Mainhorse

Hailing from Morges, Switzerland, Patrick Moraz was a classically-trained keyboardist who spent the 60s as a student and jazz musician, touring throughout Europe and England. With friend and bassist Jean Ristori, the pair travelled to England in 1969 in search of musicians with whom to start a group. They enlisted drummer Bryson Graham and vocalist David Kubinec, the latter previously in The World of Oz. Back in Switzerland-and aided by the same Dutch millionaire that funded Supertramp, Stanley “Sam” August Miesegaes-the band, now called Mainhorse Airline, expanded to a six piece. Kubinec, however, suffered a heart attack in 1970 and returned to England. Shortening both their name and their lineup, Moraz, Ristori and Graham added guitarist and vocalist Peter Lockett to the fold, signed to Polydor Records and recorded their eponymous album in 1971 at De Lane Lea Studios in London. “Introduction” does just that: Big chords from Moraz and some great breaks set the stage for a blistering lead from Lockett; it’s classic keyboard rock. “Passing Years” and “Pale Sky” are holdovers from the Kubinec era, the latter offering an extended jam that illustrates the group’s dexterity. “Such a Beautiful Day” and “Basia” keep the energy high, with “More Tea Vicar” opting for a more pastoral feeling. The closing “God” is majestic, as any track with that name should be, reprising its theme through the long fade. Lockett’s guitar adds diversity to the band’s sound, and mostly avoids comparisons to other contemporary keyboard trios of the day. Still, with success not forthcoming, the band broke up in early 1972. Moraz switched to composing film scores to bide his time before surfacing with his next project, Refugee; while Bryson went to work with Gary Wright and Spooky Tooth. The album also saw release in the US on the Import Records label in 1976.