Henry Cow: The World is a Problem Book

[Udi Koomran]

“What was it all about, to me? Thinking. Henry Cow really thought about the why, the what, the appropriate methods of making music. Their riveting music was the sound of thinking out loud: Henry Cow seemed to be asking ‘so, what is the significance of these sounds in our heads?’ And they were always witty: just look at the name of the band, and the unwearable sock representing ‘the Henry Cow legend.’ I am very glad this book exists. Henry Cow’s history—in all its inevitable turbulence—tells an inspiring story.”
(Robert Wyatt)

Pre Order
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Henry-Cow-P...m75s35D5lZCglk

[Udi Koomran]

please encourage people to buy it from RER rather than amazon or some conglomerate
or from their local bookshop if it’s not a chain..

[Kcrimso]

Nice! Pre-ordered [emoji846]

[Udi Koomran]

RER preorder link will be up in a couple of days

[Udi Koomran]

also reissue the cow boxes in a cheaper single box form

[rcarlberg]

If ever a band deserved an explanatory book, Cow would be it. I'm in.

As of 5/15/19 5:03am, ReR does not have the book pre-order up yet -- and Amazon won't ship this item to the U.S. -- but I notice the Cow box individual discs are only 5 pounds apiece.

[Kcrimso]

RER preorder link will be up in a couple of days

Hmm ok I will then cancel my pre-order from Amazon and purchase from RER.

[Buddhabreath]

I’m in for sure. I’ll wait on it if Wayside plans to carry it.

[Steve F.]

I’m in for sure. I’ll wait on it if Wayside plans to carry it.

hi Bill

Thanks, but I don't normally like to do books because we just can not compete with Amazon AND they are heavy and thus expensive to mail.

The exception is when the publisher and/or author specifically makes it easy for us / worth our while, like I hope and believe will eventually happen with the English edition of Aymeric Leroy's 'Canterbury' book. [Thanks, A!!]

We'll probably pass on this one; I don't think it would be worth my while.

[Phlakaton]

ReR it is!

[100423]

Very cool!

[Baribrotzer]

I wonder what more it will give than Chris Cutler's and Georgie Born's very comprehensive liner notes to the box set? Many more pages, sure, but how much more insight? Those notes were excellent, both from the perspective of the ultimate insider (Chris), and a semi-outsider (Georgie, who even after two years of playing/touring with them, was still trying to figure the whole people aspect of the band out).

[NogbadTheBad]

If ever a band deserved an explanatory book, Cow would be it. I'm in.

As of 5/15/19 5:03am, ReR does not have the book pre-order up yet -- and Amazon won't ship this item to the U.S. -- but I notice the Cow box individual discs are only 5 pounds apiece.

I'd certainly pick up the Vevey DVD for a fiver. (if I didn't already have it)

Is the Cabinet Of Curiosities worth getting for a completist?

[Steve F.]

I'd certainly pick up the Vevey DVD for a fiver. (if I didn't already have it)

Is the Cabinet Of Curiosities worth getting for a completist?

Ummmmmmm.......it’s material that is sub par for the box. If you are a COMPLETIST completist, then it is ok. Otherwise, For £20? Pass

[NogbadTheBad]

Ummmmmmm.......it’s material that is sub par for the box. If you are a COMPLETIST completist, then it is ok. Otherwise, For £20? Pass

Thanks, I'm just a completist

[Buddhabreath]

HC is one of those handful where I'm a completist completist :-) Hell, only in the last year or so did I finally throw out two shoe boxes worth of virtually unlistenable VDGG bootlegs on cassette. I just couldn't sit through ultra low-fi noisy tapes no matter how good the peformance may have been - and TBH a lot of those old VDGG gigs were hit and miss.

But I digress.

Thanks for the response Steve, understood. I will definitely keep an eye open for that Canterbury book though.

[Jay.Dee]

Hell, only in the last year or so did I finally throw out two shoe boxes worth of virtually unlistenable VDGG bootlegs on cassette. I just couldn't sit through ultra low-fi noisy tapes no matter how good the peformance may have been - and TBH a lot of those old VDGG gigs were hit and miss.

