Suede Room 2

Patrick needs to give Sotos' debut another listen.

You also need to find a copy of their Platypus album.

James wrote: P.A. is becoming a bit like a train wreck.  The SR, Magma and RIO threads are the only places I visit... and the SR was appallingly n00by last night. If it continues like this, I'll have to find another hobby.

I'll be blunt - I think the arsehole quotient is really on the rise around here.  I rely on pretty much the same threads you do for "refuge".  As long as they exist, I still get enjoyment out of the site.

James wrote: There is also the Canterbury thread too, remember.

That had a good run, but it's pretty dead now. 

NaturalScience wrote: James wrote: There is also the Canterbury thread too, remember. That had a good run, but it's pretty dead now.

That's probably because most people only know the main bands.

People like myself, Syzygy and a few others (Dick Heath being one), know a lot more about some of the obscure Canterbury, like a lot of the Hopper and Dean projects, for instance.

Most people know Caravan, Soft Machine and perhaps Hatfield and the North.

Less people know National Health, News from Babel and Matching Mole, I feel.

Maybe it's something to do with Canterbury but people seem less enthused to check stuff out, than they do with say endless boring Porcupine Tree albums or uninteresting post-rock.

Random n00b: ZOMG!! NEW GODSPEED ALBUM, ZOMG!!!
Me: Is it really boring?
Random n00b: ZOMG IT IS SO ATMOSPHERIC, I COULD LISTEN TO THIS IN A COMA!!!
Me: I don't care for it then

NaturalScience wrote: James wrote: NaturalScience wrote: James wrote: There is also the Canterbury thread too, remember. That had a good run, but it's pretty dead now.  That's probably because most people only know the main bands. People like myself, Syzygy and a few others (Dick Heath being one), know a lot more about some of the obscure Canterbury, like a lot of the Hopper and Dean projects, for instance. Most people know Caravan, Soft Machine and perhaps Hatfield and the North. Less people know National Health, News from Babel and Matching Mole, I feel. Maybe it's something to do with Canterbury but people seem less enthused to check stuff out, than they do with say endless boring Porcupine Tree albums or uninteresting post-rock. We didn't get any "fresh blood" in the thread - most of the posts seemed to chronicle me discovering and conversing about the various Canterbury bands and you and Dylan providing your input and recommendations.  There were just a small handful of people that contributed.  It seems like the RIO thread is so much more "full of life" - I'd love to see similar for Canterbury, but it just didn't take.

That is true.

However, the RIO/Avant-prog thread is the same individuals again... there's also very little fresh blood there either.  However, there's a lot more to offer (although I refuse to believe that... there's a lot of Canterbury that remains relatively undiscovered as well) and I think RIO fans have a bit more tenacity.  Maybe it's our personality?

What I find with prog fans (and music fans generally) is they are quite happy listening to Yes, Genesis and other classic '70s bands but they're also a lot less willing to try new stuff, except for Porcupine Tree (who are quite easy listening for old proggers) and a few others.

There's definitely a certain lack of wanting to discover new music, especially obscure new music.

People want readily available albums on CD and many feel that if they're not available on CD (therefore, oop), they're therefore not worth investigating, 'cause they think there's a reason they're oop in the first place.

That's an attitude I don't like.

Just 'cause an album is oop or hard to find, doesn't mean it's not very good.

Also remember that Henry Cow are a Canterbury Scene band as well.

Also worth remembering is that Robert Wyatt's and Hugh Hopper's debut albums are avant-prog/pre-RIO albums.

There's a lot of crossover between the two genres.

I need to check out Supersister and Moving Gelatine Plates.  They're the main two I need to check really.  I think I know pretty much all other Canterbury Scene bands and artists (not whole discographies though, obviously).  That's probably why I have less of an interest in it than avant-prog.

Canterbury Scene is much more of a niche genre, to be fair.

I have all of Matching Mole's output but I may purchase some of those National Health non-album albums.  Actually, I have one of them on my computer, I really should listen to it soon.

I also need that second Hatfield and the North compilation album, 'cause I only have Hatwise Choice (signed by Richard Sinclair and Phil Miller... but not Pip Pyle although he was playing the night I saw them).


Edited by James - August 20 2008 at 15:41

James wrote: I have all of Matching Mole's output but I may purchase some of those National Health non-album albums.  Actually, I have one of them on my computer, I really should listen to it soon.

Yeah, I have Missing Pieces but I really want Playtime - the live recordings done after Stewart left and they brought Gowen back in, it's supposed to be pretty crazy from what I've heard.

I pulled the wrapping off of Forever Einstein's Artificial Horizon and I am giving it its first spin.  I actually think that it is quite good, which means they must be mislabelled as an RIO/Avant band.   For you bassoon lovers, track 4 Women on the Move even includes the use of a bassoon.

rushfan4 wrote: I pulled the wrapping off of Forever Einstein's Artificial Horizon and I am giving it its first spin.  I actually think that it is quite good, which means they must be mislabelled as an RIO/Avant band.   For you bassoon lovers, track 4 Women on the Move even includes the use of a bassoon.

I have three of their albums... I've still yet to hear them.

But for $4 each, they're not breaking the bank.

Plus the drummer of Forever Einstein is excellent on Bone's Uses Wrist Grab album, so I'm pretty sure I'll like Forever Einstein as well.

I must also follow-up my Doctor Nerve listening.