UNREST

Unrest is my favorite of all of the Henry Cow albums. Not just because it was the first one I heard (although it was). It is more avant garde than Legend, and less irritating than the Dagmar Krause albums. In short, this is very listenable weirdness, very much like Zappa's work around the time of Burnt Weenie Sandwich or Uncle Meat. Even the free jams and vocal improvisations are delightfully odd, but not ear splitting.

The best track on the album is Ruins, one of the best RIO pieces ever recorded. All at once, the song brings up classical, jazz and rock.

I would say, for the Henry Cow initiate, start here.