSE surprises with a swinging electric pianosolo. The track "More tea vicar" contains subtle changes of rhythm, from soft jazzy to fluent heavy prog with a classical sounding organ (like EKSEPTION), assorted percussion like glockenspiel and fiery electric guitar.
The final composition "God" (almost 10 minutes) is the most alternating and dynamic one with many
changes of climate with Patrick MORAZ on organ and the 'Klavio- synthesizer' and strong electric guitarwork, it sounds like a blend of THE NICE and ATOMIC ROOSTER. THIS ALBUM CONTAINS THE FIRST IMPRESSIVE STEPS FROM PATRICK MORAZ AS A KEYBOARD-WIZARD!
Mainhorse – Mainhorse
Label: Time Wave – IDVP001CD
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Country: UK
Released: Jun 13, 2011
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock, Symphonic Rock
TRACKS
01, Introduction 5:06
02, Passing Years 3:53
03, Such A Beautiful Day 4:41
04, Pale Sky 10:15
05, Basia 5:28
06, More Tea Vicar 3:31
07, God 10:31
LINE - UP
Bass, Cello, Vocals – Jean Ristori
Drums, Percussion – Bryson Graham
Lead Guitar, Violin, Vocals – Peter Lockett
Lyrics By – Bryson Graham (tracks: 1), Dave Kubinec (tracks: 2, 4), Peter Lockett (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7)
Music By – Jean Ristori (tracks: 4), Patrick Moraz (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 7)
Organ, Electric Piano, Piano, Glockenspiel, Synthesizer [Klaviosynthesiser], Vocals – Patrick Moraz
NOTES
Originally released in 1971.
Re-mastered by Jean Ristori at MTX Mastering.
The album has been re-mastered personally by Jean Ristori and Patrick Moraz for this release.
Tracks 1 - 4, 7 recorded at De Lane Lea Studio.
Tracks 5 - 6 recorded at Morgan Studio.
Thank you, i only have the same from 1971.
ReplyDeleteConversely, it's the same as 71 i don't have -
ReplyDeletethe Geneva tapes instead. I know the cover of the same well and was therefore of the opinion that i owned it. It has already been ordered. I've listened to the the Geneva tapes and it's GOOD. Not a masterpiece but a partly very appealing. I expect more still from the same. It's a shame that it didn't find any resonance here. This unknown Swiss band really deserved better.
Great historic post Kostas! Someone just requested I repost David's 1979 album and I noticed he had two earlier albums...do you have these? Great job!
ReplyDeleteI have the "Day of the Madman" on tape. Nothing else.
Delete