Chetarca - Chetarca (1975)

(Australian 1973 - 1976)

Chetarca was a progressive rock band from Australia that was formed after the demise of Langford Lever in 1973. Chetarca was underrated and didn't get the recognition they deserved at the time but the age of time has seen their music become more appreciated amongst the progressive rock world.

Operating out of Melbourne in the mid-seventies, this band were a sort of Aussie equivalent to Emerson, Lake and Palmer. They only released one 45, ‘Another Day’, but it spent three weeks in the Top 100 peaking at No.75 in September 1975. No other Australian progressive album sounded like this one (which many now consider to be underrated). Musically, it is notable its lack of guitars, it's dual keyboard assault of Andrew Vance (piano, organ) and Bruce Bryan (synthesiser) and Paul Lever's wailing harp and bluesy vocals.

The selftitled album was the band's only release along with the single ''Another Day''. Only 1000 copies of the record were produced making it a rare collectors item these days. To support the album, the band went on a tour in 1975, during which they opened for the Electric Light Orchestra and Frank Zappa.

The album opens with the band mixing some progressive instrumental sections into their characteristic bluesy jams and grooves.

This album is worth a listen especially for the 24 minutes long track "Oceanic Suite", with its long complex dual synth compositions and interesting vocals, and the 8 minutes long "chetarca", with a psychotic synth solo leading to some kind of delirium. Otherwise, the LP is synth driven progressive. Frequent hallmarks of the album include Ekseption/Refugee keyboard runs, trebly Squire-esque bass, and wailing harmonica.

Paul 'Langford' Lever

Chetarca was co-produced by Ian Miller (Coloured Balls, Moir Sisters, John Paul Young, Flash and the Pan) and engineered by Martin Benge (Col Nolan Quartet, Crossfire).

Outside Chetarca, keyboardists Andrew Vance and Bruce Bryan played on The Boy From the Stars, the 1974 solo album by ex-Masters Apprentices frontman Jim Keays.

The band worked around Melbourne and appeared on ABC TV's Countdown. When Chetarca broke up, bassist John Rees went on to form the successful pop-rock group 'Men At Work', recording two albums with the band between 1981 and 1983, Ian Miller went on to become a successful record producer, Andrew Vance became one of Australia's leading jazz pianists, and Paul Lever was tragically killed in the late nineties by a hit and run driver when crossing the road outside a Collingwood hotel from which he had just bought a takeaway. Ian Miller died from cancer in 2009

Extracts from "Dreams, Fantasies and Nightmares" by Vernon Joynson, an extensive guide to Canadian / Australian / New Zealand and Latin American psych and garage music 1963 - 1976.  AND jazzrocksoul.com

This post consists of FLACs ripped from CD (thanks to Hanalex) and includes full album artwork for CD and Vinyl media.  The CD was released by Paisley Press, in Germany.

For more information on Paul's original band 'Langford Lever', see Harmonica Riff Raff's website 

Track List

Side 1

01 - Death Of Rock & Roll Singer  7:00

02 - Another Day  3:30

03 - Diary   7:18

04 - Chetarca  7:48

Side 2  'The Ocean Suite'

05 - The Sea   8:34

06 - Wet Suit  9:44

07 - Fisherman's Nightmare  5:54

08 - Crystal Rainbow Logo  1:10

Personnel:

Bruce Bryan - Synthesizer

Geoff Gallent - Drums, Percussion

Paul Lever - Vocals, Harmonica, Tambourine

John Rees - Bass, Violin

Andrew Vance - Keyboards, Vocals

Ian Miller – Producer

Chetarca Link (359Mb)