That's the opposite direction to where I am heading for with Van der Graaf Generator. I have recently acquired Manchester '75 (Nov 2) and Zürich '76 (Nov 28) shows and both are very good audience tapes (A-/B+ range). And great performances too.

Just a digression. As for the main subject I will definitely pick the book from ReR!

I hope the second print of Graham Bennett's Soft Machine biography "Out-Bloody-Rageous" will be also considered at some point in the future.

[Buddhabreath]

^^^
Sounds like you might have some better boots than I. I did save a handfull of good ones, I even digitized and cleaned-up a PH performance from tape that I loved. Cellar Door DC 70s. ... and yes that SM book is excellent.

[Steve F.]

ReR now has a pre order link on their front page

[Jay.Dee]

Speaking of Henry Cow...

Michel Edelin Quintet w/ special guest John Greaves - "Echoes of Henry Cow"



1. Half the Sky (6:25)
2. Living in the Heart of the Beast (8:01)
3. War (4:32)
4. After the Flood (2:42)
5. Nursery (4:12)
6. Ruins (10:11)
7. Beautiful as the Moon (8:08)
8. The Bath of Stars (2:33)
9. Civilisation (8:27)
10. On Suicide (1:34)

Michel Edelin: flute, alto flute, bass flute
Sophia Domancich: piano, Fender Rhodes
Sylvain Kassap: clarinet, bass clarinet
Stéphane Kerecki: double bass
Simon Goubert: drums
John Greaves: spoken words

Recorded on September 17th and 18th 2018 by Vincent Mahey at Studio Sextan – La Fonderie, Malakoff, France
Album concert release: May 18th 2019, 6:30 pm, Like A Jazz Machine Festival, Dudelange - Luxembourg

This album should in no way be mistaken for a "tribute" to Henry Cow, let alone a faithful recreation, in spirit and/or letter, of their music, rather – and this is how the title chose by Michel Édelin should be understood - its echoes (much transformed during its long journey through time, space, memory and the mysterious twists and turns of the creative process) in his own musical inner world.

-- Aymeric Leroy, excerpts from the liner notes.

https://roguart.com/product/echoes-of-henry-cow/132

[Mister Triscuits]

Michel Edelin: flute, alto flute, bass flute
Sophia Domancich: piano, Fender Rhodes
Sylvain Kassap: clarinet, bass clarinet
Stéphane Kerecki: double bass
Simon Goubert: drums
John Greaves: spoken words

Oh boy, that's for me!

As for the book, I'm happy to pay a premium for a nice hardcover, but five times as much as the not-exactly-cheap paperback? Gonna have to settle for the latter this time.

[rcarlberg]

As for the book, I'm happy to pay a premium for a nice hardcover, but five times as much as the not-exactly-cheap paperback? Gonna have to settle for the latter this time.

One word: shipping.

[Kcrimso]

Speaking of Henry Cow...

1. Half the Sky (6:25)
2. Living in the Heart of the Beast (8:01)
3. War (4:32)
4. After the Flood (2:42)
5. Nursery (4:12)
6. Ruins (10:11)
7. Beautiful as the Moon (8:08)
8. The Bath of Stars (2:33)
9. Civilisation (8:27)
10. On Suicide (1:34)

Michel Edelin: flute, alto flute, bass flute
Sophia Domancich: piano, Fender Rhodes
Sylvain Kassap: clarinet, bass clarinet
Stéphane Kerecki: double bass
Simon Goubert: drums
John Greaves: spoken words

Recorded on September 17th and 18th 2018 by Vincent Mahey at Studio Sextan – La Fonderie, Malakoff, France
Album concert release: May 18th 2019, 6:30 pm, Like A Jazz Machine Festival, Dudelange - Luxembourg
https://roguart.com/product/echoes-of-henry-cow/132

Ordered! Thanks for the tip!

[Buddhabreath]

Ordered! Thanks for the tip!

ditto!

[Mister Triscuits]

One word: shipping.

Actually, ReR blames it on the publisher being an academic press, which rings very true.