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:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: :: :: - WHAT'S RATTLIN' ? - :: :: The Weekly Digest for Canterbury Music Addicts :: :: Issue # 144 :: :: Thursday, December 8th, 1999 :: :: :: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- AN INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS CUTLER ABOUT THE SCIENCE GROUP "...A MERE COINCIDENCE..." (out on Recommended Records) Q: The credits for your lyrics to the album (1992-96) suggest that thisproject has been a long time in the writing. When and in what circumstances did you first start working on it? A: I have been writing texts on science related subjects for a long time, some appear on other CD's (starting with News from Babel). I began to work toward a whole project somewhere around 1992, slowly accumulating texts. I seem to work that way at the moment, there are several other projects growing in the same way. Q: The press release mentions that Stevan Tickmayer is a "contemporary classical composer from the ex-Yugoslavia". But the music on "...A Mere Coincidence..." is certainly rock-based, and Stevan himself plays the keyboard parts. Is working in a rock group something new for him? A: Stevan was trained in composition, piano and contrabass. He has written numerous contemporary pieces and has a standing ensemble (The Tickmayer Formatio) to perform them. He studied, amongst others, with Louis Andreissen in Amsterdam and then moved to France as composer for choreographer Josef Nadj at the Centre Choreographique National d'Orleans. I met him first in Novi Sad (Jugoslavia) in the early Eighties. There was a memorable concert with the Black Sheep in the garden of a local sculptor there, where Stevan and some other Hungarian musicians joined us. After that, I saw him on and off, eventually working with him - with Josef Nadj (Stevan played the piano), on a circus piece and in a trio with Erno Kiraly. I offered him the Science texts, by then a record's worth, and proposed we make a CD. I thought his way of composing would bring something new, he is trained and thinks as a contemporary composer but is equally happy with electronics - and he understands folk music and rock also from the inside. As far as I know he never worked in a Rock group and I'm not sure if he would call this a rock record either. Q: The music on this album is extremely complicated and the listener's onlypossible way of explaining that human beings are able to play this music isto believe there's probably a lot of studio trickery involved. Well... Could this work be performed live? (BTW, any such plans?) A: Yes, the compositions are extremely complicated, though the played parts were of course really played. Not all together though, and not in real time. Steven and I put our parts on first. Then Fred came to France and added his. Claudio was sent an A-Dats and a score and he added his parts in Germany, after which Amy arrived and sang. Bob added his bass parts as we went along, as well as singing and overdubbing guitars, percussion and whatever else he thought was necessary in the course of the mixing. There was a great deal of production work involved but, I would say, the compositions are certainly performable. It would take at least 10 days of rehearsal though and we would need our own mixing engineer and probably some outboard equipment. In fact we were invited to Victoriaville this year, but Amy was already engaged at that time. However, because of the rehearsal time and travel costs, only a festival or tour could afford to invite us and it would not be cheap. The same was true of t'Domestic Stories', which we were never invited to perform. P53 only ever got two invitations, both from major festivals. So, unless there is serious interest I doubt whether the Science material will ever actually be performed. Which, I think, is a great pity. Q: Fred Frith and Amy Denio make very significant contributions to almost all the tracks on the album. Why aren't they credited as full members of the project? A: As with 'Domestic', this was not really a group project, it was Stevan and my project with invited musicians. Bob produced the record, as well as playing and singing. He did all the mixing alone, so his was a full and equal part. The others came for a day or two days and overdubbed parts. Their imput, though vital was of a different order. As I wrote it, they are all credited as members of the project, but the 'authors' of the record were Stevan (music), Bob (production) and myself (texts). Does that make sense? Q: It is tempting to see The Science Group as a particularly successful attempt at modern "progressive" rock. What music do you (or would like to) associate the word "progressive" to nowadays? A: I guess that could be said; it has enough in common with the language of'progressive' rock to be seen as fitting into it. Nevertheless 'progressive' seems to me to a historical label - to refer to styles that matured in the 1970's. To say a group is progressive today seems to mean that their music refers back somehow to that period. Which is why I am equivocal about the term, and myself no longer use it, except historically. And why, when all is said, I'm not sure if this CD is really a progressive rock record. There are some parts that definitely use that language, but far more which do not. Perhaps the familiar bits are just easier to recognise and label? I prefer to think there is something else going on on this record, but I am happy when anyone has a good word to say for it! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Scott Reddell <zepplin@stayfree.co.uk> Subject: Anybody told you of a band called 'Bablicon'? Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 22:07:35 +0000 Hi there, Been a canterbury fan for many years through Gong & the early Softs although I'm too young to have seen it at the time... I saw an american band recently by the name of Bablicon on a small tour organised by a local (Leicester) label -best live act I've seen! All the energy of the early Soft Machine - incredible drumming & musicianship I didn't think was around for a few decades. American Canterbury-influenced bands are not a new idea eg. Muffins,Birdssongs etc. This is a 3 piece-mainly drums, bass, keyboard but also some sax & theremin & cello, vocal harmonies on 1 piece. They have a cd out - worth a listen but if you get the chance see them live... I'm not a salesman or a friend of the band but I think they deserve more exposure than they've got - this scene needs young blood I think. This is the label Pickled Egg:-http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/estate/nigel.t/pickledegg.shtml Features mixed reviews, no canterbury refernces-although there is a Beefheart comparison (?) Great site keep up the good work Scott ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: bole.music@virgin.net Subject: concert Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 19:49:45 -0000 THE ELEANOR RIGBY EXPERIENCE Fred T Baker, Clive Bunker, Phil Bates, Andy Bole, Tina McBain... on tour Feb 2000 information at http://www.raconteurs.demon.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Peter Marsh" <marshp@richmond.ac.uk> Subject: Magma Live in the UK! Date: Fri, 26 Nov 1999 13:42:11 +0000 Simon wrote: >Snooker fans may be interested that (unless it's a classic urban myth?) >the former world champion Steve Davies is allegedly a big Magma fan - >I wonder if he'll be there?!!! Apparently Steve Davies organised and bankrolled Magma's last show over here (1989 or so) at the Bloomsbury Theatre. It'd be interesting to see if other snooker players have as eclectic tastes; perhaps we'll get Jimmy White organising a Univers Zero tour ! :-) Peter ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ANDREW GARIBALDI <andygee@dial.pipex.com> Subject: Magma in the UK Date: Sun, 28 Nov 1999 16:43:32 -0800 Magma-Queen Elizabeth Hall Feb 7th In reply to the guy who mentioned this in WR#143 - no, it's not an urban myth - snooker star Steve Davis was and still is a big Magma fan. In fact it was he who put Magma on in 1988 for 3 nights in London, and that even got coverage on the early morning news on BBC TV at the time, the result of which was that the Fri and Sat nights sold out. We told Steve about the gig the moment we heard (as he is a customer of ours) and he said that providing his schedule works out, he will be there. Incidentally, at the risk of a quick plug, on the flyers for the Magma concert it mentions that the Magma and Offering/Vander titles are available until the concert at well discounted prices from 'selected specialist outlets', so if you want to beef up your Magma collection AND save money, ours is one of the specialist outlets on 01382-776595 (Tel) See you there, Andy G. (CD Services) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "SHYAMAL MAITRA" <shyamalmaitra@minitel.net> Subject: Hot news Date: Sat, 27 Nov 1999 20:55:26 +0100 (MET) "Walnut Trees are Serene", the Mother Tongues Duo CD, featuring French singer Muriel Louveau on Vocals, and Shyamal Maitra on the Jungle of Spices Kit is ready for distribution. For further information on sights & sounds, visit http://mothertonguesproject.com MASH - Millenium Concert -Mark Hewins and Shyamal Maitra will celebrate the year 2000 with a night-long jam on a boat on the Seine River in Paris. MASHU re-release 2000:"Elephants in your head" with some bonus tracks from last tour. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: neato@pipeline.com Subject: pukwana cd Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1999 10:30:35 -0500 (EST) A 1975 recording by Dudu Pukwana has been reissued by the Da Music label ofGermany. Originally released in 1978 on the Freedom label as "DiamondExpress", it has now been retitled as "Ubagile"... Interesting, in that itcontains some of the last recordings made by Robert Wyatt's cohort andfriend, South African trumpeter Mongezi Feza (Feza's influence foremost inWyatt's own recent trumpet noodlings)... In addition (for completists) onetrack features stalwarts Nick Evans, Keith Tippett and Elton Dean... The great Louis Moholo plays drums throughout. Pukwana's many different groups of that era always combined his SouthAfrican expatriates and the cream of the British free players... A greatmatch indeed... Here's hoping this important vein of music continues to be mined. CD is available in USA via Wayside cheers all my mistakes were once acts of genius neato@pipeline.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Beau Mansfield" <BMansfield@omnicom2000.com> Subject: Moon In June, on SM's "Third" Date: Thu, 04 Nov 1999 12:40:33 -0500 Thank you so much for providing as near-perfect a transcription as I could imagine of one of my very favorite lyrics. Even though I've had difficulty understanding what R. Wyatt was singing at points in the song ever since I first heard it about five years ago, I love how he seems to announce that he is singing a song as opposed to really talking to a young bird, as he calls her. There is, however, one line between "I wish I were home again" and "Just before we go on to the next part of our song," which you didn't transcribe. I wish I could be of more assistance, but all I have ever been able to decipher Wyatt as singing is: "F****** with the ledger pens." Could this be even remotely accurate? Thanks so much again, for your great website. Sincerely, Beau Mansfield [Any alternative suggestions? - AL] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: gong-gas <gong-gas@gpo.sonnet.co.uk> Subject: Bong of all things Gong-12/99 Date: Thu, 2 Dec 99 14:09:33 +0000 A DEATH IN THE FAMILY Sadly Roly Wynne the original bass player with Ozric Tentacles is no longer with us. May he be enjoying a well made cup of infinit-tea and a rest while marvelling at the experiences of what was and what's to come...One love to all his family and friends in a trying time. Anyone wishing to send a tribute can do so to Simon at Stretchy mailto:simonjbaker@lineone.net * * * * * GIGS MARK ROBSONThurs 16th Dec The Richmond, Brighton supporting Sons of Arqa 6th Jan The Pelican, Stroud Return of THOM THE WORLD POET Tour-USAFri 10th Dec Thom MC for Sisyer Cities Poetry Reading 7pm then Cafe Mundi AustinSun 19th Dec Winter Solstice Poetry Pot Luck. Tel 512416743526-30th Dec Comma Sound Poetry Premillenial Texas Tour. Temple, Austin, San AntonioTHOMTOURS updates!! http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Studios/6285http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Studios/6285 for THOMTOURS updates! Checkitout! GIG PLANS GONGSomething special at the beginning of April...to be announced. Mid April UK Tour 8-10 dates...being booked now. * * * * * NEWS NEW GONG CD UPDATEThe mastering is complete and filmwork for the cover is being produced even as you read this. Below is the final track order and timings.There will be a large CD booklet full of the ever changing adventures of our everyperson hero, Zero. The initial pressings will also have a sort of semi opaque slip case illustrated with a totally absorbing Daevid drawing of deep Planet Gong mythological symbolism....The release date is the 21st February 2000 on the Snapper Music Gong imprint One Eyed Salmon. ZERO TO INFINITY SMACD824 1 Foolefare 0.42 2 Magdalene 3.57 3 The Invisible Temple 11.35 4 Zeroid 6.08 5 Wise Man in Your Heart 8.03 6 The Mad Monk 3.24 7 Yoni on Mars 6.07 8 Damaged Man 5.13 9 Bodilingus 4.02 10 Tali Song 6.25 11 Infinitea 7.48 TRT 63.24 APPEARANCES IN PRINT1. Magnet-US Indie music mag. Oct-Nov issue has a Daevid, University of Errors and beyond interview and a couple of fabulous photographs.2. The Bush Telegraph-UK’s premier Herb publication. December issue has very good Daevid interview plus photographs.3. Wire-UK. Nov issue reviews Daevid’s University of Errors and Jellybean CDs and Daevid and Harry's 22 Meanings. Richard Heley, ex HERE and NOW poet at large, runs a fine venue which deserves many attendees-do contact him directly and bring many warm chums to his poetry palace at The Planet Caribbean restaurant, near Hampstead-totally recommended. NEW MOONIn mid November Kangaroo Moon’s Mark Robson became a father again with the arrival of Ben, a brother to wee Jack who would rather the new baby were called James Bond. More info: http://www.sonnet.co.uk/gong-gas/ * * * * * Surrealist Proverb for the month: Breaking two stones with one mosquito Till the next time or sooner... end. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: CuneiWay@aol.com Subject: Victor Schonfield Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 10:18:16 EST My friend Mike King went to England a couple of weeks ago to see the Songs Of Robert Wyatt show in London & also meet with various people. The following is from a personal letter he just sent me & is forwarded with his permission: I did spend a nice afternoon with one Victor Schonfield (who recorded Daevid Allen Trio at Marquee 63, yeah that's his tape) and we discussed much about his work in promoting improv/exper concerts during the 60's (Sun Ra, Ornette, SME, New Departures, Cardew, Scratch Orchestra, etc). Asked Vic about Soft Machine as they once approached him to be their manager - "It was probably Daevid or Robert who approached me, I can't remember. I did go down to see them at the Speakeasy though (early 67), but I left during this thing they did with a repetitive bass figure that just went on and on and on and on. After hearing that I said no, this isn't for me at all. My flirtation with being a pop manager lasted about two weeks but I did introduce somebody named Arthur Brown to a record company. He was a total madman with absolutely no talent - he used to set himself on fire for christ's sakes! I wonder whatever happened to him." Steve F ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Smiths Academy" <smiths_academy@hotmail.com> Subject: Mike Westbrook site Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1999 14:44:33 -0000 Hi, I see you have a link on your site to the old "shared model" site forMike Westbrook. This site is no longer being updated and the new sitefor Mike & Kate Westbrook, which I run on their behalf is at: http://homepages.tcp.co.uk/~ctop1/ I would be grateful for a link and would be happy to link back to your site if you would like. Regards Chris Topley The Mike & Kate Westbrook Website ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: neato <neato@pipeline.com> Subject: wyatt on harris cd Date: Sun, 05 Dec 1999 10:02:24 +0000 From http://www.sugarcane-harris.com/cdinfo.htm Sugarcane Harris Anthology CD set - almost 2 1/2 hours of Sugarcane Don 'Sugarcane' Harris was originally part of 60's combo Don and Dewey. After being featured on Zappa's Hot Rats album, and having worked with John Mayall, Sugarcane formed his own group in 1970 (Sugarcane Harris Group which became Pure Food and Drug Act). The line up featured some of the most respected musicians of the day, Harvey Mandel, Larry Taylor, Paul Lagos, Dewey Terry, Randy Resnick, Robert Wyatt, Neville Whitehead, Volker Kriegal, Wolfgang Downer & Terje Rypdal to name a few, and who all feature on this CD. The Anthology has tracks taken from 4 albums - 'Got The Blues', Flashin' Time', 'Fiddler On The Rock' & 'Keep On Driving' - recorded both live and in the studio between 1970-73. This is the first time that many of these tracks are available on CD. Volume One - Keep On Driving - Blues On The Moon - Which Way Is The Bathroom? - Desiree - Almost Broke - Coitus Interruptus - Remember The Past - Liz Pineapple Wonderful - Sugar Cane's Got The Blues - Song For My Father - Where's My Sunshine Volume Two - Eleanor Rigby - I'm Gonna Miss You - The Buzzard's Cousin - The Pig's Eye - So Alone - No Inspiration - Runnin' Away - Hattie's Bathtub - Bad Feet - Cup Full Of Dreams - Generation Of Vipers Release Date - November 15th, 1999. Catalogue number - PAPRCD002 Bar-code - 5034748002106 Distributed - Pinnacle distribution Past & Present, P.O.Box 