Voiceprint Music - Release

Release

£9.99

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Catalogue number

IDVP002CD

Release date

22/05/2006

Format

Label

Time Wave

Patrick Moraz/Refugee

Refugee

Disc 1

1. Papillon (5:10) 2. Someday (5:02) 3. Grand Canyon Suite (16:46) 4. Gatecrasher (1:02) 5. Ritt Mickley (4:52) 6. Credo (18:04)

Refugee was seen by the British music press at least as an attempt to revive the legendary British progressive rock band The Nice. While two thirds of The Nice (Lee Jackson and Brian Davison) were involved in Refugee the addition of Swiss born keyboard virtuoso Patrick Moraz ensured that the project whilst having the progressive ideals of The Nice was in fact something altogether different.

The band initially came together in late 1973 and following rehearsals the band recorded their only album the self titled Refugee which generally received excellent reviews. The album was released on the Charisma label who were certainly behind the project as the band departed on a worldwide tour in promotion of the album. All was going well for the band and plans were being laid for a follow up album until rock supergroup Yes came calling looking for a replacement for the recently departed Rick Wakeman. In all honesty there were few candidates who would have been capable of filling Wakeman's shoes in Yes however Patrick Moraz was certainly more than capable and as history has proved accepted the offer he couldn't refuse and Refugee became a one album band when Moraz departed in 1974. The Refugee album has never received an official release on CD in the UK and was briefly available as a costly semi legal release in the Far East. Tracks include the extended pieces Credo and Grand Canyon Suite and also Papillon and Ritt Mickley. The album has been re mastered for this release and will certainly be of interest to the large and dedicated Patrick Moraz fan base and also of interest to Yes fans through Patrick's membership of the band and lovers of progressive rock music.

Reviews

Lee Jackson (bass, cello, guitar and lead vocals) and Brian Davidson (drums and percussion) were so disillusioned when Patrick Moraz (keyboards and Alpine Horn) told them that he had left Refugee to join Yes, they withdrew from the music scene. It had all happened to them before when Keith Emerson broke up The Nice to form ELP in 1970. Patrick always regretted his decision to leave Brian and Lee but he had to make a move that would ultimately benifit his career. The opportunity was simply to good to turn down. You can compare it to a talented soccer player who starts in a team of friends and is tranfered to one of the biggest teams in Europe such as Barcelona or AC Milan. Mr. Moraz made with Yes the excellent “Relayer” album and spend three years with them. But what would have happened when he never had left Refugee. Their only album release I always considered as one of the best keyboard orientated prog albums ever made. Their follow up album could have been even better. Too bad that only a debut album remains from this fantastic band. For those of you who don’t know this masterpiece have the chance to get a copy of a reissue on CD. Unfortunately no bonus tracks are included. But the music delivered on this album has only highlights and does not need extra tracks to make you decide to buy this 24 Carat prog album. The album is devided into two epic pieces (“Grand Canyon Suite” and “Credo”) and several rather short tracks. Those short songs are most of the time 5 minutes long and contain the more song structured written music. Most of them have fantastic Mini Moog solo’s. The long tracks give Patick Moraz all the space to show his talents on his keyboards. Playing long solo’s on organs, piano’s and synths. The music is progressive rock music without any doubt but you can certainly hear the many influences from jazz rock, fusion, blues and classical music. Let’s all hope that maybe someday all members get together to return with a fantastic comeback album featuring music in the same style as their first and only release!

***** (Henri Strik)