CABARET VOLTAIRE Sonic sculptors from Sheffield.. Their use of
distortion and treated sounds was innovative, and very tripologic. Their
later stuff was a bit too Techno orientated for me though.
Essential "Extended Play" e.p., "Mix Up" and "Voice of
America" l.p.s, "Silent Command" and "Seconds Too Late" singles.
Cabaret Voltaire CAPTAIN BEEFHEART AND THE MAGIC
BAND THE man. My hero. There's Captain Beefheart,
then there's the rest. A true genius. Real magic. Almost every album contains
several audacious, revolutionary and wonderful musical innovations that
nobody else has even begun to think of. I saw them 6 times. Here is a link
to my reviews, as well as a load of others, which are at the Radar
Station.
Essential Everything.
Find out everything you need to know at these
sites.
Radar StationElectricityTimeline CARCASS Death Metal thrashers formed by Bill Steer, the guitarist who quit
Napalm Death because they were getting "too commercial".
The lyrics, sung in the obligatory "irate walrus having a sackful of old
socks forcibly stuffed down its throat" style, are seemingly straight out
of an autopsy report, and you need a medical dictionary to follow them.
Take "Corporeal Jigsore Quandary", a song about the problems one might
encounter when trying to piece back together a dismembered corpse, for
instance :
"Excised and anatomized, deviscerated disarray
The torso diverged with pride
Deftly amputated, evulsed limbs now defunct
The trunk imbrued, tatty stumps used as lugs
For a chrondrin puzzle so quaint
Head and body decollate
A heaving mass so quiescent..."
The cover of the "Necroticism....." album has a surgeon attacking with
a hammer photos which portray the band members suffocating, drowning, wrapped
in a body bag, and tied up with wire. In the corner a severed arm protrudes
from a bloodstained waste bin.
Essential "Necroticism - Descanting the Insalubrious" l.p.
CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD Soul band led by General Johnson. Made some great singles, my favourite
being the very funky Isleys - influenced
"Finders Keepers".
DON CHERRY Very inventive jazz trumpeter with a kinda sparse , warm tone. Played
with Ornette Coleman on a lot of his groundbreaking albums, and his contribution
to them was a considerable part of their appeal. He and Ornette seemed
to have an instinctive, almost telepathic bond, and often urged each other
to greater heights, or tried (vainly) to startle one another by playing
something unexpected . Later on he got into ethnic African and Eastern
music, successfully imo, though I did kinda miss his trumpet playing. Saw
him once at the Outside In jazz festival in Crawley. Very engaging, very
warm . He was mainly playing an African banjo - like instrument, but he
did play a few short bursts on the trumpet.
Like Miles, he had the ability to express
a lot with one or two notes.
Essential "where is Brooklyn?" and "Relativity Suite" l.p.s. See also Ornette
Coleman below.
Perfect
Sound Forever tribute CHESTERFIELDS Indie saddoes who made a couple of excellent
albums.
Essential "Kettle" and "Crocodile Tears" l.p.s.
CHOO CHOO TRAIN Nerdy looking American duo (augmented by other musicians) who made
some exquisitely crafted, slightly Byrds influenced retro - pop. Saw them
in a kind of youth club in Tunbridge Wells, supporting the Flatmates
. They were wonderful. Chiming, ringing guitars, sublime, angelic harmonies,
cascading chords and rock solid drumming. They did look strange, though.
Ric Menck, (drums and vocals), was like King of the nerds with thick Buddy
Holly spectacles; Paul Chastain, ( guitar, bass and vocals), was about
4' 6'' tall; the rhythm guitarist looked like he'd come straight
out of a 60's acid rock band, and the lead player was a huge fat
giant with a very boyish face. The guitar looked like a little toy in his
hands.
Later they evolved into the equally wonderful Velvet
Crush .
Essential "Briar Rose " e.p., "High" e.p.
ORNETTE COLEMAN "A great painter with that horn" as Captain Beefheart described him..
Great composer and improviser, pushed the boundaries of jazz back several
times. Had a melodic, playful sound, even when doing something extreme.
Personally I hear a lot of Charlie Parker in his playing. The musicians
in his bands were always hugely talented, and like Beefheart or Miles,
he had a masterly way of getting the best out of them , often adapting
his music to suit their talents. Saw him at the Town and Country Club,
London. My wife said " It's like he's singing to us with his saxophone."
which is a nice way to describe it.
Essential "Free Jazz", "Science Fiction", "Song X", and "Virgin Beauty"
l.p.s
Ornate Coleman RY COODER King of the slide guitar. Helped out Captain Beefheart with his first
l.p. Borrowed from folk and blues traditions, and made some wonderful,
always meticulously played music, some of it so delicately poised it sounds
like it's made of glass. He often showcased obscure, but extremely talented
master musicians such as Flaco Jimenez ( accordion), Gabby Pahinui, (hawaiian
steel guitar), Earl Hines, Sleepy John Estes, Bobby King and Terry Evans.
Saw him in London, once with the "Chicken Skin " band, which was great,
really infectious; and another time with the "Bop Till You Drop" lot, which
was wonderful as well.
Essential All the albums up to "Borderline". My favourites are the down home
"Boomers Story", "Chicken Skin Music" and "Jazz" .
LOL COXHILL Eccentric sax squawker. Has played with Kevin
Ayers and Fred Frith among others. He used
to compere the Outside In festivals in Crawley, and was always good for
a laugh. There's a great documentary about him, which includes an hilarious
scene of him pulling various obscure broken instruments, none of which
work, from under his bed to show the camera.
Essential "French Gigs" (with Fred Frith), and "Coxhill/Miller,
Miller/ Coxhill" (with Steve Miller (no, the other one,)), l.p.s.