The Canterbury Appreciation Thread

I meant enlighten with your thoughts on what you think of it, now you've heard it.

Of course, I've read your other post expressing your joy about it now.  It's an excellent album indeed!

So many great suggestions to look for... Luckily, I've noticed that most Soft Machine-related albums are relatively easy to find here in Italy, especially if one looks into the Jazz section of music stores. I have to take advantage of the situation as long as I live in Italy, because I'm afraid lean days will come once I move to the US... I've seen music stores like FYE and Best Buy, and I call them 'compilation heaven'!

Anyway, I agree with Pat about The Civil Surface. Obviously it's far from being a bad album, but it's definitely not as impressive as The Polite Force. As for Jakszyk's album, it gets better and better at every listen.. Definitely deserving of addition to our database!

Funny enough my Fav Canterbury album is Canterbury Tales i know its a best of but the live version of
For Richard is simply Stunning  , my Caravan Vinyl collection is some my most prized records in my Collection,   

At the same store where I found the other albums I saw Matching Mole's On the Radio live album... In spite of the hefty price tag (about €21 for a single CD), I really want to get that, since I have nothing by the band, and love David Sinclair's playing.

I have Supersister Present From Nancy and To the Highest Bidder and they are both very good records.

Gah, there's still so much Canterbury that I need to obtain - particularly "foreign" Canterbury!


4.20
PICCHIO DAL POZZO
Picchio Dal Pozzo
(1976)

THE MUFFINS:


1978
Manna/Mirage
4.12

COS:


1974
Postaeolian Train Robbery
3.87
(10 ratings)
1976
Viva Boma
4.14
(10 ratings)
1978
Babel
4.00
(3 ratings)

That PdP album, in particular, is an absolute must, I'd say.  Though the follow-up album is generally the one that I call my favourite.  I have all of PdP albums.

1980

3.97 (18 ratings)

Abbiamo Tutti I Suoi Problemi PICCHIO DAL POZZO

Canterbury Scene (Studio)

Mr. Sirius from Japan is also well worth checking out.

A really fantastic band you haven't mentioned is MOVING GELATINE PLATES from France (you may already have it).


1971
Moving Gelatine Plates
4.25
(16 ratings)

Dylan is right.  PdP's debut is definitely more classic Canterbury sounding.  It's an amazing album.  As I recall, "Mettiamo il Caso" (outstanding track) reprises music from the debut.  I'm kind of surprised to hear you got the follow-up before the debut (generally I would recommend the debut more).

For those that aren't familiar with PdP yet, here's the myspace page: Picchio dal Pozzo
I wish it featured a different track to "Merta".  It's better to listen to the samples at http://www.aldodimarco.it/pdp/pdpeng/inizio.html

I love that PdP album title.. Translated into English, it would sound like "We All Have His/Her Problems" - with an intentional, very humorous grammar mistake. I should get hold of something by them, though... I've seen some of their albums at the FNAC store, and others at BTF in Milan.

I would say my least favorite Canterbury albums right now might be either Steve Hillage's first solo output, Fish Rising, or Soft Machine Fourth.  Particularly the latter, considering the greatness of its predecessor and that Wyatt was still with the band, I expected great things and was surprised at how lackluster it was - not bad music by any stretch, but nothing I would ever play with regularity, I think.