24515, London E17 4QP, U.K. Tel: 0044-(0)181-521-2211 Fax: 0044-(0)181-521-6911 [A sad coincidence. Don 'Sugarcane' Harris passed away on December 1 in his LA home, after suffering from a lungs disease for many years. He'd turned 61 on June 18 - AL] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Dan Cowan" <dcowan@az.com> Subject: Dyonisos CD "Haiku" released Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1999 13:08:26 -0800 As a musician heavily influenced by Pink Floyd and Caravan, I'm pleased to annouce the release of my debut CD "Haiku". Songs from the CD can be previewed, and/or the CD purchased, at http://www.mp3.com/dyonisos. The CD storyline traces an arduous hike to the top of Mt. Keahiakahoe, on the island of Oahu (Hawaii), with the descent made via the famous "Haiku Stairs". The songs are slow to medium in tempo, such as the pace one might be expected to maintain on a trek of this nature. The CD booklet includes four breathtaking pictures taken from the summit of Keahiakahoe. If you're short on time listen to the first two songs, "Moanalua Gardens" and "Keahiakahoe". That will be enough to give you a good idea of what to expect on the rest of the CD. I hope all of you can find the time to check out "Haiku". -- Dan Cowan (dcowan@az.com). ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Anthony Shaw <tonyshaw@clinet.fi> Subject: Digest style mail Date: Thu, 02 Dec 1999 21:30:51 -0800 Just a quick note from the nether regions of the Rattlers galaxy (Finland) to shower appreciation for this style of 'newsletter' that I browse at my limited leisure in my northern eerie. Please keep the reports coming in all ye diligent concert goers. I feel I'm lucky to be able to keep tabs on the very Euro sound of Canterbury from this far away. Rattle On - TonyS [Some constructive discussion took place following my brief note on the "live" list, currently in the process of choosing a different name, and I am hopeful that both lists will be able to co-exist in the most fruitful manner in the future, each dealing with the aspects of discussion it is more suited to. Anyway, don't worry, WR is here to stay ! - AL] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** FORTHCOMING CANTERBURY-RELATED CONCERTS ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * [for more info : check out the 'Concerts' page of CALYX] http://www.alpes-net.fr/~bigbang/concerts.html ==> DIDIER MALHERBE / HADOUK TRIO <====================================== [D.Malherbe-L.Ehrlich-S.Shehan] Dec 09 - Paris (France), New Morning Official website: http://www.multimania.com/malherbedidier/ ========================================================================= * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** AND OTHER GOOD GIGS... ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ==> THE CHA.CY <========================================================= Dec 17 - Montelimar (France), Theatre / Dec 18 - Bresse-sur-Grosne (France), A L'Ouest de la Grosne with special guests: Chris Karrer, Jean-Herve Peron, John Weinzierl Info: (+33) 4 75 01 70 83 ==> BILL BRUFORD'S EARTHWORKS <========================================== Jan 17 - Guildford (Surrey), Electric Theatre ================================================================================================================================================== END OF ISSUE 144 _________________________________________________________________________ WHAT'S RATTLIN' ? - WHAT'S RATTLIN' ? - WHAT'S RATTLIN' ?_________________________________________________________________________ CALYX - The Canterbury Website http://www.alpes-net.fr/~bigbang/calyx.html THE ULTIMATE ONLINE CANTERBURY DISCOGRAPHY http://www.alpes-net.fr/~bigbang/cantdisco.html WHAT'S RATTLIN' ? BACK ISSUES - ONLINE ARCHIVE http://musart.co.uk/watrat/watrat.htm + search engine : http://musart.co.uk/ssearch.htm * To subscribe, send me an e-mail with 'WR sub' in the subject line.* To send a message for inclusion in the next issue, send it with 'WR: [subject]' in the subject line.* If your e-mail address changes, please notify me and mention both your old and new addresses so I can remove the former and add the latter.* If you can no longer receive WR or don't want to anymore, don't forget to unsubscribe! (i.e. send me a message)* PLEASE SEND ME PHOTOCOPIES OF MAGAZINE ARTICLES, LYRICS TRANSCRIPTIONS etc.!!!(Contact me beforehand at my usual e-mail address <bigbang@alpes-net.fr>)_________________________________________________________________________