From: Brian Phraner <>
> Does anybody know a band called Esperanto?
I had Dance Macabre back in the mid 70's and just loved it. I've kept it
in mind for years while looking for music hoping I would come across it and
replace the record, but I never have. I hope someone here has some places to
look. I've never heard The Last Tango but Dance Macabre had some influence on
my musical development when I started out.
From: "Richard Stockwell" <>
The members were college guys from US. I think you will find they were based
in the UK but had an international lineup of musicians. They did three albums
which came out on the A&M Label. The full name of the band was Esperanto Rock
Orchestra. The albums were: Esperanto Rock Orchestra 1973; Danse Macabre
1974; Last Tango 1975. Glen Shorrock was on vocals for the three albums. Glen
Shorrock is an Australian who has been in a number of well known Aussie bands
including the Little River Band. Tim Kraemer the cello player had previously
played on one of the Comus releases. Most of the other musicians came from no
other known bands before the formation of Esperanto and disappeared after the
breakup of the band. I think I have seen at least one of these titles listed
somewhere as being available on CD. Maybe See For Miles Label or Beat Goes
On.
From: Ed Goss <>
Richard is correct -- Esperanto had three albums. From the first: "The
world's first international rock orchestra. An integral part of the 12-piece
band's sound is the four-piece string section - used not as back-up, but
performing together and taking highly spirited solos...Esperanto consists of
bass, drums, guitars, violins, viola, sax, flute, cello, piano, assorted
percussion instruments, and vocals..." I'm trying to track down a copy of "Danse
Macabre" supposedly their best work. However, I can't imagine it topping
"Last Tango." LT is extemely high-energy. You can't put it on as background
music, because you have to stop what you're doing as you are drawn into the
music. Eleanor Rigby (on LT) has been described as stunning and awesome. Just
like a movie chase scene, you are frozen in awe until you realize that the
better part of an hour has passed (how did that LP get flipped?)....and you
put it on again. That's why I keep my turntable.
From: "Luke d'Araceno" <>
Got three albums of 'em. Not mentioned until now: "The Esperanto Rock
Orchestra" (from '73).
My votes: 1. Last tango 95 (out of 100). Great album on the borderland
between progressive, pop and classical, with alternate male and female
vocals. References: Curved Air, ELO, Renaissance. My favourite song: 'The
rape', a dynamically structured composition (> 12 minutes!) reaching for a
marvelous climax and followed by a passionate tango. Their 'Eleanor Rigby'
version adds lots of prog to the original, and has a completely different
groove. I'm eagerly searching for the cd! Until then I need to satisfy myself
with a tape copy transferred onto cd-r. 2. Danse Macabre 85/100. More rock
than prog. Sometimes a bit classical. Weird & freaky, with disharmonic violin
arrangements and organ. A bit psychedelic (like "Hair - The musical") 3.
Esperanto Rock Orchestra 70/100. Typical 70's progrock with violin, cello.
They were still searching for a direction.
From: "Doug Kushner" <>
Subject: Re: Esperanto
All three of their albums have been released by Si-Wan. They are in cardboard
sleeves that are a bit nicer than the those from Akarma. I was in
Stockholm on Saturday shopping for prog & psych. A shop there had all three,
but I only bought "Danse Macabre" based on it having a much higher Gnosis
rating than the other two. Have only heard it once, on the flight back home
using noise cancelling headphones. The music sounded interesting, but I will
need to listen to it again before I can really comment on it intelligently.
From: David Eric Shur <>
Subject: Re: Esperanto
I've had Danse Macabre for over 25 years. It's a great blend of rock,
progressive and chamber music. That's welcome news, seeing it's release on
CD. The musicians came from 3 countries: Belgium, England, and Italy. There
was the usual guitar, bass, drums and keyboards, along with 2 violinists, 1
viola, and a cellist. To top it off, the album was produced by Pete Sinfield.
This is the best of their three albums. The third album does have a killer
version of Eleanor Rigby, and a great cover. The one complaint I heard about
the band was the uneven marriage of chamber and rock music. The arrangements
do tend to lurch from one style to another on the first and third albums to
the extend (in my opinion) that it ruins listening. In my opinion, of
course.....
From: "Surjorimba Suroto" <>
Subject: Re: Esperanto
tronic400 wrote: >Noticed a re-release by this band.Anyone heard any of
their music?
Yes of course. Esperanto was one of the best music/ band I ever heard.
Especially their last album The Last Tango, which I considered one of the
best in 70's. They used violins, cello, viola like no bands ever did before.
Their remake of Beatles' Eleanor Rigby perhaps is the best Beatles' cover
ever.