PROG/ PSYCH ROCK - WILDEBEEST - Bushrock 1 - 1981

Wildebeest foi uma banda de vida curta, formada no fim de 1980 na África do Sul, a partir do baterista Colin Pratley (ex-membro do Freedom's Children). Deixaram um registro ao vivo em 1981, na cidade de Pretoria, relançado em CD recentemente. No ano seguinte, após saída do violinista Dave Tarr e Piet Botha, a banda se desfez e caiu na obscuridade.
Bushrock 1 é composto de 9 faixas, maioria curtas e com três covers do próprio Freedoms's Children ("Tribal Fence", "The Kid He Came From Hazareth" e "Slowly Towards the North", aqui intituladas "Russian and Chips" e "Pofadder", respectivamente). O disco traz uma sonoridade bem setentista, mesclando estilos como rock progressivo, psicodélico e hard; instrumental entrosado e competente, com solos de quase todos os instrumentos, se sobressaindo violino (presente em quase todos os momentos) e guitarra. Outro ponto alto é o belo vocal feminino de Karlien, em alguns pontos seguido por voz masculina.

Wildebeest - Bushrock 1 - 1981 (MP3 320 kbps):
https://mega.co.nz/#!J84BmTTC!1ewFRhfFcqKNTiCTuqSE0v3YBkeoQXG53W7ctbvaIkg

Recorded in 1981, “Bushrock 1” is the sound of a truly African progressive rock band in full flight: thundering African percussion, hard rock guitars, swirling Celtic violin and soaring vocals all combine to form a heady musical brew. The "Bushrock" concept was ex Freedom’s Children drummer Colin Pratley's brainchild. On Wildebeest's live set “Bushrock 1,” the audience is advised to "settle back and relax"— then the music grabs you, throws you around, and does not let up through nine songs and nearly 45 minutes of adventurous rock. Take a sharp guitarist (Boet Faber), a thundering, driving bassist (Piet Botha), add an exuberantly talented drummer (Colin Pratley) and a rocking violin (Dave Tarr), sweeten with some lovely female vocals (Karlien van Niekerk), crank up the volume, and you’ve got the basis of Wildebeest's thundering, stampeding rock album. The songs are primarily driven by beat and rhythm—Piet's bass punctuates and emphasizes as it drives along, the rock steady and creative drumming is ever present, and the violin becomes an essential rock instrument. Then the guitar sears and soars. Masterful rock, with the great Colin Pratley flailing away on the drums. I think of it as Progressive Jungle Music.” The album was recorded live in 1981, and before that makes you pause, remember that the concept of energetic jungle rock music has rarely been better served before or since; the album features two different “covers” of Freedom’s Children tunes from their classic “Astra” album.
Text: Way Side Music

Colin Pratley (bateria, vocal)
Dave Tarr (violino, vocal)
Piet Botha (baixo, harmônica)
Boet Faber (guitarra, vocal)
Karlien van Niekerk (vocal)

01 Tribal Fence 4:36
02 Bokslaai 4:46
03 Russian and Chips 3:59
04 The Horsemen 4:15
05 Pofadder 6:05
06 Living Drummers 7:02
07 Here we go again 3:54
08 Hottentotsgot 4:02
09 No time in the city 6:31