Ganafoul - Full Speed Ahead

In the series of albums that marked the adolescence of young French rock lovers, and after the reissues of KLAXON and KAROLINE, here is now Full Speed Ahead of a band from Givors in the Rhone, GANAFOUL. Originally the band was composed of five members, it later became a trio: Jack Bon on guitars, Jean-Yves Astier on bass and Yves Rothacher on drums. Just before the recording of the album the latter leaves the band and is replaced by Bernard Antoine. Full Speed Ahead was recorded in Angers at the Loury Studios in August and September 1978 and released in October 1978. Bernard Antoine learned the band's repertoire by listening to tapes while the trio was in Brittany for a series of concerts. The album contains nine tracks, eight written by Jack Bon and a cover of King Bee by bluesman Slim Harpo. It is the most accomplished album of Ganafoul. Blues, rock, with riffs combining influences from AC/DC or Status Quo. The title Full Speed Ahead announces a rock album, without concession. A hoarse voice made of sleepless nights, endless concerts and rock'nroll passion and a powerful rhythmic. Nothing More is pure rock'n'roll, energetic and far from being out of fashion even today. The bass sound is still incredibly up to date. And Jack Bon proves all his incredible dexterity during a superb rock'n'roll and slide solo. I'm A King Bee is a dazzling cover of the blues standard. It is transformed here into a rock'n'roll and even hard rock fury. The guitars are harsh, raw and Jack Bon's voice is full of whiskey and sweat. Superb. How to resist the riff of Dealing Your Love? Impossible. A fast, rock'n'roll, bluesy title on which the trio shows itself welded and intractable. There are only three of them and they make noise like ten. Waiting For The Show is a false live (addition of public voice). The atmosphere here is more soul, rhythm'n'blues and rock'n'roll. An excellent chorus, catchy and invigorating. Rock Gutter welcomes us with it's heavy rhythm, it's clear guitars then it is an electric torrent which strikes us. Here also, impossible to resist an unstoppable chorus. Pure rock'n'roll. A bass as heavy as a penitentiary door, a wah wah guitar as solid as a rock, this is King Size Killer. A rock at the limit of the hard rock. Fast, furious, urgent and with an aggressive and abrupt solo. Trying So Hard is a blues song that slows down the rhythm. A bit like AC/DC's Ride On. Jack Bon also excels on slide. Far From Town is a hard rock blues, agitated and closes Full Speed Ahead on a furious and frenetic rhythm. One will note the beautiful intervention of a bluesy harmonica. A homogeneous and energetic album that offers no rest. The album remains today a must of the French rock and beyond. To note the backing vocals of two legends of French rock: Robert "Little Bob" Piazza and Fabienne "Shakin' Street" Shine.