The Canterbury Appreciation Thread

Eric Peachey

And about the loveliest Canterbury man, Kevin Ayers can give a run for his money to Richard Sinclair, don't you think so?

That's the one, cheers!  I was too lazy to look it up.

Oh and don't forget Moerlen of Gong and Clive Brooks of Egg.

Clive Brooks

and let's not forget Bruford plays on Paracelsus

Oh crap... Cutler!

I would count Cutler.

Well you have the drummer of Caravan, whose name escapes me and is currently ill, unfortunately.  You also had Howard, Wyatt's replacement in Soft Machine, before Marshall joined.


Edited by James - June 02 2008 at 21:51

Anyhow, back on track... favourite Canterbury drummers?

It's difficult but my list would contain:

Wyatt
Marshall
Pyle

I love all three for different reasons.  They all have completely different styles yet all three are distinctive and utterly brilliant in every way.  I'm currently listening to Marshall in 1969 with Graham Collier Sextet and before he joined Nucleus and Soft Machine.  Amazing stuff!

Marshall - jazzy, tight and uses the whole kit; his solos are some of the best I've ever heard... but Hiseman beats him just in those stakes
Wyatt - not sure how to describe his style; he played drums with his hands a lot though and I personally love that sound
Pyle - the drummers drummer; could play any style but is well known for his outrageous yet tight avant-garde style

Any others to add?


Edited by James - June 02 2008 at 21:49

Phil Collins is the loveliest man ever, but Sinclair is close

Atavachron wrote: I'm a bit surprised Phil Miller is so under-reviewed, such a distinctive talent

I still need to get some In Cahoots.

Ghost Rider wrote: Not a bad album by any means, but I find Caravan's Waterloo Lily somewhat lacklustre in comparison to both its predecessor and its follow-up. Richard Sinclair is given too little space there in the vocal department, and in my opinion that shows.

James wrote: Oh and I've only heard it once but Flying Teapot was a but over/underwhelming.  I think I need to give it a proper listen one day. Patrick, a word of warning: be careful with Wyatt's debut album The End of an Ear as it's more avant-garde than Henry Cow yet I personally love it.  There's so slight similarities with Matching Mole but I'd say you're more likely to enjoy Matching Mole than The End of an Ear. Oh and get Nucleus' first two, they're brilliant!

I found Flying Teapot underwhelming as well, and my thoughts about its abysmal sound quality have been posted repeatedly in various threads around here.

Interesting:  I thought I read once that Wyatt dismissed End of an Ear as "juvenile" or something, and didn't really consider it as a legitimate part of his overall oeuvre.  I might be thinking of someone else, it's possible.