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Posted: February 04 2017 at 03:46
I always find it difficult to recommend an entree into the Cow; their albums are markedly different in character although Leg End is the obvious starting point. For me, it was actually Desperate Straights, more of a Slapp Happy album, but I snapped up IPOL when it was released (that was 42 years ago...)
Joined: September 03 2005
Location: Olympus Mons
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Posted: February 04 2017 at 04:37
ALotOfBottle wrote:
AZF wrote:
So, "Leg End". I didn't hate it, but I'm not jumping for joy. Might take a few more listens to click. The individual composed tunes were preferable to the group ones. But yeah, not that bad.
I fell in love with LegEnd immediately, but I can very well understand it might take some time to be appreciated by some. It will click, sooner or later. The music on that album is some of the most intelligent and original stuff I have ever heard.
This was 'love at first listen' for me too. A bit 'out there', but the overall (Canterbury) sound was perfect. It is somewhat 'difficult' music I guess, but it will definitely offer its charms over repeated listenings. I never 'grasped it' fully at first, but knew I loved it. I think I'm a half-insane individual as I go through phases as such ; R.P.I. non-stop for months, Kraut, Space/Psych, Canterbury........blah blah. And currently, all things Metal. Anthrax being the 'flavour of the month' so to speak. Will always love the Cow and Daggie for sure.
Joined: January 17 2012
Location: Wirral
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Posted: February 04 2017 at 15:53
Managed to get some grass and really enjoyed "Nirvana For Mice". I can see why it's called that in the last few minutes. Oh NOW I hear the beauty of Amygdala!
Joined: January 17 2012
Location: Wirral
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Points: 1079
Posted: February 10 2017 at 11:33
I did think of bypassing their second album and going straight for In Praise Of Learning, but Leg End still showing me new stuff. I'm at the point where I can recognise where is track starts and the other ends. Really looking to get to the point where I can play a few bars of each in my head (Which considering the amount of changes in the tunes!) upon looking at the title. Henry Cow being appreciated right now!
Fantastic short animation, features improvised music from Unrest, it works very well.
Very interesting! While there are only bits of Henry Cow material to be heard here (and working very well together with the film), I really enjoy the soundtrack as a whole. This music is excellent. And so is the animation itself - very good stuff. Thanks a lot for sharing that one.
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Joined: September 01 2010
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Points: 1399
Posted: February 11 2017 at 05:58
Change of subject - anyone off to the Slapp Happy shows this weekend in London? (I was too late to get a ticket - all three shows long sold out). If so, any chance of a quick review?
Joined: January 12 2014
Location: NJ, USA
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Points: 436
Posted: February 18 2017 at 21:57
I remember there was a store called Discophile on 8th St., in Manhattan. They specialized in European imports of (mostly) classical with a little jazz. At the urging of one of their staff members, in 1973 they got in a few UK rock imports, including the entire tranche of original Virgin albums a couple of months before some of them were released in the US. I picked up Tubular Bells, Flying Teapot, Faust IV, Kevin Coyne's Marjory Razorblade (original UK double LP), a few others - and Legend. I was blown away by the Cow and the Gong and became an instant fan of both bands. I have everything HC ever released, including the 40th Anniversary Box Set. I saw them once in Brussels in 1974.
I bought Guitar Solos and all of the Caroline releases for a time. The first time I saw Fred solo was performing Kew Rhone with Peter Blegvad, John Greaves & Lisa Herman at the Zu Club (aka the garage of Giorgio Gomelsky's brownstone) in Chelsea in Manhattan. At The Kitchen, solo, with John Zorn and with the Guitar Quartet. At The Knitting Factory with Naked City and in a quartet with Blegvad, Greaves & Cutler. At Studio 54(!) with Massacre. And with Skeleton Crew (both duet & trio) and CBGBs and Squat. I have both films Step Across the Border & Middle of the Moment on DVD, and maybe about half of his solo albums and collaborations (there are SO! many).
I've never seen Slapp Happy (although I've seen Peter a lot) or Dagmar, who wasn't with HC when I saw them. I'm utterly heartbroken that I couldn't see the London concerts.
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Joined: March 16 2007
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Posted: February 19 2017 at 07:13
Flight123 wrote:
Change of subject - anyone off to the Slapp Happy shows this weekend in London? (I was too late to get a ticket - all three shows long sold out). If so, any chance of a quick review?
Going to see them at RIO this year so I'm really looking forward to that.
Ian
Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com
Joined: January 17 2012
Location: Wirral
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Points: 1079
Posted: February 21 2017 at 13:06
To welcome new neighbours, "Extract from "With the Yellow Half-Moon and Blue Star" softly, programmed to play 16 times. If this doesn't win them over nothing will! And I owe it all to you guys! Thanks a million!!
So what should I listen to next? "Unrest" or "In Praise Of Learning"? Did we ever get the full version of "With The Yellow Half-Moon and Blue Star"?
Go with Unrest - it will take time to be appreciated, or at least it did for me, but it's also fantastic.
There is an amazing full version "With The Yellow Half-Moon and Blue Star" on the first disc of the 40th Anniversary Box Set. It's really spectacular - I love the "previously-unheard" bits of the piece and also the titles of its parts. Atmosphere is really dense on that one. Check it out!
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ALotOfBottle wrote:
The music on that album is some of the most intelligent and original stuff I have ever heard. 
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