Tangerine - De L'Autre Cote De La Foret (1975) [Reissue, 1993]

TANGERINE are a largely forgotten French folk band that stood out for releasing a couple of minor prog folk albums in the mid-seventies that often hearkened back to late sixties and early seventies North American folk. The band consisted of vocalist Val?ry Btesh (who did not appear on the band's second release 'Memoire'), multi-instrumentalist Marc Donahue, and guitarists Gabriel Malka and Charlie Sabban.

The band's first release 'De L'Autre Cote de la Foret' came in 1975 and was distinguished by the distinctive folkish vocals of Val?ry Btesh, who also accompanied the remaining trio on guitar. This gave the band a rather unique sound that often featured four guitarists but not much drumming except for the soft bongos offered by Donahue and some guest work by Roger Gremillot. The band's songs alternated between English and French, with each showing distinctive influences. The English compositions most often sounded similar to American and British acts ranging from THE BYRDS to AMERICA to GENESIS, while the French tracks can be favorably likened to HARMONIUM or BEAU DOMMAGE.

The band's second release in 1976 ('Memoire') was marked by the absence of Btesch and a noticeable shift to a more blues-rock sound and heavier emphasis on English vocals. A 1977 release ('Reves Cristal') was co-titled as a TANGERINE and Val?ry Btesh offering, but was in fact for the most part a Btesch solo recording. The band faded from public view shortly afterwards, and although CBS released a little-heralded single "L'Epouvantail" b/w "Mon ami Kid" in 1981, by then TANGERINE were little more than a memory.

TANGERINE are being added to Progarchives for their brief discography of progressive folk music that demonstrates the appealing blend of French musical intimacy with the blues and hippie psych influences of seventies west coast America and folk French Canada.