a r t i s t : slapp happy
t i t l e : casablanca moon-desperate straights
d a t e : 1993
l a b e l : Virgin / CD0VD 441
g e n r e : Avantgarde
r l s. d a t e : Mar/2007
t r a c k s : 24
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 98,2 MB
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These are the two albums this quirky and intelligent group
recorded for Virgin Records in the early 70s -- one of them
after they joined forced with the leg endary progressive band
Henry Cow. Slapp Happy were like no other band of their time
-- or since, for that matter, now that they've (Sort of)
reformed. The melodies are jagged but hummable -- a
disconcerting type of pop music. The lyrics, always
intelligent and challenging, are filled with incredible
wordplay, humor and obscure philosophical references. This
music will make you tap your foot, but it will also definitely
make you think -- and we all know exercise is good for us,
right? I can't think of another songwriter to whom I can
properly compare Peter Blegvad -- a look at the constantly-
endangered life of a spy, always living on the edge; a song
about reincarnation; a look at Michaelangelo through the
suspicious eyes of a contemporary; a paean to French poet and
enfant-terrible Arthur Rimbaud; a re-working of a section from
Handel's 'Messiah'. Beginning to get the picture? There was no
subject off-limits to Blegvad on these albums -- and his
career has shown that this is an integral part of his
songwriting ethos to this day. He has continued to amaze his
listeners in the years since these albums were released.
Dagmar Krause's voice MUST be heard to be appreciated. German
-born, she sounds as if she were raised on a mixed diet of
Brecht-Weill-Eisler political ballads, opera, and pop music.
She can coo, she can warble, she can shriek, covering all
bases in between as well. Admittedly an aquired taste, her
voice is one of the imminently recognizable, integral parts of
Slapp Happy's 'sound'. And then there's Anthony Moore. His
keyboard work, as well as his occasional songwriting, comprise
the remaining piece in the puzzle that is Slapp Happy. Never
'in your face' with his playing, he nonetheless contributes
irreplacably to the overall effect. 'The owl', 'Slow moon's
rose', and 'Apes in capes' are all Anthony Moore compositions,
and show him to be a fine writer with his own style.
Instrumentally, the basic group of three was augmented on both
of these albums. On the first by some of England's finest
progressive musicians of the day, gathered together at Mike
Oldfield's Manor Studio by producer Steve Morse. It's
basically a re-recording of most of the songs from 'Acnalbasac
noom', which is also available (for those who prefer the less
-produced, earlier recording). By the time 'Desperate straits'
was recorded in 1974, Slapp Happy had begun working in tandem
with Henry Cow, and the two groups merged soon after its
release. Rather than the based-on-compositions improvisational
style that was favored by the Cow on their lps, and to a
greater extent in concert, the merger with Slapp Happy reined
them in a bit for this recording -- but their roles here give
it a sound that could never be mistaken for anyone else. Fred
Frith's mind boggling guitar work, Chris Cutler's instantly-
recognizable drumming style, Lindsay Cooper's work on oboe and
bassoon, Tim Hodgkinson's keyboards and clarinet, and the
impeccable bass of John Greaves, all added immeasurably to the
album's personality. Again, this is pop music for the listener
who enjoys being challenged -- challenged to think and ponder
the words, to appreciate the lines played by the different
instruments as they wind and weave their way in and out of
each other's paths...and challenged to take a step beyond --
WAY beyond -- the music that our good buddies at the major
record labels would have us swallow, spoon and all (...and
say, 'Thank you sir, may I have another...'). If you've never
heard these folks, start here -- later, you can look back and
remember where the worm at work in the core came fromà ( Larry
L. Looney ,Austin, Texas USA
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01-Casablanca Moon [02:50]
02-Me And Parvati [03:26]
03-Half Way There [03:19]
04-Michaelangelo [02:37]
05-Dawn [03:22]
06-Mr Rainbow [03:53]
07-The Secret [03:32]
08-A Little Something [04:36]
09-The Drum [03:35]
10-Haiku [03:06]
11-Slow Moon's Rose [02:56]
12-Some Questions About Hats [01:50]
13-The Owl [02:14]
14-A Worm Is At Work [01:53]
15-Bad Alchemy [03:07]
16-Europa [02:49]
17-Desperate Straights [04:14]
18-Riding Tigers [01:43]
19-Apes in Capes [02:14]
20-Strayed [01:54]
21-Giants [01:57]
22-Extract from the Messiah [01:49]
23-In the Sickbay [02:08]
24-Caucasian Lullaby [08:20]
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73:24 min