LE MAT - The Waltz of The Fool (*VINYL ALBUM, MP3 RE-POST*)

I've been asked to re-post this several times, so here we go. Le Mat came from Southend on Sea, England. Their debut album The Waltz of The Fool was recorded in 1982 over 10 days and on a budget of £2,000 it was eventually released on Friday 13th June 1983 by Whaam records. A very special album that defies all categories; is it folk, post punk, psychedelic or prog rock, who gives a fuck! It is a unique and beautiful record both musically and lyrically. If anything, it sounds in places like a group of travelling Elizabethan mistrals armed with electric guitars singing protest songs for the peasants.  I should have re-posted it way before now, but better late then never. You’d be a fool not to have a waltz to it, so here you go! It is a real gem that still shines brightly after over 30 years, shame this rip from my original vinyl is a bit crackly and has one glaring jump/scratch, I make no apologies for having a well played and loved record in my collection.   Enjoy!

LE MAT - Le Demos

OOOPS! I was gonna post some Nikki Sudden tonight, but got a bit sidetracked by visiting the new Le Mat myspace page and downloading then listening to some early demos of theirs. It was about time there was something in cyberspace from this truly unique group. The page was put together by the band and as well as the demos there’s a few photos. So if you’re one of the people that downloaded their album and single Waltz Of The Fool when I posted them way back, then I recommend a trip to their space. If you’re into yer Nikki Sudden then you’ll have to wait until tomorrow. SORRY!

LE MAT - The Waltz Of The Fool (Vinyl album rip)

I posted Le Mats one and only single ages back, so now here’s their only album. Recorded in 1982 over 10 days and on a budget of £2,000 it was eventually released on Friday 13th June 1983 by Whaam records. A very special album that defies all catogories; is it folk, post punk, psychedelic or prog rock, who gives a fuck! It is a unique and beautiful record both musically and lyrically and I should have posted it way before now, but better late then never. You’d be a fool not to have a waltz to it, so here you go!

LE MAT - Waltz Of The Fool b/w E'vry Dream (7" Vinyl Rip)

Musically this 'ear blog has been going down the old skool punk road, with a few turns of some newer tunes for good measure, now for something a little different, I'm gonna be injecting a few more of these 80's tunes into the usual mix. Right then, yer first hit is LE MAT with this blinding bit of 60's tinged psychedelic rawk and roll. Released in Oct 82. Waltz Of The Fool was their only single, their only other release was an album also called Waltz Of The Fool. Both were released on the Television Personalities Whaam! records. These Southend boys were certainly no fools. They once supported Duran Duran on tour, but were asked to leave after only 8 dates. Rumour had it that they were so good that LeBons Boys were too scared to follow them on stage. Judge for yerselves, it's just a click away !!!!! I'm aware that the quality of this rip good be a bit better, but hey I'm just getting to grips with the software, so what the hell this is punk rock, and anything goes, plus I love this record so much and couldn't wait to hear it again. So yeah there are a few crackles and I could have equalised bits, I dunno you tell me, all ideas for best settings/effects to use for improving and cleaning up sound gratefully accepted. Thanks to Highlander over at Cactus Mouth Informer all future rips will be at bit rate of 192, so If you want better quality you tell me. One last thing, while tripping through my vinyl I thought blimey the 80's were a rich time for alternative genres of music, but society was a poor place with Thatcher in power. Now under New Labour society is presented as being richer, when the reality is that it's the same shit but we're sinking deeper in to it, and currently music is generally a lot poorer. So does this mean we need an even extremer form of governance in order for music to get better. Or is it all a matter of taste. Anyway step out of yer comfort zones and enjoy Le Mat.