TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

I was just curious about this band and was wondering if anybody would be kind enough to give me some idea what they were like.  They've been hearkened as a French version of Fairport, but I'm always dubious of these kind of comparisons (Fairport has been described as a British Grateful Dead, for example!).  If they are like Fairport, which Fairport as they like?  Are they more like rocking folkies (Steeleye) than rockers playing folk (with a solid bass/drum)? 

What are the albums to recommend?

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Merry Christmas!

There's a Wikipedia entry for them here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malicorne_%28band%29) that you may find helpful.

Malicorne varied in style somewhat from album to album.  I've always thought of them as closer to a French Steeleye than Fairport.  Brian Gulland and (I think) David Oberle from Gryphon passed through their ranks.

The best place to start would probably be one of the compilations - "Legende" or "Vox".

Have a look at:

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=903 (http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=903)

Great band. Definitely closer to Steeleye than to Fairport. I never saw them live but I have several of their albums and have seen (and met) Gabriel Yacoub on several occasions. His Fairport connection is that he played with them in Excalibur.

Thanks for the feedback, guys!  Based on your recommendations, they appear to be my mug of brew!

Cheers,
W-town :)

 ... and don't forget to see www.gabrielyacoub.com. A fantastic band if you love folk rock.
Looking for Fairport connections we may note that Gabriel Yacoub started his career as Alan Stivell's acoustic guitarist. In the same period the electric guitar in Stivell's band was Dan ar Braz, then a Fairport for a few months.

 [;-)

Paolo

Yeah, the early Stivell stuff is real important and often overlooked in the folk rock canon.  I love his album, CHEMINS DE TERRE!  I think the last song, Kimiad, is about the prettiest piece of music I've ever heard.  I would love a translation, since I don't know a word of French (or is it Gaelic? :-[).

I agree entirely, Wileytown.  "Renaissance of the Celtic Harp" is a goodie and "A l'Olympia" one of my all time favourite live albums.

I lent Renaissance of the Celtic Harp to ollythedolly last week so if he's listening in maybe he can let us know what he thinks.

The later solo harp album "Happes du Nouvel Age" is also wonderful. This and "Renaissance" are the two Stivell albums I listen to most.

"Renaissance" was a great album. In an era of great folk albums. I played it a lot.
A quick search indicates that a CD might not be easy to find.

I beg to differ. Most of Stivell's early albums are out as budget remastered editions. I bought a triple cd edition of Renaissance, Olympia and Symphonie Celtique a few years ago at my local French supermarket.
Voila!
http://www.fnac.com/Shelf/article.asp?PRID=577149&OrderInSession=1&Mn=3&Mu=-13&SID=a6188f0e-cfcc-a8b0-9cd9-3a49a8d027c4&TTL=281220052151&Origin=FnacAff&Ra=-28&To=0&Nu=1&UID=119A64C0B-9541-796E-3220-C30A347726EF&Fr=0



Edit: Thanks, I just did a quick Google.

It is on Napster however, if you have a subscription. One that I quite often listen to for a bit of relaxation.

Paul

Yeah, the early Stivell stuff is real important and often overlooked in the folk rock canon.  I love his album, CHEMINS DE TERRE!  I think the last song, Kimiad, is about the prettiest piece of music I've ever heard.  I would love a translation, since I don't know a word of French (or is it Gaelic? :-[).
[/quote]

Unfotunately the song Kimiad is not in French but in breton (or gaelic?). That album is great -and the last featuring Gabriel Yacoub that soon after left Stivell's band to play french folk music with his sister Marie and then forming Malicorne.

best

Paolo

Malicorne. Cool.

Mine too. I saw Stivell in Edinburgh on my 18th Birthday - fabulous beyond words!

i still like "chemins de terre" which i bought after seeing msr Stivell et band(Dan ar et Gabriel etc) supporting steeleye at the manchester opera house 30 odd years ago
   didnt they do the whistle test?

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/s2.cfm?id=1692004

The following article seems to confirm your recollections, Jim! 

Oh! suddenly

a pang for the loss of Martyn Bennett.