Canterbury Appreciation

Tom Ozric wrote: Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: Uh oh, Dr, better run and hide, or you might need a doctor yourself lol! `Khan - Space Shanty' is one of Tom's favourite albums, maybe THE favourite! As I've mentioned to him before, I really like that album, but to my ears the vocals date it terribly. I think I even mentioned to him that they sometimes seem to try to sound like Ozzy Osbourne?! Maybe just me..... :) Nick Greenwood sounds cool - Hillage even better.  No, not Ozzy.  Must be just you .  Dunno why, but as much as I love sooooo many albums, Khan just 'do it' for me.  'Grey & Pink' and 'Two Rainbows Daily' not far behind.

As much as I don't like Robert Wyatt's voice very much, I've really fallen in love for the first time with the first Matching Mole album! His drumming, as always, is simply exceptional, and since it had been years since I'd properly heard it, I'd never noticed before all the little dark touches throughout the album. There's a real brooding and snapping tension to much of the instrumental peices that make up most of the album, and the guitar frequently gets this very snarling unnerving sound.

The album also has some of the scratchiest Mellotron I've heard alongside Smell of Incense's `Through The Gates of Deeper Slumber'!

I think I used to dimiss this album too much because I'm not much of a fan of `O Caroline', even though the words have a lovely sentiment that I appreciate more these days than I used to!

It's that second track with those God-awful wordless multi-layered harmonies that I find unbearable. I've heard a demo of it on a remastered CD that is just excruciating to my ears!

The words on the hammy third track `Signed Curtain' grate on me a little bit (it's kind of amusing once, annoying after that!), but the piano and the actual melody are simply wonderful! Have to say, I'm curious about that rather ominous and eerie ending that comes out of nowhere....

Then track 4 onwards is just a blur of stunning instrumental passages!!

Finally got to love it, Tom!

I still haven't gotten "into" Little Red Record, but it needs more time.  I've had Matching Mole's debut for many many years though, and have always loved it from start to finish.  The last track "Immediate Curtain", all on Mellotron, is the coolest.

I've always speculated on how Wyatt's drumming would've evolved had he not had his accident.  He was such a 'natural' drummer in S.M. and I thought his drumming on Little Red Record was tremendous.  Maybe he might've ended up like Phil Collins .................

Dr, don't worry about my little hang-ups about Wyatt's voice, most people really like him. I probably go on about it a bit too much!

Tom, I couldn't imagine Wyatt end up as the `bored horny housewives singer of choice' like Phil did lol!

If anyone has watched Henry Cow footage, notice how Chris Cutler drums ............  - I've never seen anyone drum like that !!!  And he's bloody marvellous........ I wonder what kind of organ Tim Hodgkinson plays ???

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: Not seen that foortage, Tom, maybe I'll dig out my Henry Cow albums next...I seem to be having a bit of a `reawakening' with some unappreciated titles I own. I think `Little Red Record' will be next for now! :)

Any of the 'sock' albums will do  - LegEnd especially...............the track 'Amygdala' is pure Canterbury bliss............

Any links to watch? 

Every band should have a bassoon player.  

And speaking of bassoons, here's a trio of tracks from Lindsay Cooper's "Rags" soundtrack.  Love this soundtrack.