I started with the studio album....and, keeping in mind that this is the first time I have heard this group, was disappointed. The music kept reminding me of They Might Be Giants, only with no vocals and not as funny. "I need more time with this group" I thought to myself, keeping a stiff upper chin, as they say.......

 

so....I then decided to listen to the "Live at Nearfest 2002" part of the album. Wow. A total 180 degree from the studio album. Most impressive and interesting. This music has some life, energy, power to it! 

 

Such are my first impressions of my encounter with Miriodor. If anyone else would like to recommend or talk about this group please feel free to do so.

 

 

I will try to explain my statement....the Miriodor music's sentiment (not the music itself) conjured up the feeling of humor and technical know-how....so much so that in my effort to categorize it I found They Might Be Giants as a group that does similar conjuring. Other than that, there isn't much in common with the music of those two groups.

 

 

Reason being: I like a piece of music to pretty much find and keep a groove going. Add to and subtract from and modify a stable structure. And that is exactly what Miriodor doesn't do. Same reason I have yet to explore Zappa's material.

 

I really, really like parts of quite a few of their songs but they change direction so drastically and so often that it causes my interest to wane. I could probably edit together about 45 minutes of their material into pieces that I can enjoy, but, I'm not into re-creating their work for my enjoyment.

 

I can see how some folks would like what Miriodor does. And that's great.  I'm only writing this to voice my own opinion based on my own musical tastes.

 

I much prefer the style of Weather Report, Big Big Train, Bruford's Earthworks, Birds and Buildings, to name a few, who get a groove going and stay within its framework.

 

I do like most all of Mekano and the Parade CD2 Live NEARfest 2002.

Yeah maybe that's the wrong way of putting it as I'm not that tied up in subs and stickers, but I guess it's the easiest way of conveying what I mean 

 

The Canterbury Scene sub genre is one that I have difficulty appreciating. I listened to some Hatfield and The North, Gong and Soft Machine a few years ago and I just could not get into them. 

 

I do think Miriodor's music is adventurous, too much so, for me. It confuses me!

Hey we can't all be into everything right?

Oh and regarding Canterbury: Everyone new to the scene would do themselves a big favour if they started out with Caravan - especially if they're on the look out for melodies and grooves. You probably know them, but in the case you haven't yet heard them, then I wholeheartedly recommend you check them out. Their sound is very easy to get into, I find

 

Yes. We can't!

 

In the Land of Grey and Pink it is, then. Thanks

 

 

 

Well, what a pleasant surprise "In the Land of Grey and Pink" has turned out to be. 4 stars right from my first listening. Man, I love it when that happens! Thanks

 

"In the Land of Grey and Pink" impresses me as a very English album, very much as "Selling England by the Pound" does. I can hear echoes of Traffic in some of the songs, which I mean as a compliment, as Traffic is one of my favorite groups. The rhythm section and the flute on certain songs is very Traffic-like but the vocals are nothing like Winwood's, Mason's or Capaldi's.

 

If this is Canterbury Scene music then I'd like another healping, please

 

That's great. I shudder to think what this world would be like if everyone had the same opinions and musical tastes as me

 

 Everybody gets hooked when they hear Caravan - well at least all the folks I've recommended them to that is.

Glad to be of service

I get what you're saying about the Traffic parallel - I've thought about it too actually. They've got a similar 'feel' at times.

Oh and I completely echo Ian's (Nogbad) rec! If I could do it.... is definitely the place to go next, if you dig Grey & Pink 

Others worth mentioning, that may sound completely different to Caravan yet still sound highly melodic, are:

Khan - Space Shanty

Soft Machine - Vol 1 and 2

...and if you don't already know it and feel up for a little psychedelics in your sauce, 

then I heartily recommend:

Gong - Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy