News From Babel "Letters Home"

[chalkpie]

Just found a new favorite album. This is a masterpiece. I don't toss that word around, usually reserved for classical composers, but I think this is one. Compositionally the melodies, harmonic structure, arrangements, form, etc is just masterful. Gorgeous and dark. This is an album that doesn't rely on fancy licks in 29/16 (which I love love as you know), rather more of a performance akin to a renaissance/medieval consort - not in style - but in a collective body of sound where each element is perfectly balanced and placed. Same as string quartet. The harp just takes this album to new plateaus. Here is an album in the 80's that is easily as good as Close to the Fudge....or dare I say...

NewsFromBabel_Letters_cover.jpg

[Trane]

Yup, thi one is a fave of mine... Compared to their other album (with Dagmar only on vocals), Letters Home is very much an improvement.

[calyx]

For me both albums are inseparable, I first heard them on the RéR 2-on-1. I loved the band's sound based on harp, bassoon, piano and drums. There is obviously a link to some of Henry Cow's more "chamber"-styled music, but different and original still. Lindsay Cooper had really come into her own as a composer in the meantime (she wrote all the music on this). An ultimately pointless (I guess) sidenote is that I, over a period of 15 years, managed to get my CD autographed by all four original members of the band - Chris Cutler, Lindsay Cooper, Zeena Parkins and Dagmar Krause (over the same period I also managed another similar challenge - to get my Soft Machine "Peel Sessions" CD signed by all four members of the classic Soft Machine line-up)

[mogrooves]

For me both albums are inseparable

Agreed.

Check out "Domestic Stories", Cutler's project with Lutz Glandien w/Harth, Frith, & Dagmar....

[Trane]

For me both albums are inseparable, I first heard them on the RéR 2-on-1. I loved the band's sound based on harp, bassoon, piano and drums. There is obviously a link to some of Henry Cow's more "chamber"-styled music, but different and original still. Lindsay Cooper had really come into her own as a composer in the meantime (she wrote all the music on this)

Well, you can acquire a small boset with the separate albums... It's what I got...

Yeah, Cooper is excellent in NFB...

In the meantime, Frith was in Skeleton Crew, which I can't seem to get into nearly as much as this project.

[Zeuhlmate]

Good one!
I prefer this to their first.

[Morpheus]

I like both.

In the meantime, Frith was in Skeleton Crew, which I can't seem to get into nearly as much as this project.

Skeleton Crew is among my favorite of Frith's bands. He had such an amazing string of albums and collaborations in the early 80s.

[NogbadTheBad]

Recent acquisition for me and I'm enjoying it a lot

[Scrotum Scissor]

It's absolutely wonderful, and a highlight in Wyatt's 80s vocal work.

If you still haven't heard Tim Hodgkinson's song "Moments of Delight", featuring the basic lineup of NfB with Wyatt, this is an incredible tune as well:

[Udi Koomran]

I am envious of Frankie - discovering this music it most be so fun
How about Lindsay Cooper do you know Music For Other Occasions ?

[Scrotum Scissor]

I am envious of Frankie - discovering this music it most be so fun
How about Lindsay Cooper do you know Music For Other Occasions ?

Indeed. That's the one single album on which her close associate - and later esteemed film director - Sally Potter has some seminal input. Songs are equally as great as any of the NfB material, IMO. Now this is groundbreaking "progressive rock" of the 80s!

[Steve F.]

...I also managed another similar challenge - to get my Soft Machine "Peel Sessions" CD signed by all four members of the classic Soft Machine line-up

I didn't know this and I'm glad to read this.

No one deserves something like this more than you, Aymeric!



sincerely,

[Polypet]

I am envious of Frankie - discovering this music it most be so fun
How about Lindsay Cooper do you know Music For Other Occasions ?

all of her solo work is stunning - that one is a favourite but also Rags and Golddiggers were fabulous

K

[Kavus Torabi]

All the above and more. One of my favourites for a long, long time. I have it on lovely 45rpm vinyl.

[Zeuhlmate]

Catherine Jauniaux - Fluvial

TIM HODGKINSON - guitar, viola, clarinet, piano, organ, drums, percussion
BILL GILLONIS - guitar
GEORGIE BORN - cello
LINDSAY COOPER - oboe, bassoon, sopranino saxophone
STEPHEN KENT- trumpet
DOMINIC WEEKS - vibraphone, xylophone, percussion
MARIO BOYER - balafon, percussion
CHARLES BULLEN - percussion

[flytomars]

Agreed.

Agreed too (both albums + domestic stories= must)