Bells Boots & Schambles [Import, Original recording remastered]

Spirogyra | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Cool Sound
• ASIN: B000AKAYL0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #937,334 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Furthest Point

2. Old Boot Wine

3. Parallel Lines Never Separate

4. Spiggly

5. An Everyday Consumption Song

6. Sergeant Says

7. In The Western World A) In The Western World B) Jungle Lore C) Coming Back D)

Editorial Reviews

German reissue of 1973 album. Seven tracks including, 'In The Western World'. Repertoire. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Folk-Rocks 'Magical Mystery Tour' -a Masterwork, August 21, 2005

By 

Judas Booth (Bellingham, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bells Boots and Shambles (Audio CD)

Damn...the more I listen to this album the more I realize the genius of Martin Cockerham and Barbara Gaskin.
The writing is first rate-the songs are a bit more upbeat and 'psychedelic' here, for want of a better term-yet done with grace and good judgment.
There are still subtle social, political and philosophical/spiritual tones to the songs, some done with wit, and a touch of madness.

It is too bad that much of Cockerhams acoustic guitar playing is buried in the mix-some of it is absolutely astounding-this is a mandatory headphone-listening recording.
And the arrangments, which are complex, can change at a moments notice, yet are very involving, memorable and delightful.

And then there is the lovely, sultry voice of hippy dream-girl Barbara Gaskin,
(a complement), weaving in and out of the proceedings, adding depth and harmonies with Martin on much of the record.

And from what ive heard-they were even better live-hard as that is to believe.
Martin Cockerham is now working to release an album of live material-with perhaps some of an unfinished 4th album.
(...)
Go there to find lyrics, news, photos, and some SPIROGYRA history, as well as what Martiin is up to.
He seems to have taken to the teachings of KRSNA(?)-and some of the site will reflect that.
It is too bad that this record is not on alternative playlists on College stations-
people dont know what they're missing-

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable album,especially if you're completely into such a particular prog-folk,but I prefer the prog-folk by Renaissance, August 27, 2010

By 

Lethe "lor68" (Milan, Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bells Boots and Shambles (Audio CD)

Well probably it's their unique work of prog folk to be a "master work" from the beginning to the end, as it can compare to the best albums (even in a different style) from Gryphon, Fairport Convention (these latter being anyway more folk rock oriented), Strawbs (with Wakeman in the vein of the Medieval music) and so on...well Mr Martin Cockerham and Mrs Barbara Gaskin were the true "master minds" of the band, where their creative genius is expressed by means of their alternating music composition, passing through the "spiritual" tunes and something more "psychedelic" (even though in an elegant manner), as well as quite complex arrangements...Cockerhams acoustic guitar is often intelligent (despite the uneven mix, which doesn't enhance it); while the music harmonies are enriched by means of such a good depth in the vocal intepretation, being perfectly "complementary" if compared to the guitar passages!! Then you find some orchestral instruments here, such as cellos, treated vocals, trumpets and flutes, making the atmosphere more "progressive"; the male vocal lines instead are quite simple, but at the end it's a minor defect in the economy of the ensemble!!
This albums represents the beginning and the end of the best period for the band: in fact Mrs Barbara Gaskin, by entering the world of Canterburian Music after this experience with Spyrogyra, will join Hatfield and the North...however- after all- it's a remarkable album, especially if you're completely into such a particular prog-folk, even though I prefer another kind of prog-folk (more "symphonic prog oriented" I mean, a-la Renaissance...)

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Canterbury Folk Classic, November 19, 2002

By 

Robert Carlberg (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bells Boots and Shambles (Audio CD)

This third album by Spirogyra is in many ways their most progressive -- flutes, trumpets, cellos, treated vocals, long instrumental sections -- and of course it features singer Barbara Gaskin, later of Hatfield and The North, National Health and the famed Dave Stewart/Barbara Gaskin juggernaut. All songs and male vocals are by Martin Cockerham, who writes very hummable tunes with biting lyrics. I hate to call it a "lost classic" since many people did discover it (just not me).