Western Culture [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Henry Cow

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 12, 2002)
• Original Release Date: March 12, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: East Side Digital
• ASIN: B00006310N
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #416,499 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. History and Prospects: Industry

2. History and Prospects: The Decay of Cities

3. History and Prospects: On the Raft

4. Day by Day: Falling Away

5. Day by Day: Gretel's Tale

6. Day by Day: Look Back

7. Day by Day: Half the Sky

8. Viva Pa Ubu

9. Look Back [Alternate Take]

10. Slice

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable and final album by Henry Cow, May 23, 2006

By	Jeffrey J.Park (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Apparently not interested in re-treading the same ground over and over again "to earn their pensions", this 1978 album would be Henry Cow's last before disbanding later in 1978.

The core musicians on this album include excellent drummer and bandleader Chris Cutler (who also plays electrified drums, "noise", piano, and trumpet); Lindsay Cooper (bassoon, oboe, soprano saxophone, and soprano recorder); Tim Hodgkinson (organ, alto saxophone, clarinet, and Hawaiian guitar); and Fred Frith (electric and acoustic guitars, electric bass, banjo, and soprano saxophone). Other musicians that play on the album include Georgie Born (electric bass); Anne-Marie Roelofs (trombone and violin); and Irene Schweitzer (piano).

The seven tracks on the album are divided into two larger works including History and Prospects (Tracks 1-3) and Day by Day (Tracks 4-7). The three additional tracks include one taken from the Dagmar Krause (vocalist) period (Viva pa Ubu), an alternate take of Look Back, and an outtake from the 1978 Western Culture sessions. The three additional tracks are excellent.

Like all of their albums, the music on Western Culture is highly disciplined yet is almost anarchic at points. This strain of progressive rock is also extremely complex, atonal, jagged, and at times, quite abrasive - yet buried in there are moments of calm and deep reflection. I personally find the combination pretty exciting. Along with standard rock instruments (including incredible drumming by Chris Cutler) woodwinds are featured prominently, and the arrangements are dense and angular. In general, the compositions are essentially a whirlwind of sound that fuses elements of "post-war" classical, jazz, free jazz, and rock.

All in all, this is not a listening experience for the faint of heart. This is extremely challenging music that is also extremely rewarding. Highly recommended along with Unrest (1974) and In Praise of Learning (1975).