CATAPILLA were an English band from the early 70's who released two interesting albums of experimental jazz rock, without symphonic traces as in other bands of the moment such as AFFINITY, CRESSIDA, or SPRING. The band had a line-up of six to seven people performing on saxophones, keyboards, bass, guitar, vocals, bass, and drums.

In "Catapilla" perhaps the production is not so strong as it was necessary. The album consists of four tracks with extended, instrumental passages where guitar, saxophone, and keyboards get lots of solo space. Far superior to their first album, "Changes" is a very atmospheric piece of music. Their sound is more ethereal and spacey, but still a terrific blend of jazz rock/brass rock with an occasional psychedelic edge. This is another essential album you must hunt down and add to your collection.

 

Album cover:

 

http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=3151">

http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=3151 - Catapilla by http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=614 - CATAPILLA (Eclectic Prog)

Catapilla is one of those bands that are defined by many persons as belonging to the 'Early Prog', that definition means all those band appeared at the beginning of the 70's, that have produced beautiful albums, were not have had luck and then are disbanded after a few albums. In this case after two albums.

The genre is a... And this is not an exaggeration... A sort of Symphonic/ Jazz Rock/ Psychedelic/ Heavy Prog with sax and aggressive famale voice! This says a lot about the characteristics of Catapilla. But this are common to the band of 'Early Prog'. They, in fact, often can not be cataloged in a specific sub genre because the mix of sub genres that did can do classified these bands in any sub genre of Prog! For this reason I accept the 'Early prog' definition, which for me is correct.

Catapilla's first album is a sort of Jazz Rock album for the presence of sax and for the compositions that remember me Colosseum. In this case is present a good quantity of Symphonic Prog. Also the Psychedelic Rock is present and the guitar (where presents) are too Heavy Rock. So it is difficult to judge the correct sub genre of Catapilla. In general the use of sax remember me Colosseum, that is good also for designate a group like this. But the voice of Anna Meek is very personal: get through to the melodic at possessed by the devil with a unique naturalness. The arrangements are very heavy but not invadents.

In conclusion 'Catapilla' is an explosive album of 'Early Prog', more near to Jazz Rock and Symphonic Prog. Not perfect but aged in extreme good manner.

 

 

 

You really definethe album in a short paragraph and that's great!!!

Kudos to you!

 

I have the repertoire pressings and sounds very good to me.

 

BTW the first time that i see the line-up, i think that Robert Calvert (of Hawkwind fame) are here, but then someone told me that is another Robert Calvert.

 

 

Both Bob are great