Ripaille - La Vieille Que L'on Brula (Reissue) (1977/2008)

These guys knew how to have fun in the studio (faire RIPAILLE is to feast). They only managed one album on the very collectable Ballon Noir label and had almost completed a second one when their label went bankrupt. If not a commercial success, at least musically speaking was RIPAILLE a major gem that has now been re-released by Musea, with three bonus track of that second album that was never to be. Their music is definitely axed at medieval times telling a story of a old woman getting burned for sorcery (sounds familiar?), but the music is so well played and descriptive that you are riveted to your seat (provided you understand French of course until the end of the album. The music may remind you of GRYPHON or GENTLE GIANT, and is right up there in terms of artistic success. Recommended for a real good time and for something quite different from your ordinary prog.