DJ Handi's Archive Picks: Music And Sound In The Land Of Grey And Pink

Saturday on Surface Noise, Joe McGasko had Jean and June Millington of the rock group Fanny on his show. Fanny was one of the first all female rock bands, formed in 1970. "I Love Your Hair" was one in a set of tracks the Millingtons played live during their visit. Listen to this next to their 1970 recording of "Charity Ball." Then listen to another female band from the era, The Deadly Nightshade, produced by the Rascal's Felix Cavaliere. On The Fro Show, Jesse played The Nightshade's "Nose Job."

Here is a mind greater than mine thinking in tandem with me. Last week I wrote about the Canterbury progressive bands, and the night before the column published, Stan played Caravan's 1971 "Nine Feet Underground." Of the Canterbury cluster, Caravan used melody most, almost as the Beatles may have if they had continued into the progressive era, making more Abbey Road side two-like suites. Listen to how each part of "Nine Feet Underground" could have made an amazing individual rock track. 

To hear far more obscure prog, listen to Scott Williams playing Spain's Absolute Fusioon, recently issued on Andy Votel's Finders Keepers label.

Marty McSorley played "Ritual Feast Of The Libido" by Cromagnon--a group who put out records of cave-man-like sounds in the late 1960's. You can take the side you wish in the music/sound debate (or, like me, decide the distinction doesn't matter, the visceral impact does), but hearing this completely primal work next to the art rock in the above archives puts both in stark perspective. Primal urges exorcised, Marty played the voodoo rock of Exuma, certainly more organized sound than the Cromagnon, but sound that absolutely does bawdy work on the senses.

Since I stuck my foot in the music/sound compost pile, let's end with Jeff M, playing Nurse With Wound's "Space Music" on Noise And Syrup. The piece starts with electronics, polished in stark contrast to Cromagnon's work, and ends with samples of early 1970's AM pop and modern rap. Music, sound, what is in a name when Nurse With Wound uses both without regard to the demarcation. If you still think about which is which, perhaps "Space Music" provides the answer.

Stay safe during this stormy weekend and I'll see you next week.  

Comments

[mIKES]

I never gave Caravan any listens back kin the day. I too just discovered the majesty that is The Land of the Gery and Pink. Now I cant listening to the damn thing.