The blog of author Dennis Cooper

Gig #4: Soft Machine, Quatermass, Magma, King Crimson, Atomic Rooster, Henry Cow, Gentle Giant, P. Floyd, Can, ELP, Camel, Amon Duul, Genesis, Family

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genesis_petergabriel_live

‘Prog Rock is a style of rock music originating in the 1970s as part of a mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility. It is characterized by large-scale compositions, often on epic themes, in which musicians display instrumental virtuosity. John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just “succeed the pop of the 1960s as much as take its rightful place beside the modern classical music of Stravinsky and Bartók.” It’s strange now to imagine that the weird, pretentious music could ever have been so popular. Yet it was, and bands such as Muse and Radiohead carry the torch, and James Cameron’s sci-fi epic Avatar was one long tribute to prog cover art. Prog Rock is thought by some to be the final evolution of Rock music, using over-the-top insane musical composition and impossible-to-understand lyrics about moonchildren, tales from topographic oceans or “man-ergs”. Supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer were prog’s biggest stars, selling tens of millions of albums. They also became a byword for onstage excesses that included an entire orchestra, a piano that whirled through the air, a two-and-a-half ton stainless-steel drum kit and a revolving drum riser. The band Yes was nearly as popular as ELP, and provided what is generally considered to be Prog’s nadir moment or death knell when ex-Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman, flush from the success of his concept album Journey to the Centre of the Earth, decided to go one better. For 1975’s The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, he put on three performances at Wembley Arena – on ice. It was seen as the apex of prog silliness, but the album sold many millions of copies. “There are people who think the film This Is Spinal Tap is simply a very funny ‘mockumentary’,” Wakeman said in later years. “Well, with Yes we lived it.” Bruce Eder claims that “the rot” in progressive rock “started to set in during 1976. He claims that “the end [of progressive rock] came quickly: by 1977, the new generation of listeners was even more interested in a good time than the audiences of the early 1970s, and they had no patience for 30 minute prog-rock suites or concept albums based on Tolkien-esque stories.”‘ — collaged from various sources

 

 

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Soft Machine were formed in mid-1966 by Robert Wyatt (drums, vocals), Kevin Ayers (bass, guitar, vocals), Daevid Allen (guitar) and Mike Ratledge (organ). Named after the book The Soft Machine by William S. Burroughs, they were one of the central bands in the Canterbury scene, and helped pioneer the progressive rock genre. Though they achieved little commercial success, they are considered by Allmusic to be “one of the more influential bands of their era, and certainly one of the most influential underground ones.”‘ — Wiki

Soft Machine ‘Moon in June’ (1969)

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Quatermass was a British progressive rock band formed in London, England in September 1969. The trio consisted of bass player and vocalist John Gustafson, keyboardist Peter Robinson, and Mick Underwood on drums. Their first and only album sold itself through “…compactness, wealth of ideas, forceful lead vocals and complicated arrangements, enriched by pianist Robinson’s tasteful use of classical strings which are on display along with spacious keyboard passages. Major commercial success eluded the band throughout its brief duration.’ — carolhynson.co.uk

Quatermass ‘Laughin’ Tackle’ (1970)

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Magma is a concept band whose albums explain the origins and development of the new civilization on Kobaia, and their interactions with the people of Earth and other planets. All of their lyrics are sung in the language of the new civilization, ‘Kobaian.’ As one might expect, the music from Kobaia several hundred years from now is very unlike what we are accustomed to on twentieth century planet earth. Led by drummer Christian Vander, Magma began in the final months of the sixties in France, pretty much apart from the underground music scene of the times. In fact most of the original members had worked in other rock and jazz groups before, although without much notoriety.’ — furious.com

Magma ‘Discorama’ (1970)

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King Crimson may be the only commercially important prog rock band to blend dazzling musicianship with real artistic integrity. From the start a vehicle for guitar virtuoso/avant garde mastermind Robert Fripp, they have a long and complicated history of lineup changes, breakups, and shifts in style. But in every period they’ve managed to come up with at least one great record, and they’ve never either sold out like ELP, or bogged themselves down in pompous self-indulgence like Yes. Unfortunately, Fripp’s experimental edge has resulted in quite a few misfires. You’ll have to dig carefully for the few Crimson albums that stay on track with crafted songwriting and economical arrangements.’ — warr.org

King Crimson ‘Larks Tongues in Aspic’ (1974)

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‘I know it’s hard to believe, but once upon a time the band that goes by the clumsy-but-cool name of Atomic Rooster were really BIG. Well, not as BIG as the BIGGIES of the time (the time: early Seventies), but definitely bigger than they are today, MUCH bigger considering that today they’re hardly known to anybody at all. Nowadays, when we say something like “Carl Palmer joined ELP after leaving Atomic Rooster”, it might not mean anything; back then, it was a typical indication of the fact that ELP were going to be a real supergroup. However, they were really only big in the UK, and even then, only for about a year and a half. Verdict: this brief stint of popularity was well-deserved, the disappearance from the musical horizons was well-deserved as well, yet this does not warrant our forgetting the band at all.’ — starling.rinet.ru

Atomic Rooster ‘A Spoonful of Bromide Helps The Pulse Rate Go Down’ (1972)

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Henry Cow were an English avant-rock group, founded at Cambridge University in 1968 by multi-instrumentalists Fred Frith and Tim Hodgkinson. Henry Cow’s personnel fluctuated over their decade together, but drummer Chris Cutler and bassoonist/oboist Lindsay Cooper were important long-term members alongside Frith and Hodgkinson. An inherent anti-commercial attitude kept them at arm’s length from the mainstream music business, enabling them to experiment at will. Critic Myles Boisen[1] writes, “their sound was so mercurial and daring that they had few imitators, even though they inspired many on both sides of the Atlantic with a blend of spontaneity, intricate structures, philosophy, and humor that has endured and transcended the ‘progressive’ tag.”‘ — thisislike.com

Henry Cow ‘Beautiful as the Moon’ (1976)

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‘Formed on the late 60’s by the Shulmman brothers, GENTLE GIANT is known as the paradigmatic progressive rock band. With an uncomparable musicianship, they went as far as no one ever did into unexplored grounds in the progressive music, navigating over dissonant 20th-century classical chamber music, medieval vocal music, jazz and rock. They explored Moogs, Mellotrons and Fender Rhodes usage with such majesty! Not to mention other instruments like oboes, violins, cellos and horns among others.’ — progarchives.com

Gentle Giant ‘So Sincere’ (1974)

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‘The band that eventually became known as Pink Floyd started by performing covers of American R&B; songs. When Syd Barrett joined the group in 1965 he began writing most of the band’s songs, and moved the group into the burgeoning psychedelic rock movement. Surreal lyrics and experimental electronic effects established the band as the British epicenter of psych rock. After two albums, Barrett self-destructed due to mental instability aggravated by drug use. He was replaced by David Gilmour in 1968. The band continued to expreriment, increasingly incorporating classical and jazz influences into their music.’ — classicrock.com

Pink Floyd ‘Careful With That Axe Eugene’ (1973)

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Can was an experimental rock band formed in Cologne, West Germany in 1968. Later labeled as one of the first “krautrock” groups, they transcended mainstream influences and incorporated strong minimalist and world music elements into their often psychedelic progressive music. Can constructed their music largely through collective spontaneous composition –– which the band differentiated from improvisation in the jazz sense –– sampling themselves in the studio and editing down the results; bassist/chief engineer Holger Czukay referred to Can’s live and studio performances as “instant compositions”.’ — spoonrecords.com

Can ‘Spoon’ (1974)

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‘Like most Progressive Rock bands, ELP were heavily and mercilessly criticized by some music critics. Critics frequently lambasted the band as pretentious, not without some validity. However, the particularly venomous criticism itself frequently approached the overreaching self-importance that the critics so despised in the band. One critic asking, “how do you spell pretentious? Emerson, Lake, And Palmer?” typifies the reaction of a critic. With an even more cruel take on ELP, even going on to insult the group’s sizeable fan base, Robert Christgau said of the band “these guys are as stupid as their most pretentious fans”. Christgau also called ELP the “world’s most overweening ‘progressive’ group”.’ — Wiki

Emerson Lake & Palmer ‘Knife Edge’ (1970)

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‘In August 1972 Camel signed with MCA Records and their eponymous debut album was released six months later. The record was not a success and the band moved to the Deram Records division of Decca Records (UK). In 1974 they released their second album, the critically acclaimed Mirage on which Latimer showed he was adept on flute. Although failing to chart at home, it gained success on the U.S. west coast, prompting a three month tour there. Released in 1975, the instrumental, orchestrated concept album Music Inspired by The Snow Goose, had been inspired by the Paul Gallico short story of the same name. This was the breakthrough album that brought Camel wider attention, but not without controversy. Gallico, who loathed smoking, thought the band were related to the cigarette brand and threatened to take legal action. Camel avoided this by adding the prefix ‘Music inspired by…’ to the album’s cover. The album’s success led to a prestigious sell out concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London, with the London Symphony Orchestra in October 1975.’ — camelproductions.com

Camel ‘Never Let Go’ (1973)

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Amon Duul emerged from the radical West German commune scene of the late 1960s, with others in the same commune including the future founders of the Red Army Faction. Founding members are Chris Karrer, Dieter Serfas, Falk Rogner, John Weinzierl and Renate Knaup. The band was founded after Weinzierl and the others met at the Amon Düül “art commune” in Munich. The commune consisted mainly of university students, who formed a music group initially to fund the commune, with initially everyone who lived there joining in to play music whether or not they had any experience or ability. The commune split when they were offered an opportunity to record, which was boycotted by the more musically proficient members of the commune (who went on to form Amon Düül II). Recordings were made by the other members but were of very poor quality and were only released later (under the name Amon Düül) to capitalise on the success of ADII’s albums. As Amon Düül II grew and personnel changed they still remained a commune, living together as a band.’ — last.fm

Amon Duul II ‘Phalus Dei Part 2’ (1970)

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Genesis began as a 1960s pop band. During the 1970s, they evolved into a progressive rock band, incorporating complex song structures and elaborate instrumentation, while their concerts became theatrical experiences with innovative stage design, pyrotechnics, elaborate costumes and on-stage stories. This second phase was characterised by lengthy performances such as the 23 minute “Supper’s Ready” and the 1974 concept album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.’ — genesis-music.com

Genesis ‘The Musical Box’ (1972)

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Family were an English rock band that formed in Late 1966 and disbanded in October 1973. Their style has been characterised as progressive rock, although their sound often explores other genres, incorporating elements of such styles as folk, psychedelia, acid, jazz fusion and basic rock and roll. The band achieved recognition in the United Kingdom, through their albums and appearing at festivals, but were unable to attract the same level of attention in USA. The band’s rotating membership throughout its relatively short existence led to a diversity in sound throughout their different albums. Family are also often seen as an unjustly forgotten act, when compared with other bands from the same period and have been described as an “odd band loved by a small but rabid group of fans”.’ — MusicBrainz.com

Family ‘In My Own Time’ (1970)

More

Todd Rundgren’s Utopia ‘Seven Rays’ (1978)

Hawkwind ‘We Took the Wrong Steps Years Ago’ (1971)

Jethro Tull ‘Thick as a Brick’ (partial, 1978)

The Trip ‘Caronte’ (1971)

Gong ‘Fohat digs holes in space’ (1971)

Rush ‘Bastille Day’ (1976)

Van Der Graaf Generator ‘Lost’ (1974)

Yes ‘Roundabout’ (1973)

Eloy ‘Decay of Logos’ (1971)

Procol Harum ‘Repent Walpurgis’ (1971)

Manakin ‘Something is Locked Inside of my Soul’ (1978)

Moody Blues ‘Gypsy’ (1970)

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p.s. RIP: Paul Violi. Hey. ** Math, Super interesting. Kind of what I had guessed but much more complicated and fascinatingly rendered and revised. Was the piece interesting enough for you as a writer to continue down that course in some way? You certainly don’t need to since your own pure voice is great, but you know how I love experimenting with my voice to get it shifted, so I guess I wondered. Anyway, I’m obviously really glad the workshop paid off for you. It was obviously a great thing for us, and it’s echoing through the thinking and comments very interestingly too. Thank you a whole bunch, pal. ** Oscar B, It’s true. It’s all true. Later, nachos, etc., babes. ** Pascal, Yeah, the Aprilness is quite pleasant here too. That kind of deliciously neither here nor there thing is in the air. ** Jax, Hey. Glad you liked the pix. Actually, the Museo Galileo was one of the total highlights. Great museum, well worth a visit if you get to Firenze. Me too: sometimes discarded pieces that didn’t quite work when I was going for something in particular will suddenly perk up when I’m free of that something in particular as my goal. Plus, I’m the kind of writer who likes and maybe needs to be working on something to feel content. And having something in progress always really helps when you have a book coming out and are about to face that whole initially scary and usually disappointing experience when the first judgements start flying around. The Radio Lab thing sounds to have been totally great. Yeah, the co-mingling in a quality way with other artists is really heady, and, sure, the theater work brings that up. I really hope the thing in London is as rich if not more. Let me know. Man, as I keep saying, it’s such a joy to get to experience second hard the kind of renaissance of your writing and love of writing. It’s beautiful. Yury’s better. The doctor said it was an allergic reaction, probably to pollen. ** David Ehrenstein, Yeah, the Trevi Fountain was insanely mobbed. By far the most mobbed attraction we saw on our whole trip. Weird. ** FreeFox, Oh, ha ha, yeah, normal vacation. Or normal vacation surroundings, at least. The head is where the real, abnormal stuff happens, and I guess it can accommodate almost accompaniment. No, I never think about my, whatever, image or whatever public perception there is of me, although I did stick those pix of the serial killer museum in because I thought it would be kind cliched/funny. In truth, we didn’t even go in, just cruised the lobby. ** Pilgarlic, Hey, man! I’m so sorry to hear you’ve been ill. I had pneumonia once, and it was really taxing and strange. But you’re on the total mend, yes? Sorry about Blogger’s bad behavior. It can be such a jerk. So, have you been pretty much down and out while I was away? All the best of the best to you. ** Sypha, Hi, James. Yeah, I agree that pushing obsessions aside is a real good idea ‘cos, for one thing, if they come back, you know they’re somehow important to you. Avoid that stomach flu if at all possible, ugh. But that’s really good news about the future hanging out with that guy. Soon, I hope? Nice development, for sure. ** Alan, Cool. ** David, I heard ‘The Black Dahlia’ was basically a miss. I wonder what happened to DePalma. He used to be fairly usually worth seeing for one reason or another. I think the last film of his I liked more than didn’t was ‘Snake Eyes’, and even there the good had almost only to do with his crazy camera pans. ** Steevee, That’s a shame about the Burzum. The last one kind of never really took much hold of me either in the long run. ** Hyrule Dungeon, Hm, good question. The law of averages? More centuries of weird stuff available to mine? ** The Dreadful Flying Glove, Hey. So I did an old prog day. Whim, I think. Any thoughts? I think my favorites are the stuff that got tagged prog by proxy. The German stuff, Soft Machine, Family. But some of the pomposity is interesting. And some of the detailing like in K. Crimson. Putting it together was interesting. Peter Gabriel was such a dweeb back then. Etc. The Guess Who … hunh. When I was in this kind of heavy ‘power pop’ fascination phase in the 70s, I remember thinking that they were more interesting than people who only knew the hits thought. ‘The Cutter’ is a great song. For me, ‘Heaven Up Here’ is their masterpiece. It’s still in my top ten favorite all-time albums after all the years. Funny Burzum prank piece. The gay thing was a little heavy handed though to me. Pulled me out of it. ** Christopher/Mark, Aw, thank you. That’s really a high compliment, given the wonderment of your eye and art. Love to you too. ** Casey McKinney, Hi, Casey. Oh, I don’t have any set summer plans, I don’t think. Or not lengthily away ones. So maybe let me know a general idea of your window of travel, and it’ll most likely be just fine on my end. That URL, sure, hold on … This is it. The review of the review being written incrementally. You’ll see. Sure, I’ll ask aloud about the Wallace review. Everyone, the honorable Casey McKinney is seeking someone who would be interested in reviewing David Foster Wallace’s ‘The Pale King’ for the great Fanzine site, and he thought one of you amazing people might be game. Are you? I guess if you are, either say so in the comments or contact Casey through Fanzine. Awesome opportunity, guys. Thanks for asking if I’m interested. I think I’m too far away from my journalism side and rusty to take on a major thing like that novel. Love, me. ** Inthemostpeculiarway, The face fountain weirded me out too. That’s why I included it even though there’s a lens flare on the picture. No, being close to the friends limit on Facebook is just annoying, really. I mean, yeah, it’s definitely cool that 5000 people want to be my friend, of course. I always think it’s strange that people get their nails done, but, mm, why not, I guess, and it’s really not that strange. Nail polish smells good. I didn’t know or at least remember if you told me that the barista is all into the Bible and stuff. That’s sad. I mean that he’s so into it that he wants to spread the wisdom or whatever. I guess there’s something innocent about it that’s sweet. But I also think, oh, the poor thing. Hm. Your mention of the dollar store made me realize that I don’t think there are dollar — or I guess euro — stores here in Paris. I wonder why. My day: Let’s see … Oh, Kiddiepunk and Oscar B and I went to see the Stanley Kubrick exhibition at the Cinematheque Francais. It was pretty cool with props from the movies and behind the scenes stuff and period reviews and kind of what you’d expect. Like the monkey suits from 2001 and the axe and typewriter from The Shining and so on. It was worth pushing through the big crowds. This guy who interviewed me once happened to be there, and he asked me if I was me, and I said yes, and he gave me a new book he edited called ‘Mondo Movies et Films de Cannibales’. It’s in French, but it has lots of pictures, so it’s cool to have. Gisele called to ask if I want to go see the great Japanese experimental music artist Ryoji Ikeda play on Friday with her and Stephen, and I said yes. My agent wrote to say that the UK-based magazine Love, which is a Conde Nast/Vogue spin-off fashion/style thing, wants to a big piece on me, and was I okay with doing that, and I said sure. I wrote a bit on that fiction thing I mentioned. I thought I had missed the finale of that French Top Chef show that I’m kind of addicted to while I was away, but it was on last night, so I watched it. My favorite, Pierre Sang, who was the most adventurous contestant, got voted off first, and it was only Fanny, whose food making skills weren’t that interesting, and Stephanie, who it seemed like would win from the beginning because everything she makes is really conservative, going head and to head, and, yep, Stephanie won, and that was kind of a boring conclusion. Then I slept. I also ate and smoked and showered and stuff during the day, of course. So, I think that was it. And your Tuesday, please? ** Paul Curran, Thanks, Paul. You should go to Venice. Venice is amazing and insane. You would have never found your brother there. It’s such a maze. Ongoing best possibly thoughts and vibes on your strengthening. ** Misanthrope, I like the sound of that Wrestlemania. It had a classic WWE quality. Yeah, I think bands run by a single talent that go democratic in order to satisfy the members’ egos rarely ever succeed. But sometimes, I guess. But I guess I’m mostly thinking of bands whose main songwriter quits or dies or something and then it turns out there was another pretty big talent lurking in the group. Like, oh, Joy Division/New Order. Or, even though I’m not a big fan, Depeche Mode only got more successful after Vince Clarke quit. And I guess there are others. It’s a fine line, like you said. I mean, being different is always better than being stagnant. But sometimes it’s better to go defunct than go either of those routes. But I guess it’s hard to know when you’re stagnant if you’re making lots of money doing what you do. Or something. Hm. ** Okay, I thought I’d dredge the 70s prog rock genre up from the mostly dead on behalf of a post and see what happened. So, what happened? I guess I’ll see tomorrow when I see you.

36 Comments

  1. DavidEhrenstein

    Great Prog-O-Rama today.

  2. Nick

    awesome. you should check out Fifty Foot Hose and Os Mutantes… they pre-date the "big" prog rock years of the 70s, but they're in a similar mold.

  3. Pilgarlic

    Yeah, pretty much, your whole vacation I was ill. I tried to do some writing, but, it was just too taxing.
    Funny how Charles Manson was included in the serial killer musuem. He tends to get lumped in with that bunch even though he wasn't a serial killer. He wasn't even a spree killer when one considers that he didn't do any of the killing. I guess his crazy stare plays well, wherever, yanno.
    Regarding Atomic Rooster, their records sure were different from that single "Love Machine" (?). By chance I met Billy Payne of Little Feat down at a music festival, in Florida, and, after some various pleasantries, appros of nothing, I accused him of playing piano on Atomic Rooster's "Love Machine".He laughed, but, he quit talking to me after that.

  4. James Greer

    I think I can safely say on his behalf say that if Bob Pollard knew how to use the internet this would be his favorite post ever of all time. I know it's one of mine.

    For anyone interested, I am back on the Facebook, but the Facebook seems to think I am a spam bot and will not allow me to issue friend requests. You can send me one though.

    I am also learning the Twitter: @NoOnhava.

    Casey: I will happily review The Pale King for you. I'll contact you through The Fanzine or you can contact me at sybillineATmacDOTcom.

  5. MANCY

    Nice post, haven't listened to this kind of shit lately, maybe time to revisit. I love Can! and Magma, Amon Dull II…I don't know Family…good album to start with?
    Doesn't look like France is in the cards for me this summer, unfortunately… too bad. Haven't completely given up, but seeming to be a bad financial move, etc.

  6. Sypha

    Awesome day Dennis. As you know, I kind of grew up listening to prog rock because my parents were really into bands like ELP, Yes, King Crimson and that sort of thing. So I've always had a nostalgic soft spot for the style, even though I'm aware how uncool it is. Not too long ago I got deluxe editions of the early Yes albums and I liked most of it… but then again, I've always liked their album cover art. Ditto for ELP: love the H.R. Giger cover art for "Brain Salad Surgery," and when I was a kid I was utterly fascinated with the album artwork for "Tarkus" and all the mythology behind it. I've always wanted to listen to Magma, as both William Bennett and Philip Best list it as one of their favorite bands.

    Dennis, have you ever read "Dhalgren?" I've been reading it for five days now and am about 25% done, which means I have like 600 pages to go. I'm really enjoying it but it's very draining. At the same time I'm also reading Salinger's "Franny and Zooey," mainly to see how it inspired "The Royal Tenenbaums."

  7. steevee

    I'm disappointed you relegated Van der Graaf Generator, my favorite prog band (and John Lydon's), to a footnote.

  8. davidpeak

    So happy to see this post. I absolutely love prog.

    This was a great treat.

    My gift to you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6K9F_-RhQQ

  9. tender prey

    I really like the Argento / Gallo-ish soundtracky feel of that Quatermass track… like that one a lot actually. Was Goblin a conscious omission from this list?
    I don't really know much about prog at all – aside from Can, Krautrock and Goblin,so this was really enjoyable. Not had time to listen to it all yet but I really enjoy the King Crimson and Soft Machine clips musically.
    But that ELP clip – jeez, now I understand…
    I guess there's an obvious symmetry between Prog and Post-Rock – have we had a Post Rock day?

  10. alan

    Paul Curran / Bill, That was beautiful.

  11. steevee

    It's not prog, but I'm impressed by the recent collection of unreleased '80s tracks by the Chicago house duo Virgo Four, RESURRECTION. Recorded on four-track with cheap drum machines and analog synthesizers, it recalls the second Suicide album and Throbbing Gristle's 20 JAZZ FUNK GREATS. RESURRECTION is never exactly abrasive, but it's hazy and druggy in a way that feels surprisingly modern, with synthesizers and vocals mixed way below the drum machine.

  12. DavidEhrenstein

    Dhalgren is an Absolute Masterpiece! I place it right up there with A la recherche du temps perdu, The Recognitions, The Man Without Qualities, Two Serious Ladies and My Loose Thread.

    Manson belongs with the serial killers. While he didn't participate in the Tate-LaBianca killings (which he ordered) he killed a number of people himself before that.

  13. DavidEhrenstein

    I don't see any connection between Franny and Zooey and The Royal Tenenbaums. Wes Anderson has a teriffic sense of humor. Jerry Salinger had none whatsoever.

  14. DavidEhrenstein

    Absolute Proof of Wes Anderson's Awesomeness

    The Royal Tenebaums is a very presice picture of an upper West Side New York intellectual family. In fact I knew one in the early sixties who lived in a house PRECISELY like the Tenenbaums (a chapter of my memoir Raised By Hand Puppets is devoted to them.) When I met Wes I told him about them — noting that the events I was discussing took place years before he was born!

  15. Christopher/Mark

    I remember several of those groups, but I'd almost forgotten "Henry Cow" at Cambridge – and now remember the people more than the music.

  16. allesfliesst

    thanks for the info on red pilot, dennis. i was quite interested in laibach and their weird "new slovenian art" projects in the 80s for a while. 'nova akropola' even was a good album. i couldn't find pictures or descriptions of that particular perfomance on the net, but there seem to be some books about their stuff and i hope i'll find something there. and i enjoyed yesterday's rome photo show very much. almost as good as being there.

  17. the Dreadful Flying Glove

    Hey Dennis,

    What a treat! Isn't it weird how Peter Gabriel did all that wack stuff with Genesis, leaves, and after about nine months puts out an album that's wall-to-wall amazing songs? I dunno, I think he's one of the good guys.

    I love the adventuring spirit of prog. My sympathies always wax toward the people who don't always sound like they know what they're doing. ELP always sound like they know what they're doing, they just don't sound very interested in it. Whereas the Softs or Van der Graaf Generator or Magma don't, but they're completely fucking going for it nonetheless. Gong made gorgeous records. God knows how, they sound so fucked-up, but "Camembert Electrique" never leaves my mp3 player.

    I adore King Crimson. All the iterations of that band compel me. Heard ITCOTCK when I was 13, scared the life out of me, kept me listening. Live recordings of that band in the 70s, around the time of 'Starless' and 'Red' … wow. Great songs, mainly, and a really threatening force as an improvising band. Aspirational listening, for me.

    The Sensational Alex Harvey Band were blistering, scary, sort of glam but not really, with a singer who made Alice Cooper look like the Singing Nun. "Tomorrrow Belongs To Me" has an eight-minute tune called 'The Ballad Of The Giant Stone-Eater' that almost appears to be a prog pisstake, but it's still just fucking fantastic.

    I also have a copy of that Rick Wakeman album, the King Arthur one. I even have the 12"x12" booklet done out like an illuminated manuscript. (A friend of my mum's divorced her husband and gave an 8-year-old me his record collection.) Four out of the seven tracks are actually pretty lovely. Two of the remaining three are some of the most unbearable music I've ever heard. But the lyrics are entertainingly awful. I like Rick Wakeman. Guy has a keen sense of humour, and he didn't steal nearly as many melodies as Keith Emerson did.

    I always used to hate the Moody Blues. But I went to see them last year with my Mum and we had a great time. Disarmingly open-hearted songs, knocked just a little off-centre. I feel very fond towards them now.

  18. the Dreadful Flying Glove

    Sypha, if you want to start with Magma – and I did because of William, and I think you should – then I recommend you begin with 'Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh', and then 'Köhntarkösz'. 'MDK' is a headlong hurtling thing, 'K' is more contemplative and restless and unsettling. Good one to combine with a heavy head cold in the middle of winter, I found.

  19. the Dreadful Flying Glove

    Hyrule Dungeon (from yesterday), yo! My favourite Ballard pieces are predominantly his short stories, which settle in the mind like toxic debt. 'The Atrocity Exhibition', 'Vermilion Sands', 'The Four-Dimensional Nightmare' … I'd call those definitive. Among the novels, I especially enjoyed 'Concrete Island' and 'The Unlimited Dream Company'.

  20. DavidEhrenstein

    Among Ballard's short pieces my fave is "Why I Want To Fuck Ronald Reagan."

  21. steevee

    My interview with Werner Herzog fell through. I'm really bummed, especially because the blog I was conducting it for also turned down my pitch to just review CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS. He's prolific enough that I hope to have the chance to interview him someday.

    I gained a pound last week. That's not helping my mood. That said, it's probably water weight, and I hope I can lose it – and some more – next week. It was probably unrealistic to think I could go on losing 2 or 3 pounds a week.

    Anyway, I'm interviewing James Marsh tomorrow afternoon.

  22. Paul Curran

    Great Day, Dennis. Maybe prog rock started to die when Hawkwind kicked out Lemmy. I could to with an orgone accumulator!

    Thanks, Alan. Bill did all the work, from the text.

  23. math

    my tastes are too narrow for most of this music but i always love a good gig on the blog, great

    Dennis- yea, really excellent, thank you again. the thing about that voice is that is has a self generative engine that requires almost no actual content so i could write in it forever. you, kiddiepunk, allesfliesst, and others who mentioned song describe very closely my experience of it, it feels like writing lyrics where it doesn't matter if you want to say 'less from' or 'for to being' or 'trading spaces show' or whatever. it gets read as a machine/translation thing but writing it is the openness of this endless song. i can keep going, yea, i guess the question is where to stop? we'll see? i'm going to try to guide it towards an increasing concreteness via the subject matter and see if that can create something narrative in it.

    2 Adapter [a selection process]
    3 Ranger [leisure]


    1 Decorator revised [retroactive creation of an original thing]
    -changes made thx to workshop
    *'impress cocktail party guests' replaced w romantic thruline
    *pushier 'wasting time'
    *'word'/'world' joke made more explicit
    *general tightening

    thanks again, everyone! gonna keep writing tonite and do my laundry and clean my room and make tortillas and iced tea.

    xxmath+

  24. Jonny Liron

    Hey Dennis, Hello! Long time no speak, how's it all going?

    Yeah, really sad to here about Paul Violi, I heard about it through the Uk poets list, I've read barely any of his stuff, but what I've seen looks terrific. It's a shame to start getting to know a poets work through hearing that they've died, and of course a terrible shame in itself that he died.

    Anyway other than that things are really bright here in London, lot's of great stuff happening. I've been hanging out at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, lots of great films.

    I thought Bruce la Bruce's L.A Zombie was terrific, audaciously tender and complicated, I guess you've seen it, you were in that film with Francois Sagat weren't you, that looks amazing, didn't get to see it though which was really stupid of me. Didn't click that it was 'that' film until well after the credits, which I didn't see, had rolled.

    Also saw a great documentary called 'Mutantes' about Punk Porn Feminism, a great kaleidoscopic frame through which to look at feminist porn subculture and then trans sub culture, terrific stuff.

    I'm gonna be in Paris as well in June I think, for a kind of what do you call thems, symposiums I guess, a symposium on British Modern Poetry, so if you're around it would be great to hang out if that's possible…

    Also, quick question, don't know if he's ever featured here but have you read much John Weiners? Just wandering what you think about him?

    Anyway, hello again, hello everyone, see you soon.
    love
    J

  25. James

    Dennis,

    Thank you for posting the Italian vacation pics, that was quite nice of you. Seems like there are so many things to do there, so much history and so much culture… it makes America look really small, historyless, and inconsequential.

    It was nice to see Peter Gabriel's dolled-up face on your blog today. "I lost my rock and roll virginity to Peter Gabriel that day…" (Distemper, pg. 226). Dennis, I basically lost my virginity to Peter Gabriel when I was 12 yrs. old, back in 1982, and that's all I'm gonna say, brother!

    On a sad, music-related note, it was seventeen years ago today that Kurt Cobain ended some serious pain… Did anyone seem to take notice there in Paris, Dennis? Or is KC pretty much on the back burner there in the City of Lights?

    Regarding Casey's request, I don't have the professional credentials to review The Pale King for Casey, I mean, I'm no Michiko Kakutani, ha ha, but, oddly enough, I posted a few thoughts about David Foster Wallace on my blog last Sunday night, basically in support of The Pale King, and stating how all the DFW haters out there need to back off. I think it is super awesome that a new DFW novel will be dropped on us in less than two weeks' time. Dennis, you can check out my DFW-friendly post at:

    http://www.polaroidmind.blogspot.com

    If you want to direct you readers to it, feel free. I love DFW, and have absolutely no shame about it!

    Well Dennis, I hope this finds you and Yury well. Take care and happy Wednesday.

    Much love to you, Dennis.

    XOXO,
    James

  26. Sypha

    David E, wow, the only book I've read from those you listed is "My Loose Thread." Yeah, "Dhalgren" is really unique, I just wish it wasn't so long! But I guess I'll have a sense of accomplishment when I finish reading it. Anderson does have a great sense of humor, I agree. I think the Salinger link in regards to Tenenbaums is that both focus on a family of child prodigies who live in NYC. The obsessive attention to minor detail in "Zooey" also reminds me of Anderson's films.

    Dreadful Flying Glove, cheers for the recommendations. Also, re: Ballard, yeah I really dig his short stories, have read like 50 out of the 100 or so he did, whereas I've only read two of his novels (Atrocity Exhibition & Crash… both of which I really liked). I think he wrote too many novels for my tastes though. Kind of feel the same way about Ramsey Campbell, who I've read none of his novels at all… like his short stories though.

  27. inthemostpeculiarway

    Hey Dennis,

    Yeah, his Bible love is, well, not bad, I guess, but I don't know. Annoying is too insensitive but that's kind of what it was.

    The exhibition sounds cool, as does the book. Is it about Mondo films, like Mondo Cane?

    I hope Ryoji Ikeda is good.

    Oh, that's really cool about Love. And kind of cool for Yury, too, because of the fashion connection. Or at least I would think it would be, I could be wrong. Does Vogue or Love usually do pieces like that? I've actually never read an issue of Vogue so I don't know if they do or not.

    Oh, I hate whenever the boring people win, but in most reality shows it seems like that's usually what happens. It's safer, I think.

    My day sucked:

    Sleep.

    Wake up.

    Sleep.

    Wake up.

    Sleep.

    Wake up.

    Force myself to stay awake this time and realize after a while that breathing is kind of difficult. I tried to smoke anyway, and managed, of course, but I don't think it was really worth it.

    Finished Two Girls, Fat and Thin, finally. I did like it, but the closer I got to the end I thought 'surely this isn't what's going to happen', and then it did, so that kind of sucked. But it was nicely written so that was okay. I don't know, I think maybe Mary Gaitskill should stick to short stories, but I haven't finished Veronica for reasons unknown to me, and I do know that Two Girls is everybody's least favorite, so that was probably it.

    Looked up (yeah, no human contact today) various drugs to help improve my memory and found some but, of course, aren't sure how valid they are and the fact that I can BUY 50 ONLINE FOR ONLY $45! kind of worries me too.

    Got on Cinemageddon and downloaded (or tried to) a few things. Cinemageddon's a website full of wonderful movies, most of which I haven't seen, so I'm trying to get as much as possible before I'm kicked out again (you have to upload/seed things and I don't know how to do that). I'm currently downloading Bad, Valley of the Dolls (the 81 TV version), The Perfume of the Lady in Black, and Night of 1000 Cats, but for some reason I feel like some of them won't work, so that's going to be not great if that happens. They really do have an amazing collection, though.

    Watched Phantom of the Mall which was, oh, God. The Phantom wears half of a mannequin's face, a letterman jacket and fingerless gloves, flame throwers are conveniently located in storefront windows, a murderer is identified by an earring ("You might as well be wearing a stop sign, take it off!", "Over my dead body!"), a cobra lives in the sewers and the song at the end asks: "is he the phantom of the mall or some retard in a broken hockey mask?". I don't know, it was terrible, but it put me in a better mood after watching it, so that was good.

    Layed half on my bed and realized my breathing was fine now so I should be and ended up staring out the window at a tree across the street. A bunch of birds kept flocking to it and would disappear inside the leaves, and when the wind would blow the leaves around and make me think of those purses from the 60's (that's always what I think of, I need to think of something else) the birds would hop above the tree and then return. I don't know, either it was hypnotic or I just wanted to stare at something and that happened to be what I ended up looking at.

    Yeah, that's pretty much it. So, staring at birds was the high light of my day. I'm sorry. I just feel zapped or something. Tomorrow will be better. But how was today, Dennis?

  28. Misanthrope

    Manson was suspected of at least 35 murders, including his ordering of the Tate-LaBianca murders. He was also convicted of two other murders carried out by members of his Family. I always think of him more as a mass murderer or just plain murderer than a serial killer. But I think serial killer applies just as well.

    Steevee, Stick with it. Things like that happen. In the long run, the future losses will more than make up for this one little pound.

    Dennis, WWE is much more fun with fellas like The Rock in it. Stone Cold's back too. He's been on Raw a few times and was at Wrestlemania, where he delivered three Stone Cold Stunners to various people. He's now hosting another season of Tough Enough, where people train and compete to be the next WWE Superstar.

    Hmm, I guess it depends on the result, eh? And you don't know that till you're done and so much of it depends on the whimsical public/fans.

    I got a check today finally. So I'll be able to get to Luka's show in June. Not for a long spell, but I'll be there a few days. What's interesting is that they even paid me the money that's not outstanding and not due yet. Gotta get some brakes on my car first though.

    And I gotta look into the costliness of a trip overseas. 😀

  29. Killer Luka

    hello my love
    i have missed your.
    uh so update shite. been in a two month show here, then i got my Edie sculpture into an Andy Warhol themed ball that raises money for AIDS research. then my sculptures r in a show called "st. paul art crawl" where the public files into the studio/gallery thing for a weekend.
    Then June 2nd is my opening in NYC. with another person:http://www.anhoang.com/
    I get to rape the back room.
    My muse/assistant/mentee is staying with me the whole time. I emailed u the photoshoot I did with him, which i will not share here, duh, but i hope u saw it. if not, lemme know. u might die but probably not. half my show is based on him.
    then Georgie is coming and I have Nichosauce too. Ew. i hate boys.

    think of u often,
    satan

  30. Killer Luka

    ok here is a photo of him i took in march. like i said. muse.

  31. Killer Luka

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  32. Alter Clef Records

    Gabriel-era Genesis played at my dad's boarding school assembly hall when he was about fourteen – a warm-up gig for a local show. Full-on flower costume, fox's head, not sure about the testicular pus-bag onesy, I suspect it was pre-Lamb Lies Down On Broadway.

    Do you follow Wyatt's solo career Dennis? He's definitely for me one of the best things in the world, and his music moves me in such specific wondrous ways. Great lyricist too. I met him a couple of times when I lived back home, and we chatted about his recording with Bjork for 'Medulla'.

    Speaking of which, have you seen this: http://mif.co.uk/event/bjork-biophilia/

    Joe and I are going. And the day before we seeing the premiere of the Robert Wilson Marina Abramovich opera. Yikes!

    Also, I mentioned that Kiddiepunk and I are co-releasing a zine/CD edition of my new record 'A Day Without Comfort'. I'd like to ask if you'd be up for writing a prologue/foreword to the record. Naturally, I'll send you the CD and lyrics if you're into the idea. We had David Tibet write one for 'My Antique Son'. I'd be honoured indeed if you'd write one for this project, dear Signor Cooper.

    The Kiddiepunk/DeAlessi wedding is gonna be amazing.

    Love,

    Nicholas Jack Hudson Duul II.xoo

    PS. Tell me something about Donald Cammell…

  33. tender prey

    Paul Curran – I missed the link to your collab with Bill – where can I see it?

    Math – sorry to chip in late but I really enjoyed 'Decoraor' and the subsequent background story and elaboration has only made it more intriguing… looking forward to see how it develops –

    and Dennis – welcome back! Some great pics of statues yesterday, especially that sort of bandaged head…
    Will drop you an e-mail soon with some info…

  34. Killer Luka

    p. fuckin. s.
    the first photo u posted of italy: yuri wallpaper: the best.

  35. vergleichsportale versicherung

    LOVE this! we have so much in common. i love photography, too! i currently work in marketing!! i have a passion for fashion! i’m married to a john! WHY ARE WE NOT BFFs?! nice to “meet” you!

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