Anyone know of a group named Here and Now

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About a year ago I found a live album called "Off the Cuff" by a group called Here and Now. This album contains some of the best space rock performances I've ever had the pleasure of hearing, every since then I've been looking for information on the group. Unfortunately it appears that Here and Now must have had a small following because I can't seem to find much information about them or a way to purchase any of their other recordings. 

Anyone in the forums here familar with this group?
Do you know where I can buy their official recordings? (the album I do own is a bootleg and the sound quality is somewhat poor)

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arkitech Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: May 01 2005 Status: Offline Points: 7	Topic: Anyone know of a group named Here and Now Posted: May 01 2005 at 22:19
	About a year ago I found a live album called "Off the Cuff" by a group called Here and Now. This album contains some of the best space rock performances I've ever had the pleasure of hearing, every since then I've been looking for information on the group. Unfortunately it appears that Here and Now must have had a small following because I can't seem to find much information about them or a way to purchase any of their other recordings. Anyone in the forums here familar with this group? Do you know where I can buy their official recordings? (the album I do own is a bootleg and the sound quality is somewhat poor)

The Hemulen Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 31 2004 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 5964	Posted: May 02 2005 at 05:15
	I've got an album of theirs "Give & Take" on mp3 format (yes yes, I'm a criminule, blah blah). It's pretty good. Makes me think of Allen-era Gong with a splash of punk. The quality's lovely so there must be a CD version of it somewhere. I'd suggest you do some googling.

Wrath_of_Ninian Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: December 04 2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 230	Posted: May 02 2005 at 05:59
	As far as I know, they were contemporaries and friends of Gong, based in England, living in a commune during the 1970s. Gong performed with them at several small festivals, and they used to cover each others songs. With regard to their back catalogue, I dont think they ever made any money from record sales, and consequently, most albums were probably deleted - but that is just a guess. I think they still play from time to time. From what I've actually heard, its more like the space-rock of Hawkwind but with a punky, anarchic edge. Sorry for the vague answer, but I thought I'd chuck in my tuppence as nobody else seems to know much about them either.
	"Now all the seasons run together, and the middle days are gone..."

Syzygy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: December 16 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 7003	Posted: May 02 2005 at 06:58
	As Ninian said, they were a part of the commune/free festival scene of the 1970s. After Daevid Allen quit Gong, he and Gilli Smyth hooked up with Here and Now and took Floating Anarchy on the road, frequently playing for free. This was documented on the Live Floating Anarchy 1977 LP, released for the proncely sum of two pounds fifty (about half the price of a regular album back then). The cover featured the instruction to pay no more than the recommended price, 'but better to rip it off if you can'. It's space rock in the Gong/Hawkwind/Ozrics style, with lots of bubbling synths and loose but tight jamming. I don't recall seeing it on CD, but the Charly Gong compilation Other Side Of The Sky has about half of side one and all of side two. Allen subsequently quit and went to New York, where he made About Time with Material under the New York Gong monicker. Here and Now remained a fixture on the festival circuit, sometimes releasing cheap albums. In addition to those already mentioned, there was one called There and Then. I haven't heard anything about them for years, but it would be nice to think of them turning up and playing for free at some of today's market led, consumer focussed festivals.
	'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom