ahhh you are in for a treat with 'rock bottom'
― just another (diamonddave85), Sunday, 7 May 2017 04:52 (seven years ago) link
for whatever reason, 'reminds me of your rocky bottom' is the lyric from that album that sticks with me. the contrast between ones rough edges and the concept of hitting rock bottom are especially poignant to me i suppose
― just another (diamonddave85), Sunday, 7 May 2017 05:01 (seven years ago) link
I walked past him in Lincolnshire market town Louth (he lives there).
― djh, Sunday, 7 May 2017 08:30 (seven years ago) link
Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard: wheelchair rock, for cats who haven't bought enough records by handicapped people this week. From what I can tell, it set a new standard for wibbling British nonsense. It makes listening to Henry Cow records seem like an enjoyable experience. (Obviously it doesn't, I'm just exaggerating for effect.) You can guess how I feel about Soft Machine.― Otis Wheeler, Sunday, April 15, 2001 1:00 AM (sixteen years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
I'm sometimes taken aback by the shitheadery of old school ILX, but this takes the fucking biscuit. How insulting to Wyatt and his work to suggest people only buy his albums because he's disabled. Ridiculous.
― Pheeel, Sunday, 7 May 2017 11:53 (seven years ago) link
the good old days before ilx was mean
― in a soylent whey (wins), Sunday, 7 May 2017 11:54 (seven years ago) link
That TOTP clip is fairly infamous for the shitty way they treated Wyatt.
WYATT: The producer said, "l'm embarrassed by that wheelchair, it's not entertaining, can you go and sit in this wicker-work thing?" I told him to fuck off, and he said, "You will never work on this programme again" - but as I just told you, I am too posh to care, frankly. I mean, I can't wheel a wicker chair, and I need to be able to get out quick in case the cops are coming, for fuck's sake!
http://www.disco-robertwyatt.com/images/Robert/interviews/Uncut_feb_2014/index.htm
― Dan Worsley, Sunday, 7 May 2017 14:59 (seven years ago) link
I did order both Rock Bottom and Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard because of "I'm a Believer"
you are in for a treat! Rock Bottom is amazing.
Robert Wyatt obviously classic as fuck
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Sunday, 7 May 2017 18:12 (seven years ago) link
No love here for his (flop) follow up single?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhEeM5rBxJI
― Punnet of the Grapes (Tom D.), Sunday, 7 May 2017 18:16 (seven years ago) link
the two Matching Mole albums are also solid
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Sunday, 7 May 2017 18:17 (seven years ago) link
I really like the Drury lane set too. Though it does drop in sound quality towards the end.
Also really like the stuff he did in 1975 with Henry Cow which I think is mainly live.
Matching Mole is pretty essential definitely. Especially the 2cd versions that came out about 5 years ago.
― Stevolende, Sunday, 7 May 2017 18:52 (seven years ago) link
Don't know if anybody knows this but it's glorious...I could listen to it all day
https://www.reddit.com/r/progrockmusic/comments/4b7zkg/hatfield_and_the_north_rockenstock_french_tv_1973/
― X-Prince Protégé (sonnyboy), Sunday, 7 May 2017 20:11 (seven years ago) link
The Concert for Corbyn w/Paul Weller last December was widely heralded but I don't remember seeing a single review. There are one or two clips on YouTube, but little else.
― mahb, Wednesday, 10 May 2017 08:50 (seven years ago) link
i suspect it being about jeremy corbyn had something to do with its burial
― increasingly bonkers (rushomancy), Wednesday, 10 May 2017 13:48 (seven years ago) link
Mojo reviewed it.
― Mark G, Wednesday, 10 May 2017 14:37 (seven years ago) link
Mostly Daevid Allen...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wswhUGb1k6c
― Poisoned by Johan's pea soup. (Tom D.), Sunday, 20 May 2018 19:37 (six years ago) link
from Rolling Jazz---I mostly listened to these because of Wyatt (and Coyne):
Michael Mantler:The Hapless ChildWatt/4words by Edward Gorey(from 'Amphigorey')
Robert Wyatt (voice)Terje Rypdal (guitar)Carla Bley (piano, clavinet, synthesizer)Steve Swallow (bass)Jack DeJohnette (drums)
recorded July 1975 through January 1976Willow, NY, and EnglandA whirlwind right out of the gate, and I knew from later all-instrumental versions how strong some of these frameworks would be---did not expect the excellent and unusual studio effects on some of Wyatt's vocal turns---but eventually, when the words are more upfront, can seem overly emphatic---Gorey's dank little narratives work better with his spare, black white & grey drawings or etchings or whatever they be. Also, c'mon, it's Gorey---think I'll go on to the settings of Beckett and Pinter.
― dow, Thursday, May 17, 2018 9:18 PM (three days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
That is, the *overall* effect, the ensemble onslaught, not primarily Wyatt's vocals, can seem overly emphatic here.
― dow, Thursday, May 17, 2018 9:21 PM (three days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Mantler again: Silence(1976)---the overemphasis here is confined to some of MM's heavier handling of Pinter's words, and Chris Spedding's often repeated use of sustain etc., drawing a note out and curving it around 'til it's a needle in my earphones ---but it can hurt so good, and the voices are strong and distinctive, Carla Bley holding her on with Kevin Coyne and Robert Wyatt---and sometimes everybody follows Wyatt's dustdevil percussion, without ever missing their cues (it's a play with a small cast/combo, compressed, maybe condensed, into a single LP's worth of songs).
― dow, Friday, May 18, 2018 6:10 PM (two days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
The text itself may grow on me, but so far doesn't seem up to several Pinter plays I'm more familiar with, though Mantler can highlight the weak spots in his literary sources, maybe by blurring some of the plot points.
― dow, Friday, May 18, 2018
― dow, Sunday, 20 May 2018 21:14 (six years ago) link
Pretty sure I would have bought these in the 70s if had come across them (was mailorderphobic, opp extreme in 80s), and as a Wyatt fan would have been fairly satisfied.
― dow, Sunday, 20 May 2018 21:18 (six years ago) link
never even heard of these, thanks.
― akm, Sunday, 20 May 2018 21:58 (six years ago) link
wowowow this rules!!
― kurt schwitterz, Monday, 21 May 2018 20:11 (six years ago) link
That "Playa de Formentor" clip; wow, just wow! Thanks so much for that.
― stirmonster, Monday, 21 May 2018 21:34 (six years ago) link
Some atrocious acting from young Robert there, he looks at the camera, the last thing you should do as an extra. Daevid is good though.
― Poisoned by Johan's pea soup. (Tom D.), Monday, 21 May 2018 23:25 (six years ago) link
Yup, Daevid is good. Incredible seeing him so young with it all ahead of him.
― stirmonster, Monday, 21 May 2018 23:29 (six years ago) link
Talking of which, this is pretty nutty, though it would belong on a Daevid Allen thread, if such a thing existed...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpPfn2Dmcrw
― Poisoned by Johan's pea soup. (Tom D.), Monday, 21 May 2018 23:33 (six years ago) link
I hadn't seen that one either. Going by that and myriad other Daevid Allen TV appearances, French TV in the late 60s / early 70s was tres out there.
And yes, a scandal that there is no Daevid Allen thread.
― stirmonster, Tuesday, 22 May 2018 00:10 (six years ago) link
DIY
― dow, Tuesday, 22 May 2018 00:16 (six years ago) link
There are Gong threads.
― nickn, Tuesday, 22 May 2018 00:23 (six years ago) link
Another Mantler: MANY HAVE NO SPEECH WATT/19
words by Samuel Beckett Ernst Meister Philippe Soupault
Jack Bruce (voice) Marianne Faithfull (voice) Robert Wyatt (voice)
Michael Mantler (trumpet) Rick Fenn (guitar)
The Danish Radio Concert Orchestra conducted by Peder Kragerup
recorded May through December 1987 Copenhagen, London, Boston, Willow, NY 27 songs in 34 minutes: no sense of fragmentation, maybe in because I'm not following the words very closely, but on his site Mantler says they were chosen to fit together in several ways, and sonically they ripple back and forth (while somehow pushing on), between three languages and at least five voices, if you count the trumpet and guitar (singing behind/around the humans, never in the way), sixth is the orchestra far as I'm concerned, though it's never breathing too heavy.
Thread police may get me, because humans are heard pretty much in the order of their billing, I think, though some of these songs are just a few seconds long, and all three sound more flexible than expected.
But, for instance, "A L'Abattoir" will def make my personal travelling mix of RW, ditto "Prisonniers," which is either Wyatt and Bruce or Wyatt and Faithfull, or (more likely) Wyatt and Wyatt in different registers, maybe singing to each other through the wall (not too loud).
Pretty sure I would have liked all of this on first listen with no idea who did it.
― dow, Tuesday, 22 May 2018 04:31 (six years ago) link
"ILM Threads that need a NO CAUSE FOR ALARM warning when they are revived"
― mahb, Tuesday, 22 May 2018 08:33 (six years ago) link
The Hapless Child is pretty awesome and sui generis though i have kind of sited it in my head next to Art Bears
― cheese is the teacher, ham is the preacher (Jon not Jon), Tuesday, 22 May 2018 14:59 (six years ago) link
xp yes, seriously
most of my love for Hapless Child is cuz of Gorey, it's a bit too fussy and prog for me but it's a very cool record regardless and essential for even semi-completists
― sleeve, Tuesday, 22 May 2018 15:10 (six years ago) link
― mahb, Tuesday, 22 May 2018 08:33 (six hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Arr, but then again, I think our Rob would go straight to a dedicated RWRIP thread if there ever was one.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 22 May 2018 15:27 (six years ago) link
Really feeling The Hapless Child. Carla is a superstar on this.
― kurt schwitterz, Tuesday, 22 May 2018 16:33 (six years ago) link
Mantler's The School of Understanding (recorded in 1996) mainly features Wyatt on "Understanding," where he's the Guest Observer, riding into a language school on what might be a baby elephant or lofty llama, but is listed as Don Preston's syndrums, which I'd thought only made little pooty sounds, so even more education. Too baToo bad Wyatt and the syndrums only come in once, but the whole thing's pretty listenable; I especially like when other voices address the refugee student. Woman: "You are a victim, you have suffered so much---you must go." A guy: "What you have suffered is inconceivable." Meanwhile, Alien Girl remembers: "Don't think about it, go to work..it's a long walk through the war, bits and pieces." (Mantler wrote all the words for once, so far turning out at least as well as settings for his literary heroes.)
Digital drums appear once on Mantler's 2000 settings of Paul Auster's words,Hide and Seek (though tuned percussion brings constant and welcome companionship to co-stars RW and Susi Hyldgaard, compatible with Wyatt's own turns on xpost Silence---come to think of it, Preston's syndrums fit the feel of Wyatt's real kit of yore. This anomalous sound may be what's alarming the couple---he: "Have you, no-oh-ticed---?" she: "Yes! Yes! Yes!" "Have you any ideas?" "Yes, I'm going to scream." "When are you going to do it?" "Right Now!"That's when the whole thing bumps up the word interest, which had previously been mostly Deep Thought mulch for granular melody and rhythm, vocal and instrumental. The final stretch develops circular and spiraling conversations (briefly) from repeated phrases---he: "I don't denyyy..." she: "What?" "Anything." "That's very clever of you." "I'm glad we agree." together/overlapping "I'm glad you're glad." Ho-ho well it sounds good, and yeah several more keepers for the deep fan mix.
― dow, Wednesday, 23 May 2018 19:03 (six years ago) link
So this popped up as a new release today.
https://open.spotify.com/album/1coZVDci03VoLGBtWzwjxS?si=8u8iWq8xSpaSnY6BZ7shaA
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Saturday, 23 March 2019 01:28 (five years ago) link
Audience Recording of the North Sea Radio Orchestra show with John Greaves and Annie Barbazza and Fred Frith as special guests At Cafe Oto 27 June 2019, presenting the Dark Companion album FOLLY BOLOLEY - Songs from Robert Wyatt's Rock Bottom. (plus other songs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt18LIAGNys&fbclid=IwAR22tc5DlrxwIqCRao9Ewkcb0zvCTk-hrEuK6UD4UMSkW66dPokmT7kizig
― nickn, Friday, 5 July 2019 22:10 (five years ago) link
Oh well, search for Folly Bololey At Cafe Oto 27 June 2019
― nickn, Friday, 5 July 2019 22:11 (five years ago) link
i'm not usually into these kinda things but this is really good https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CS1SPrwOv4
― diamonddave85 (diamonddave85), Monday, 8 July 2019 19:53 (five years ago) link
live recording is great too. thanks for sharing
there is some slanderous bullshit at the beginning of this thread
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 8 July 2019 20:53 (five years ago) link
haha yes
― sleeve, Monday, 8 July 2019 20:57 (five years ago) link
"I've heard very little of Wyatt's music thus far, but....................."
― MaresNest, Tuesday, 9 July 2019 09:46 (five years ago) link
This is NOT a Covid-19 Revive. He's fine, far as I know (no news is good enough news, esp. these days).
Just came here to say that I have finally listened to 2013 Cuneiform release '68.Track list and personnel from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%2768_(album)#Personnel
All tracks are written by Robert Wyatt, except where noted.
No. Title Length1. "Chelsa" (Kevin Ayers, Wyatt) 5:002. "Rivmic Melodies" 18:193. "Slow Walkin' Talk" (Brian Hopper) 3:024. "Moon in June" 20:36PersonnelRobert Wyatt – vocals, piano, electric piano, Hammond organ, bass guitar, drums, percussionJimi Hendrix – bass guitar (track 3)Hugh Hopper – bass guitar (track 4)Mike Ratledge – Lowrey organ (track 4)
excerpts, incl. useful background breakdown fromhttps://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/album/68:
"The missing links in my life's work, no less!" – Robert Wyatt
"Cuneiform has delivered a Holy Grail with Robert Wyatt's '68 ... The sound on '68 is excellent; it was painstakingly cleaned up and remastered from original sources, making this a must for any Wyatt, Soft Machine, or prog head. The booklet also contains a lengthy interview with Wyatt by Aymeric Leroy with comments from Hopper. All killer, no filler." – Thom Jurek/All Music Guide
,,,,In September, 1968, the Soft Machine had just finished their second, exhaustive tour of the USA supporting the Jimi Hendrix Experience. At the conclusion of the tour, vocalist/drummer/multi-instrumentalist Robert stayed, working on recordings in Hollywood and New York City. Upon Robert's return to England to re-start the Soft Machine in December, 1968, these documents lay forgotten. Two of them were eventually found and issued, but half of these recordings were unreleased and thought lost forever...
Now, for the first time, all four of the recordings Robert made in '68 are collected together and released, all carefully worked on and presented in the best possible sound quality – and the recorded sound here is surprisingly excellent overall!
This release is fully authorized by Robert and the liners include an in-depth interview with Robert about his recollections of this period, with insights into his songwriting process, recording procedures and previously untold anecdotes of this period of his work and life.
There are four tracks. Two of the demos are shorter songs. Of these, one of them was a track Robert used to play with the Wilde Flowers, Brian Hopper's Slow Walkin' Talk, while the other features music that would later be re-worked by Robert and appear on the 1st album by Matching Mole!
The bulk of the material - the two long suites - were later re-recorded by the Soft Machine; Rivmic Melodies later became the basis of side one on Volume II (1969) and Moon In June showed up as Robert's showcase on Third (1970). The two side-long epics are particularly worth noting how they present, even in this very early stage of his career, Wyatt's seamless integration of song fragments and instrumental passages within a unified whole, his stream-of-consciousness, often self-referential lyrics interspersed with witty asides (soon to become a defining characteristic of the 'Canterbury scene'), matched by Wyatt's equally idiosyncratic singing.These tracks serve as a template for the post-psychedelic Soft Machine's career as founders of European jazz/rock and the entire release is a precursor to Robert's post-band, solo career...
― dow, Wednesday, 6 May 2020 20:11 (four years ago) link
... oh fuck, don't do that to me, I thought we'd lost another one!
― Angry Question Time Man's Flute Club Band (Tom D.), Wednesday, 6 May 2020 20:18 (four years ago) link
same!
― calzino, Wednesday, 6 May 2020 20:21 (four years ago) link
I know! It's unavoidable, but I had to revive, sorry!The whole album is streamable on that bandcamp page.I haven't yet done any comparative listening, but Jimi sounds great, ditto guest Softs, and this pulled all of them and me right along through recombinant artpoprock mosaic momentum, breadcrumbs of sound and vision and life lived jumping out often enough: "She's learning to hate, but it's already too late, for meeee," she's pulling him along too.(Isn't there some guitar in this "Moon In June," or is that something from the keys?)
― dow, Wednesday, 6 May 2020 20:22 (four years ago) link
lol same fear here
thanks for the writeup, that one's on my list to get but it's a long list.
― sleeve, Wednesday, 6 May 2020 20:26 (four years ago) link
Now for all the streamable tracks from Cuneiform's live Matching Mole and Wyatt-era Soft Machine finds on bandcamp. I may be some tyme.
― dow, Wednesday, 6 May 2020 20:36 (four years ago) link
starting with live 1967 Soft Machine set:https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/album/middle-earth-masters Notes:Sample tracks are satisfying and tantalizing, in equal measure. Start with subset of mellow urgency, incl. wages of pleasure: boy sends the invite, but doesn't get the memo: "She pulled out a gun, screaming 'You're Dreaming," but wouldn't it be nice---closer to Velvets than Floyd w such lyrics, Ayers' rhythm guitar & bass, the subtle, prismatic pressure of Ratledge's sunshine sustain---RW mainly offering otminimal harmonies and drums---until he rakes his tonsils across the top of "Hope For Happiness," raw as Ayers' guitar was on "Bossa Nova Express," and now Ratledge leads the splay though free postboogie, differently-morphous: not dated atall, but, at 13:19, maybe a little too much of a good thing, at least for my more Wyattcentric purposes---oh but then "You Really Got Me"---I mean, "We Did It Again"---lopes and crackles right along for 5:48, perfect.
― dow, Wednesday, 6 May 2020 22:07 (four years ago) link
Who is this Otis Wheeler at the start of the thread with his wrong & badly expressed opinions? It's probably a good thing I wasn't on ILX in 2001 as I just know I would have been furious with various posters.
― Wuhan!! Got You All in Check (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Wednesday, 6 May 2020 22:28 (four years ago) link
old ILM was wrong about nearly everything, I blame the UK Livejournal crew mostly
― sleeve, Wednesday, 6 May 2020 22:30 (four years ago) link