The Canterbury Appreciation Thread

Well, that's another thing...I need to get some Matching Mole and Wyatt solo.  Yeesh, what a drain on the wallet! 


Edited by NaturalScience - February 27 2008 at 23:21

NaturalScience wrote: Well, that's another thing...I need to get some Matching Mole and Wyatt solo.  Yeesh, what a drain on the wallet!

But so worth it!

You really can't go wrong with Space Shanty. That was an album that, for me, went from 'pretty good' to 'mindblowing' in the span of a few listens. When I was in Maui I must have listened to it 5 times a day. Excellent, excellent, excellent record.

Quiet Sun's Mainstream is another excellent one, if slightly difficult to find. Sort of National Health-y, but without being derivative.

You guys should check out Moving Gelatine Plates as well, excellent French band (though a bit of a sad career story, lack of promotion and finances cut it short) that played Softs-ish keyboard-based Canterbury. The Story of Genius Hans is definitely worth looking for.

Hmm... what have I forgotten?

blaughida wrote: I find this subgenre is more accessible because of its particular brand of quirkiness--I don't think I've ever played Caravan for someone who didn't like it.  I've also seen music critics who have nothing good to say about the big symphonic bands write about Canterbury groups, generally talking about the music as a fusion of "psychedelic" and "jazz" elements and avoiding that dirty word "prog."  Any thoughts on this?  Is Canterbury, perhaps, the most accessible subgenre, at least for a certain sort of music fan?

Well, Caravan have their own brand of quirky prog that borders pop at times, making them fairly accessible. The cheerful lyrics and happy music don't hurt either.

Delving deeper, however, it's kind of hit or miss as to whether prog newbies will like it or not, especially involving more technically complex groups like Egg. I didn't really like Matching Mole on first listen, either. I played The Rotter's Club in the car awhile back. We made it up until The Yes No Interlude before my mother turned it off, citing "nastiness" as the reason!

Canterbury is fast becoming my favorite prog sub genre, or maybe it allready is, im still pretty new and so far only know the bigger bands, i yust love the canterbury sound the bands have pure magic. Dave Stewart is simply amazing love all the stuff he did with Egg, Hatfield and the north and National health.

Richard Sinclair,wow.He's a braver man then I am.Looking at my ole photos makes me want to  .

One of the reasons I moved from vinyl to cd,also the added bonus tracks were attractive..Still miss the sound of vinyl.

scruffydragon, you should check out Ultima Thule if you are 'round the area any time http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/ultimathule/main.html. I know they stock that Moving Gelatine Plates disc you are looking for. Funnily enough I have never really had too much trouble finding Canterbury over here in Aus, last weekend I was down in Melbourne and nearly picked up that same disc.  

ScruffyDragon, I buy mostly online nowadays.  I was lucky enough to find a copy of Caravan's ItLoGaP and that BBC 2-CD album in H.M.V. Swindon.

The National Health boxset I purchased either from Greg Walker or Wayside Music, I believe.  It's indeed excellent and the liner notes are very amusing too, I love the English humour relating to touring around Europe.

It's going to be impossible to find Kandahar.  Their debut I believe was cassette only and their second release I believe was a vinyl release.  Neither album has been re-released on CD.  They are crying out for a re-mastering and re-release!


Edited by James - February 28 2008 at 20:14

I'm pretty much in love with Caravan.