TROUT MASK REPLICA

The first time I listened to this record I put it off after six disturbing songs (the first six songs!). Being dazed and confused I could not get this record out of my head. So I listened it again and again. After two days I bought this bizarre record on vinyl and went on holiday. And even when I was in Italy sitting lazy on an easy chair I often thought about this record.

Back home I kept on listening. Whell, I'm always excited when music supprises me. And having listened to more and more progressive records I am still supprised how different Captain Beefheartis comparing to other progressive and avant-garde records. On moments that I decide that the bizarre music rhythems are totally not capable of having sang, the captain starts singing. And when I think that the music is on the climax of chaos an alto-sax starts off with confusing avant-garde.

Being avant-garde, Captain Beefheart has its roots in Blues Music. He could have been inspired by Howlin' Wolf who was one of the first rhythm and blues musicians and already had an "dark" sound. Another key figure in the development of the captain might be Big Joe Williams who was a really freeform bluesmusician. Big Joe had already "sang-only" bluesnumbers on his records, which are also to be found on the Trout Mask Replica. Big Joe had a raw sound.

I am lucky to have married a wife who likes progressive music. She likes King Crimson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and so on and on. But the captain confuses her so much she dislikes it. The first time I put this Trout Mask Replica on she broke down her phrases, saying that this music whas so intense that she could not neglect it and could not even normally think while having this music on.

So, what is so bizarre in this music, that most people want to go far away of it? Here is a summary about the things which are quiet bizarre/abstract: -The frontcover -The songtexts -The musicians interaction -The text-only numbers -The combination of blues and avant-garde -The length of an extreme record like this -The enormous inspiration these quys must have had - The use of ugly voices -And most of all: the extreme dissonance and lack of harmonious compositions

Well, I have to say that this record is absolutely essential. While not consistently being brilliant I admit four stars for this daring record. I hardly recommend to listen to Safe as Milk and Mirror Man before getting into this Beefheart stuff.