COLD CUTS

This really is a special album, but I must admit though that it is surprising how much more it sounds like Proto-Prog or Heavy-Prog(as Tom Ozric told me it would) than it does Canterbury. Greenwood was involved in two significant releases that year(1972), besides this his solo album, he was also the bass player for KHAN's "Space Shanty" album that I love so much. For "Cold Cuts" he enlisted a string quartet,fellow KHAN member and drummer Eric Peachey, and ex MOTHERS OF INVENTION woodwind player Bunk Gardiner. On keyboards we have Dick Heninghem, who would also share in composing all of the songs along with Greenwood.

"A Sea Of Holy Pleasure Parts I, II, III" is my favourite track on here. It opens with water sounds as piano and flute take over. More water running can be heard before powerful organ runs takes over and a full sound 1 1/2 minutes in. The tempo picks up. Great sound. Some nice bass 3 minutes in but the organ play is killer. A calm after 5 minutes as the flute leads the way and vocals arrive for the first time after 5 1/2 minutes. "Hope / Ambitions" opens with strings as a catchy beat comes in. This is great ! Vocals arrive as flute and drums stand out. Organ after 2 1/2 minutes. "Corruption" opens with piano but is quickly replaced by organ, drums and bass. Vocals and strings follow. This is a mid-paced tune with the strings coming and going. "Lead Me On" is a fairly straight forward track with prominant vocals.

"Big Machine" has a nice rhythm to it. It actually reminds me of THE DOORS a little. Probably the organ play. Guitar comes in at 2 minutes to end it. "Close The Doors" is a piano / drum / vocal led tune. The vocals are quite passionate on this one. The guitar that comes in late is a highlight as well as the organ. "Melancholy" is led by the piano, drums and vocals, but it's the emotional guitar playing that comes and goes that stirs me. "Images" opens with drums, vocals and organ. Flute 2 minutes in. "Promised Land" features some dramatic vocals at times. "Realisation And Death" features reserved vocals with organ, bass and drums. Strings after 2 minutes. Emotional vocals 4 minutes in as he cries out "Bring out your dead !" Some fantastic organ follows.

So a hidden gem from 1972 that I really liked from the first time I heard it. Like I said, I really believe this is a special record although the album cover is a little weird with the cold cuts shaped like a person piled on a chair(haha).