M
Benjamin
Horrendous website index
MAGAZINE
Ex Buzzcock Howard Devoto's band. Had their
moments. Saw them at Sussex University. Very good show, Howard was a great
performer. They did a version of Beefhearts "Big
Dummy".
MALLARD
Formed from the nucleus of Beefhearts magic band
in 1974. The first album showed a lot of promise, while falling slightly
short of being "Magic". The second one had a few really good tracks,
but overall they were moving in a country rock muso direction.
MIKE MANTLER
American trumpeter and composer. Worked closely
with Carla Bley. It was interesting to contrast
his strident, masculine sound with Carla's more melodic feminine stuff.
They were equally talented and innovative. A lot of Mike's stuff was his
music written for others words; people like Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter
and Edward Gorey. He often used interesting singers and musicians e.g.
Kevin Coyne, Robert Wyatt, Jack Bruce, Larry
Coryell, Chris Spedding.
Essential
"Jazz Composers Orchestra", "No Answer", "The Hapless Child", "Silence"
and "Movies" l.p.s.
MATCHING MOLE
Robert Wyatts post Soft
Machine improv rock band. Sometimes it's like all the instruments,
including the drums, are playing lead; but without getting in each others
way, and staying in the right key .Robert was a wonderful, adventurous
drummer, and I think some of his best work was with this band. Honourable
mention also to bassist Bill McCcormick, who was some kind of genius.
Essential
"Matching Mole" and "Little Red Record" l.p.s.
MERCURY REV
Possibly my favourite band of the 90s. I love the way they start a
song with a pretty little tune on the flute or acoustic guitars,
then brutally stomp all over it with their distorto feedback guitars. This
is more true of the earlier albums. the later ones are quite mellow, but
equally adventurous and experimental.
Saw them once in Preston when the bear- like David Baker was still
the lead singer. "Saw" is the wrong word really, as I'd gone up to the
balcony to get a better view, but throughout the set they had powerful
strobe lights going, shining directly up to the balcony. After a few minutes
I couldn't look at the stage, but they sounded great.
Essential
Everything.
http://www.mercuryrev.net/news.shtml
MINK DE VILLE
Willy de Ville had a great quiff, a great voice, and a great band of
New York street wise latinos."Spanish Stroll" was a well deserved summer
1977 hit. Saw them at the Top Rank Brighton. Excellent musicianship and
singing, especially from the Immortals, the vocal backing group.
Essential
"Mink de Ville - Cabretta" l.p.
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