My favourite Henry Cow would be 'In Praise of Learning' (which followed 'Unrest'), the 'red' sock album, in which Peter Blegvad, Anthony Moore and in particular Dagmar Krause of Slapp Happy join the HC ranks for a more song based and overtly political approach than previous in 'Living in the Heart of the Beast', 'Beautiful As the Moon-Terrible As An Army with Banners' etc. This is more song based than the two previous HC albums, and a precursor to Frith, Cutler and Krause's work under the Art Bears moniker, which is where things turn seriously good and very special indeed. Their three albums, 'Hopes and Fears', 'Winter Songs' and 'The World as it is Today' remain absolutely peerless, partly due to not sounding like much before or since, but mainly due to the intrinsic quality of the songs and arrangements. Cutler constantly tries to reconcile these recordings into a working history which he claims still exists to this day in the form of his own playing, record label and distribution outlet, but personally I would not agree that this is the case. The Art Bears albums represent not just the artistic peak of all the members concerned, but also that of a time when any conviction you might have was politicised out of necessity, the word 'folk' hadn't had the meaning sucked out of it by journalists seeking a riposte to electronica and techno whilst preserving it's 'virtual community' ethos, and 'experimental noise' wasn't that which is caused by the twin concerns of being a careerist and dilettante grinding against each other.

*Steps down off the soapbox* Um, where was I? Oh yeah, Henry Cow? As Peter Blegvad said on his departure, full of bull sometimes, but for the most part NC.

Henry Cow is fine.
Henry Cowell is better.

-A

Isabelle Gall wrote:The Art Bears albums represent not just the artistic peak of all the members concerned, but also that of a time when any conviction you might have was politicised out of necessity, the word 'folk' hadn't had the meaning sucked out of it by journalists seeking a riposte to electronica and techno whilst preserving it's 'virtual community' ethos, and 'experimental noise' wasn't that which is caused by the twin concerns of being a careerist and dilettante grinding against each other.

You're either a precocious kid, or a jaded-but-actually-naive adult. I'm betting on the latter.

"any conviction you might have was politicised out of necessity" - at least you're good for an occasional laugh.

Ishmael wrote:You're either a precocious kid, or a jaded-but-actually-naive adult. I'm betting on the latter.

You're not so far from the truth here, i'll give you that much. Of course, based on the same level of deduction, this doesn't say a great deal about yourself does it? I can't recall ever reading anything by you on this board that was particularly well-informed, humorous, or of any basic interest.

Ishmael wrote:"any conviction you might have was politicised out of necessity" - at least you're good for an occasional laugh.

What specifically about this specific quote bothers you? Some readers may be curious as to what ails you so Ishmael.

Isabelle Gall wrote:

Ishmael wrote:You're either a precocious kid, or a jaded-but-actually-naive adult. I'm betting on the latter.

You're not so far from the truth here, i'll give you that much. Of course, based on the same level of deduction, this doesn't say a great deal about yourself does it? I can't recall ever reading anything by you on this board that was particularly well-informed, humorous, or of any basic interest.

Ishmael wrote:"any conviction you might have was politicised out of necessity" - at least you're good for an occasional laugh.

What specifically about this specific quote bothers you? Some readers may be curious as to what ails you so Ishmael.

He's still bent out of shape from spending so many ultimately fruitless days on board the Pequod.

Isabelle, if you didn't live in England, I'd ask you to marry me.

Fred Frith is one of my all time favorite guitarists. Not crap.

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Isabelle Gall wrote:

Ishmael wrote:You're either a precocious kid, or a jaded-but-actually-naive adult. I'm betting on the latter.

You're not so far from the truth here, i'll give you that much.

Of course I'm not far from the truth. I, Ishmael, can see right fucking through you. What does that say about you, Isabell Gall?

Ishmael wrote:I, Ishmael, can see right fucking through you.

Yeah, you really looked right into the depths of my soul back there, Mr-creepy-internet-guy-who-is-unable-to-type-more-than-one-slightly-retarded-sentence-per-post.

Ishmael wrote:What does that say about you, Isabell Gall?

No idea. I'd ask you but you never reply whenever I challenge you on anything. Pussy.