OF QUEUES AND CURES

Can't say I know every band from Canterbury scene,but I probably heard everything that really matters in terms of overall quality.Having said that,I consider this album to be the very best Canterbury has to offer.Neo-classicism mixed with jazz so tipycal for the sub-genre and jaw-dropping musicianship are hallmarks of National Health's second album.Moods are very different on every song,from cold and accademicaly executed "Collapso" to hard rocking "Squarer for Maud" or warm "Binoculars",complexity never overshadows melodic lines.Dave Stewart and Phil Miller are at their best here,while Pip Pyle drumming is forceful and thunderous.Guest list is also impressive and includes usual suspects Jimmy Hastings,Rick Biddulph and Peter Blegvad to name few,all veterans of Canterbury scene.Too bad that most Canterbury bands were short lived,like National Health was,but as long as we have masterpieces like "Of queues and cures",genre will live forever.