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toroddfuglesteg View Drop Down
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Points: 3658 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Alan Gowen Appreciation Society
    Posted: December 13 2009 at 17:58

I think it is about time PA got it's Alan Gowen Appreciation Society. 

Alan Gowen sadly passed away in 1981 at the age of 33 after a battle against leukemia.  During his ten years long tenure in the Canterbury Scene, he was a big influence on this scene in bands like Soft Head, Gowen & Hopper, Gilgamesh, National Health, Hatfield and the North and Soft Heap. He was a brilliant keyboard player and composer. When he learned that his leukemia was fatal, he gathered his friends Richard Sinclair, Phil Miller and Trevor Tomkins for a record session to create his epitaph. This album was released after his death and is titled  Before a Word is Said. This is a truly superb epitaph. 

Alan Gowen is perhaps not one of the greats in the prog rock scene. But his contributions should not be overlooked. It is also a question of "what if" had not leukemia taken his life in such a young age.

I truly appreciate his contributions. The Alan Gowen Appreciation Society has hereby been established. 
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Adams Bolero View Drop Down
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Points: 679 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 14 2009 at 11:38
I can't believe I'm the first to respond. Alan was truly a genius; his album with Hugh Hopper 'Two Rainbows Daily' is one of my all time favourites.
I'l proudly join The Alan Gowen Appreciation Society and if there is any justice in the world many more will join and commemorate this forgotten musical genius who left us far too soon.
Here is a reminder of his brilliance:


Edited by Adams Bolero - December 14 2009 at 11:47
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Points: 679 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 29 2009 at 09:31
Alan Gowen deserves more then one reply!!!
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Padraic View Drop Down
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Points: 31169 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 29 2009 at 09:33
I only just noticed this thread!  I will absolutely join an Alan Gowen appreciation society.

A few favorites:  National Health Playtime, Soft Heap s/t, and the last thing he did before his passing, Before a Word is Said.
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Points: 408 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 29 2009 at 23:30
I have several Canterbury albums that feature AG. He was a great writer and musician.
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Points: 65268 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 29 2009 at 23:51
like Alan very much, D.S. al Coda another good tribute with Dave Stewart's slightly updated versions of Gowen's material and sobering picture of Gowen on the cover, a bit underappreciated but a very good album

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Points: 24429 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 30 2009 at 06:16
Don't know Alan's work as much as I would like, but this thread will definitely encourage me to delve into his unfortunately too short-lived output. 
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toroddfuglesteg View Drop Down
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Points: 3658 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 31 2009 at 19:05

Raff. I think you will have as much joy as I have had with his music. 

Thanx for everyone's support. Me think Alan Gowen is a bit underappreciated among us progheads. I do not think that is fair. But that is my gripe with the world. 
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Padraic View Drop Down
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Points: 31169 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2010 at 17:39
Originally posted by toroddfuglesteg toroddfuglesteg wrote:

Raff. I think you will have as much joy as I have had with his music. 

Thanx for everyone's support. Me think Alan Gowen is a bit underappreciated among us progheads. I do not think that is fair. But that is my gripe with the world. 



Among Canterbury afficianados I think he is well respected.  He is sort of under the radar for those with only a cursory overview of the subgenre.
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PROGMONSTER2008 View Drop Down
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Points: 610 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2010 at 21:40
I love National Health, so I must enjoy Gowen Smile
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Points: 3126 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 04 2010 at 11:33
Originally posted by Adams Bolero Adams Bolero wrote:

I can't believe I'm the first to respond. Alan was truly a genius; his album with Hugh Hopper 'Two Rainbows Daily' is one of my all time favourites.
I'l proudly join The Alan Gowen Appreciation Society and if there is any justice in the world many more will join and commemorate this forgotten musical genius who left us far too soon.
Here is a reminder of his brilliance:
This is beautiful music. His material performed by National Health is a complete must have!
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