MADE AVAILABLE - JOHN PEEL SESSIONS

THIS HEAT were a trio out of south London who played an experimental style of music that many describe as post punk. Wearing second hand suits and sporting short hair they were a different breed in the middle to late seventies. Apparently HENRY COW members would go to their concerts, and some of their music would be distributed by RER Records which is run by Chris Cutler formerly of HENRY COW. I would suggest that they are a combination of FAUST and LARD FREE. That experimental krautrock spirit was certainly prolonged by what this trio was doing in the late seventies and into the early eighties.

What is really cool about hearing the music on this album, is that it is performed before they had released any albums. This was early in their careers and they knew getting a spot on John Peel's BBC show would give them exposure they just couldn't get anywhere else. So after harassing the producers and sending a demo tape they made late in 1976, Peel agreed to have them on. Like all of these sessions done on BBC 1 radio the band were given about 20 minutes of air time to do their thing. They were given two slots to perform with the first being late in March of 1977, and then the other in late October of the same year.

So while these sessions were recorded in 1977 they wouldn't be "made available" until 1996, so an archival release. And while I have huge respect for their first two studio albums, especially the second one "Deceit", this one tops them both. They clearly were well prepared for that first session and they nailed it. I like that the first session was more "normal" with the three tracks they played showing up on their debut. When they came back the second time they really went into that experimental direction, and were not invited back(haha).

We get three multi-instrumentalists, but this is basically a drum, guitar and keyboard/bass setup. We get drummer and leader Charles Hayward formerly from QUIET SUN, along with Charles Bullen adding clarinet and viola to his guitar work. And lastly Gareth Williams the tape master who adds bass and keyboards as well. Now playing live on the first session they kept it fairly simple, it was that second go around that the tape stuff was used and there's more improvising happening.

The first session which consisted of three tracks features two of my top three tracks. "Horizontal Hold" and "The Fall Of Saigon" especially standing out but "Not Waving" is great too. All three tracks would show up on their self-titled debut from 1979. As far as the second sessions go I really like "Makeshift" which would show up on "Deceit" from 1981. I love how powerful and intense this recording is. Even some of the vocals are just off the charts. You have to hear this! And while the three short tracks to end this recording are my least favourites, I'm so glad they included them because they would be an important part of their "sound" going forward.

John Peel was quoted as saying "I get asked to play more music like This Heat but to my knowledge, there is no other music like This Heat." This album is part of my "best of" Avant recordings, and 5 stars it truly is.