THE HENRY COW LEGEND [AKA: LEGEND OR LEG END]

As the band was initially formed with open mind, you definitely need an open mind in enjoying the music of Henry Cow which has been categorized as RIO (rock in opposition). And this album was actually the first culmination of the founding fathers Fred Frith and Tim Hodgkinson, fellow students in a blues club at Cambridge University in May 1968. Since the meeting, they played together to fine tune their musical tastes and horizon starting from the blues style. They dared then to support Pink Floyd's concert in June 1968, not even one year since their first inception!

It took couple of years until approximately 5 years when they're ready with this debut album. The album kicks off with "Nirvana For Mice" which has significant components of jazz-rock fusion which does not seem to have a structure or a direction. That's the challenge in the music of Henry Cow because this song is a good example of music with no melody - or at least you can hardly identify the melody. If this is the first time you listen to Henry Cow, you might stop the CD and do not want to replay. But hold on ..the next track "Amygdala" is an excellent composition especially (for my personal taste) is the evocative flute-work by Geoff Leigh coupled with Fred Firth's stunning guitar work. This can be considered as one of the best jazz-rock compositions. It continues with "Teenbeat Introduction" which shows the complexities of Henry Cow and at the same time it creates a challenge for us to understand what the musicians are trying to do. The violin work that appears in this track creates special attraction to me. The music changes into a slower tempo with the next track "Nirvana Reprise" which sounds to me like a bridge with guitar instrumental.

Overall, this is really a complex album in general with sort of unique enjoyment when you can get away the expectation of melody. I would say this is a composition-based album. The use of lyrics in "Nine Funerals Of The Citizen King" and stunning violin work combined with percussion make this album is an excellent choice for prog heads who want a challenge. Keep on proggin' .!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW (i-Rock! Music Community)