The Canterbury Appreciation Thread

What annoys me - and escuse me, whilst I rant a bit - is the fact that everyone seems to worship Karl Jenkins' classical career.  His classical albums, like Adiemus, seem to always be in the top 10 on Classic FM polls and the like.

People forget his career with Graham Collier, Nucleus and Soft Machine and apparently, so does he, as he never mentioned this side of his career on Desert Island Discs.

I find him a bit annoying now but I love his work with the Canterbury Scene.  I don't find his classical works that appealing.  Infact, compositionally, he isn't that great, not even with Soft Machine as he used the same riff a lot.


Edited by James - June 02 2008 at 22:06

Chameleon wrote: I always think of Clive Brooks as Basil Dowling, his Arzachel pseudonym. I can't un-think it.

Clive wasn't bad, but he was just so overpowered by the other stupendous musicians in Egg.

If I had to choose one, it would probably be Pip Pyle.  Especially with National Health he was just off the charts.

Chameleon wrote: NaturalScience wrote: Clive wasn't bad, but he was just so overpowered by the other stupendous musicians in Egg.   Translation : Dave Stewart overpowered everyone completely and utterly   It's ok, though. Long Piece No.3 in its entirety today just about blew my mind.

Trying to give credit to Mont Campbell as well, that guy was such an intelligent and talented musician.  He wrote almost all the Egg material.

Chameleon wrote: [ It's ok, though. Long Piece No.3 in its entirety today just about blew my mind.

  That album absolutely rules.

James wrote: I cannot choose one, they're all individual talents and cannot be measured on "greatness" scale. Phil Howard also played on Rock Bottom, along with Cutler, didn't he?  Or am I imagining that?

Did Chris Cutler play on the record?  I know Ivor Cutler did.

James wrote: I've been neglecting my National Health boxset... I'll have to grab it one day and play all their albums together.

I had to put it down due to overplay...it was a bad addiction. 

febus wrote: James wrote: What annoys me - and escuse me, whilst I rant a bit - is the fact that everyone seems to worship Karl Jenkins' classical career.  His classical albums, like Adiemus, seem to always be in the top 10 on Classic FM polls and the like. People forget his career with Graham Collier, Nucleus and Soft Machine and apparently, so does he, as he never mentioned this side of his career on Desert Island Discs. I find him a bit annoying now but I love his work with the Canterbury Scene.  I don't find his classical works that appealing.  Infact, compositionally, he isn't that great, not even with Soft Machine as he used the same riff a lot.   Oh i like JENKINS a lot....first he brought some life and energy in the (Soft) Machine .And his best came with BUNDLES and the great SOFTS.....(Banban Caliban....oh mamma mia!!!!)........a far cry from Fifth aH the riff, i know what you mean...very M.Orchestra style.......but i love it!!!! SOFTS a 5 star album for me

I love Softs and Bundles but did he have to reuse that riff from his Nucleus days?   I forget which track it is.


Edited by James - June 02 2008 at 22:23

Picked up Henry Cow Concerts today...enjoyable, though I haven't gotten to "Oslo" yet,

febus wrote: YES, Richard Sinclair sings only one song, but the meat of the album---the 2  10mns tracks-- is great and it is the most jazzy CARAVAN i have heard...and the bass of SINCLAIR is an absolute  treat  on those tracks.Sure i could have survived without the silly short Hastings tracks (Aristocracy, etc). Steve Miller (if my memory is intact) on keys brings some ''Soft Machine'' athmosphere with his el-piano   My love for Caravan stopped with this album.....never was able to keep up with Hastings voice for a whole album...but that's just me i guess!