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The New Abnormal
May 13, 2022 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM
With ǝɹnɔsqꓳ ǝɥꓕ ǝʌɐꓷ
The Canterbury Scene (part 1) 🕵🏼♀️ ☕️
A very British style of progressive rock. 🇬🇧 🕵🏼♀️ ☕️
7:01 AM |
| Hatfield & The North Big Jobs (Poo Poo Extract) Hatfield and the North Virgin Records 1973 Formed in 1972, their name was inspired by a road sign on the M1 going north from London (frequently seen by gigging bands). Dave Stewart (keyboards), Phil Miller (guitar), Richard Sinclair (bass, vocals), Pip Pyle (drums). Plus guests. (The sub-theme for today's show: find Robert Wyatt!) Here's a song to begin the beginning , a few notes which are arbitrary . But we try our best to make it sound nice, and hope that the music turns you on to our latest L.P. So do have a laugh certainly. |
7:02 AM |
Set Break:
over “Going Up To People And Tinkling” by Hatfield and The North
Here are two good resources to explore the Canterbury Scene. | |
7:04 AM |
| The Wilde Flowers Impotence The Wilde Flowers Blueprint 1994 The Wilde Flowers was formed in Canterbury, England, in 1964. Active until 1969, but never released any record during its existence. Their influence exceeds that of many groups with lengthy discographies. The band served as the wellspring of the so-called Canterbury sound: particularly Soft Machine and Caravan. A compilation of The Wilde Flowers demos and unreleased recordings was finally released in 1994. Members included : Brian Hopper, David Sinclair, Graham Flight, Hugh Hopper, Kevin Ayers, Pye Hastings, Richard Sinclair, Richard Coughlin, and Robert Wyatt. |
7:06 AM |
Set Break:
over “Dave Intro” by Hatfield and The North from “Hatwise Choice”
| |
7:07 AM |
| Soft Machine As Long As He Lies Perfectly Still The Soft Machine, Vol. 2 UMC (Universal Music Catalogue) 1969 Formed in 1966, named after the book "The Soft Machine" written by William Burroughs. They were probably the most important and influential band to grow out the Canterbury Scene. Many careers began with The Soft Machine: Robert Wyatt (Matching Mole), Kevin Ayers, Daevid Allen (Gong). Soft Machine underwent many lineup changes. This incarnation featured Robert Wyatt (vocals, percussion), Mike Ratledge (keyboards, flute), Hugh Hopper (bass, sax, acoustic guitar), plus Brian Hopper (saxes). By ~ 1972 Soft Machine played more jazz fusion and no longer had the "Canterbury sound". |
7:10 AM |
| Matching Mole Instant Kitten Matching Mole Sony Music UK 1972 Matching Mole was a short-lived UK progressive rock band from the Canterbury scene. Robert Wyatt formed the band in October 1971 after he left Soft Machine. The name is a pun on 'Machine Molle', the French translation of "Soft Machine". Robert Wyatt (vocals and drums), Dave McRae (electric piano), Phil Miller (guitar) formerly of Delivery, and Bill MacCormick (bass) formerly of Quiet Sun. |
7:15 AM |
| Robert Wyatt Sea Song Rock Bottom Domino Recording Co 1974 Robert Wyatt was born on 28 January 1945. He co-founded Wilde Flowers in 1964, then co-founded Soft Machine in 1966. Wyatt's second solo effort, Rock Bottom, was recorded three months after he was released from the hospital in 1974. |
7:21 AM |
Set Break:
over “Brujo” by National Health
| |
7:23 AM |
| Caravan In the Land of Grey & Pink In the Land of Grey and Pink Decca Music Group Ltd. 1971 Formed in 1968, disbanded in 1978. Founded by ex-members of Wilde Flowers: Pye Hastings (vocals, guitar), David Sinclair (keyboards), Richard Sinclair (bass, vocals), and Richard Coughlin (drums). Caravan was a leading exponent of what became known as "the Canterbury sound". "In the Land of Grey and Pink" is a perfect blend between simple English pop and complex progressive rock. |
7:27 AM |
| Caravan The Dog, the Dog, He's at it Again For Girls Who Grow Plump In the Night Deram 1973 "For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night" marked another change in Caravan's sound, and their classic Canterbury sound stopped here. |
7:33 AM |
Set Break:
over ‘Extract from "With the Yellow Half-Moon and Blue Star”’ by Henry Cow
| |
7:37 AM |
| Arzachel Garden of Earthly Delights Arzachel Akarma 2002 This band began as "Uriel" in 1967 as a four-piece psychedelic group. They renamed themselves "Egg" after the departure of Steve Hillage for college in the summer of 1968 and slowly changed their musical direction. "Arzachel" was the reformation of Uriel. Since the members of "Egg" had just signed an exclusive deal with Decca when they were offered to record a psychedelic album by another label, they reunited with Steve Hillage under the name "Arzachel" in June 1969 and released this one LP. Members: Dave Stewart (keyboards), Mont Campbell (bass, vocals), and Steve Hillage (guitar, vocals), and Clive Brooks (drums).(Coming up, listen during Egg's "A Visit to Newport Hospital", to hear Mont Cambell reminisce about Uriel.) |
7:40 AM |
| Egg The Song of Mcgillicudie the Pusillanimous (Or Don't Worry James, Your Socks Are Hanging in the Coal Cellar with Thomas) Egg Nova Records 1970 Egg toured the UK and recorded two highly acclaimed albums (Egg, The Polite Force). After struggling for over a year with hardly enough gigs to survive, Egg eventually broke up in July 1972, leaving almost an album's worth of unrecorded compositions. So when the opportunity came, in the summer of 1974, to record a third album for the Virgin sub-label Caroline Records, the trio was re-united for "The Civil Surface", but the band was not in existence anymore. |
7:45 AM |
| Egg A Visit to Newport Hospital The Polite Force Deram 1971 There used to be a time when we lived in the van There were four of us then, the group was Uriel It was a way of life that was completely new For saying things better left unsaid . |
7:53 AM |
| Khan Stargazers (feat. Steve Hillage & Dave Stewart) Space Shanty (feat. Steve Hillage & Dave Stewart) Deram Records 1972 Dave Stewart (keyboards), Steve Hillage (guitar/vocal), Nick Greenwood (Bass/vocal), Eric Peachey (drums). |
7:59 AM |
Set Break:
over “Play Time” by Gilgamesh
| |
8:04 AM |
| Gong Flying Teapot Flying Teapot - Radio Gnome Invisible, Pt. 1 Virgin 1973 Psychedelic rock band formed by Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth in France in 1967. Gong became pioneers of a new brand of psychedelia/space-rock/trip-rock - with a conceptual ethos involving aliens and alternative realities. An international outfit, increasingly linked to other bands of the Canterbury scene. The Gong mythology is a humorous collection of recurring characters and allegorical themes which permeate the albums. (See the LPs for the stories and cartoons.) The "flying teapot" theme was inspired by "Russells's teapot". |
8:11 AM |
| Gong Oily Way Angel's Egg Virgin 1973 Angels Egg is the second in Gong's Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy of albums. The trilogy forms a central part of the Gong mythology. The original vinyl edition came with a booklet containing an extensive explanation of the mythology, including lyrics, a glossary of terms, and profiles of characters in the story and band members. Sorry. Too big for the playlist. The CD reissues leave all this fun stuff out. |
8:14 AM |
| Gong Perfect Mystery You Virgin Records 1974 "You" is the third of the "Radio Gnome Invisible" trilogy of albums and the last album by Daevid Allen's iteration of the group - until 1992's Shapeshifter. Soon Gong would be led by Pierre Moerlen and started playing jazz fusion. |
8:16 AM |
Set Break:
over “Other Side of the Sky” by Gong
| |
8:20 AM |
| Hatfield & The North K Licks (long) Hattitude Hatfield and the North 2005 Formed in October 1972, disbanded June 1975. Canterbury at its best. This version was performed for the John Peel Show in 1974. Poetry in motion is what you've become [Named "K Licks" on this compilation, since Virgin Records owns the original "Calyx" song title.] |
8:23 AM |
| Hatfield & The North Absolutely Wholesome Hatwise Choice Hatfield and the North 2005 Originally released as the single "Let's Eat, Real Soon". I'm vitamin-enriched. What's more, I'm absolutely wholesome! You'll want to slip me in your kitchen. How'd you like to mother me? So don't be scared by the thought |
8:26 AM |
| Hatfield & The North Share It The Rotters' Club EMI Catalogue 1975 |
8:29 AM |
Set Break:
over “Laundry Soup” by Hatfield and The North from "Hatwise Choice"
| |
8:31 AM |
| National Health Borogroves (Excerpt from Part Two) National Health Charly Affinity 1978 Formed in 1975, the group was mostly the same as Hatfield and The North, but with a different bass player: Dave Stewart (keyboards), Phil Miller (guitar), John Greaves (bass) from Henry Cow, Pip Pyle (drums). Plus guests. Occasional members/collaborators have included Alan Gowen, Bill Bruford, and Steve Hillage. Disbanded in 1981. The band got its name from the 'National Health' issued eyeglasses worn by Dave Stewart. 🤓 |
8:35 AM |
| National Health Clocks and Clouds Missing Pieces East Side Digital 1995 "Clocks And Clouds" was released on National Health's "Missing Pieces", a collection of miscellaneous songs that never made it to any of their records. (The vocalist is Amanda Parsons, not Barbara Gaskin.) In this photo, they are joined by Alan Gowen, Bill Bruford, and Amanda Parsons. Why were these pieces missing for so long? Dave Stewart writes "The reason for the chronic unavailability was the reluctance of some of the musicians to release these less than perfect versions... it is purely a case of conscientious musicians wanting to be heard at their best, which is how anything ever gets to sound half decent in the first place." |
8:42 AM |
| National Health The Bryden 2-Step (For Amphibians) [Part 2] Of Queues and Cures Charly 1978 |
8:46 AM |
Set Break:
over some looped “Bryden Two Step” by National Health
Main elements of the Canterbury sound: 1. Light-hearted - for prog rock, it does not have much "edginess". The only tension is between the complex harmonies, jazzy improvisations, and the desire to write catchy pop songs. 2. Circular nature of personal changes, with friends playing in each others' bands. 3. Vocals delivered in a very "British" manor, with no effort to ape American blues and pop singers. 4. Lyrics (if any) are whimsical, with a strong sense of the absurd. Personal topics about British domestic life (cups of tea). (9. They like sending the organ signal through a fuzz box and also a wahwah pedal.) | |
8:48 AM |
| Henry Cow Teenbeat Reprise Leg End RER Megacorp 1973 Founded in 1968 in Cambridge, UK - Disbanded in 1978. Henry Cow is one of the founders of Rock-In-Opposition (RIO), but has roots in the Canterbury scene, and all of its members have collaborated with Canterbury scene groups and artists at some point. 🧦 The Henry Cow emoji. |
8:53 AM |
| Henry Cow Bittern Storm Over Ulm Unrest (Remastered) RER Megacorp 1974 Henry Cow's 2nd release "Unrest" 🧦 is already a departure from the Canterbury flavored debut "Legend", and more avant-garde. |
8:56 AM |
| Henry Cow Little Red Riding Hood Hits the Road Concerts (Remastered) RER USA 2006 This is a live version of Robert Wyatt's song. L-R: Chris Cutler, Robert Wyatt, Dagmar Krause, Lindsay Cooper |
9:01 AM |
Set Break:
over “Finesse is for Fairies” by Hatfield and The North from "Hatwise Choice"
Even Wikipedia recognizes the Canterbury Scene. | |
9:03 AM |
| Gilgamesh Darker Brighter Another Fine Tune You've Got Me Into Charly 1978 Formed in 1972, disbanded in 1975, reformed between 1977-1978. Gilgamesh was one of the premier bands in the Canterbury scene. Led by the keyboardist Alan Gowen (1947-1981), the group was a contemporary and collaborator with National Health. The music is very intricate, and of course keyboard oriented. They're more of jazz fusion group, but with strong Canterbury flavors. Alan Gowen (keyboards), Phil Lee (guitar), Hugh Hopper (bass), Trevor Tomkins (drums). |
9:08 AM |
| Alan Gowen A Fleeting Glance Before a Word Is Said Floating World 2012 Originally issued in 1982, recorded shortly before Gowen's death due to leukemia. A Canterbury supergroup: half Gilgamesh (Gowen, Tomkins) and half Hatfield and The North (Miller, Sinclair). |
9:16 AM |
Set Break:
over “Inner Temple” by Gong
| |
9:19 AM |
| Phil Miller Dada Soul Split Seconds Reckless Records Ltd 1988 Phil Miller (1949-2017), was a self-taught musician. Guitarist for Delivery, Matching Mole, Hatfield and The North, and National Health. Later, he was a member of Short Wave, and In Cahoots. Besides Phil Miller, this track has Dave Stewart (keyboards, drum programming), Richard Sinclair (bass, vocals), along with Barbara Gaskin (vocals). |
9:23 AM |
| Pip Pyle Once Around the Shelves 7 Year Itch Floating World 2011 Pip Pyle was a renowned drummer from The Canterbury Scene. Highly prolific, involved with dozens of bands from the late '60s until 2006 when he died, during tour, from heart-attack. Among other groups, he was with Delivery, Gong, Hatfield and The North, National Health, and Soft Heap. The tracks on this solo release feature many combinations of all his old friends. |
9:27 AM |
| Camel Metrognome Rain Dances Decca Music Group Ltd. 1977 Camel is usually classified as a Symphonic Prog band, but during 1977-78 they were joined by Richard Sinclair (bass/vocals) who added his distinctive Canterbury style on two LPs. Time on your hands, You do it all the day Shuffle your feet, and turn on the news To hear what they might say. They made a machine, a new fangled device. They're lighting the fuse, There's no need to worry, Your world will be alright. Time for a smoke, a pint and a joke. You muddle on through, Silently screaming "What can I do?" Till time trips you out, slogging about Blows you away, High as a kite on a windy day. |
9:31 AM |
| Jakko M. Jakszyk Catley's Ashes The Bruised Romantic Glee Club Panegyric 2009 Jakko Jakszyk was born in London, and since 2013 has been the lead singer for King Crimson. However, through his collaborations with Dave Stewart, Peter Blegvad, John Greaves and Pip Pyle, he has become an honorary member of the Canterbury 'family'. "Catley" was his wife's cat. |
9:37 AM |
| Quiet Sun Sol Caliente Mainstream Blue Pie 2011 A side project for Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music), Canterbury connected members included Bill McCormick (Matching Mole), and Charles Hayward (future Gong member). Quiet Sun existed in two phases:the original band formed in 1969, disbanded after Phil Manzanera joined Roxy Music, and then again in 1975 they reformed specially to record the music they had originally composed 5 years earlier. |
9:45 AM |
Set Break:
over “ Tenemos Roads (excerpt)” by National Health
Here are two good resources to explore the Canterbury Scene. | |
9:49 AM |
| The Boot Lagoon An Odd Owl The Boot Lagoon - EP Dawn Chorus Recording Company 2022 Hailing from Canterbury, Kent, The Boot Lagoon proudly carries on the tradition of Canterbury acts such as Caravan and Hatfield and The North with their eclectic, jazzy, whimsical sound. Their debut EP, simply called The Boot Lagoon, was released in February 2012. |
9:53 AM |
| Zopp Before the Light Zopp Bad Elephant Music 2020 Zopp was created by composer and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Stevenson, with collaborations from Andy Tillson of The Tangent and drummer Andrea Moneta of Leviathan. The sound of the debut record (from 2020!) is based upon vintage fuzz organ (so typical of the Canterbury sound) that weave with complex time signature changes, and catchy melodies with ambient keyboard interludes. (It wouldn't be Canterbury without that teapot...) |