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CANTERBURY SCENE

A Progressive Rock Sub-genre


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Canterbury Scene definition

With many other types of English progressive music developing mostly in London, it may at first seem strange that the old pilgrimage centre and relatively quiet cathedral city of Canterbury, became the centre of this very English form of progressive music and jazz fusion. Originally the Wilde Flowers, a teenage band of members living in and around Canterbury, playing a mix of pop, R'n'B and band members with a developing love of jazz, was formed in the 60's and became the seedling from which the Canterbury Scene grew. Australian beatnik Daevid Allen during a long stop-over at Robert Wyatt's parent's home, a refuge for many left field artists, was to catalyse the evolution of the Wilde Flowers into the fledging Soft Machine and the development of some avant music during the English psychedelic and underground period. From 1963 to 1969, the Wilde Flowers included most of the figures who later formed Canterbury's two best known bands, (The) Soft Machine (Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Hugh Hopper) and Caravan (Pye Hastings, David Sinclair, Richard Sinclair, Richard Coughlan).

Canterbury was then to be the cradle for several of the more freewheeling British bands of the post-psychedelic era. While fans would suggest this is the home of an English musical quirkiness tempered with quite a bit of whimsy, within the Canterbury Scene's musical spectrum any similarities between Canterbury's major bands, (e.g. Soft Machine, Caravan, Gong, Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Hatfield & the North, Egg, National Health), are not immediately obvious*. Most bands will be found employing a clever fusion of rock rhythms and jazz improvisation with intellectual song-writing and varying strengths of psychedelia - some would too include folk elements (e.g. Spirogyra), others blues (e.g. Carol Grimes and Delivery). In addition, a number of bands employed various elements from classical music, for instance those bands with Dave Stewart playing keyboards. Whilst there have been a handful of excellent and distinctly different guitarists to play with Canterbury bands (e.g. Andy Summers, Allan Holdsworth, John Etheridge, Steve Hillage, Phil Miller), the lead instrument of choice has been keyboards. One English peculiarity of Canterbury is what the late John Peel called the 'School of Anti-song' because of particular Wyatt, Ayers and Richard Sinclair's approaches to vocals and perhaps the whimsy. More recently Richard Sinclair's vocal style has perhaps accurately been labelled as 'English jazz singing' by Jazzwise (i.e. singing jazz with an English rather than the usual American accent). In addition Canterbury musicians have experimented as avant garde, free jazz players, e.g. instance Elton Dean, Lol Coxhill, Steve Miller.

(*However, once you've heard some Canterbury bands the commonality becomes more obvious - chord sequencing e.g. Caveman Hughscore's electric piano opening on the tune 'More Than Nothing', the vocals, the lyrics etc.)

Both the Soft Machine and Caravan were popular in England's psychedelic/ underground scene before releasing their first albums in 1968, with Machine completing on level footing with Pink Floyd. However, by the early 70's a series of fragmenting changes of bands' line-ups, (Soft Machine went through about 30) and the subsequent formation of new bands, rapidly broadened Canterbury's range, with many newer musicians with only loose and in fact, no previous Canterbury connections. Early Soft Machine member Daevid Allen formed Gong in Paris. Both Kevin Ayers and Robert Wyatt left the Softs because of musical developments they did not like, to begin their own solo careers. By the mid-70's, most the old and new Canterbury bands had progressed away from psychedelia, developing their distinct forms of progressive rock some embracing jazz fusion, many playing extended jams with now limited lyrical input (e.g. Hatfield and The Norths, National Health, Gilgamesh). Caravan became more folky. However, as the 70's progressed several Canterbury bands would lose most of the rock element from their music. Gong retained their psychedelic side longest, but with the departure of Daevid Allen and Steve Hillage in the mid 70's, the band evolved into the percussion-oriented, jazz rock group Gong, which eventually became the modern day Gongzilla. Daevid Allen regained Gong's name in the 90's and through his solo work and with his University of Errors, is still evidently producing psychedelia. Steve Hillage's form of psychedelia evolved into the glissando rock of his own band and then into electronica, by the end of the 70's. In particular, Hillage through his work as a successful record producer of new bands from the 80's, develop his form of electronica through other bands. This music lost much of its complexity e.g. few riffs played over and over, rather than dozens per tune that previously had often typified prog, into a very popular form that is the antithesis of prog, i.e. the various forms of house music, with associated remixing/turntablism. For instance, Gong's "You" got the remix treatment in the 90's - but then to reflect his range of activities, Hillage has also produced and played guitar for Algerian Rai singer, Rachid Taha for over 20 years.

Many of Britain's better known avant-garde and fusion musicians of the 70's and 80's - including Fred Frith (Henry Cow), Allan Holdsworth (Gong, Soft Machine, UK, Bruford) and Peter Blegvad - were involved during their early careers playing in Canterbury bands. And still new musicians join the Canterbury Scene's ranks, Theo Travis being perhaps the most notable recently (Gong, The Soft Machine Legacy). The Canterbury scene was to have a major influence on musicians in Europe, especially France (e.g. Gong, Moving Gelatine Plates), the Netherlands (Super Sister)and Italy (Daedalus), and more belatedly in the USA (Hughscore). Caravan reformed in the mid 90's, while ex-members of Soft Machine could be found in various avant jazz and straight jazz fusion groups, e.g. Just Us, Soft Heap, Soft Works and most recently The Soft Machine Legacy. From the Canterbury Scene, RIO it its various forms has developed.

FOOTNOTE: As indicated above, many Canterbury Scene bands are acknowledged as having played/are playing jazz rock fusion. However, because of their strong Canterbury affliations are listed under "Canterbury Scene" in Prog Archives.

Dick Heath
Based loosely in part on the source: http://www.allmusic.com
(Edition 3, Aug 2009)

Current team members as at 9/12/2022:
Scott (Evolver)
Drew (BrufordFreak)
Mike (siLLy puPPy)
Mira (Mirakaze)

Canterbury Scene Top Albums


Showing only studios | Based on members ratings & PA algorithm* | Show Top 100 Canterbury Scene | More Top Prog lists and filters

4.32 | 2103 ratings
IN THE LAND OF GREY AND PINK
Caravan
4.29 | 876 ratings
SPACE SHANTY
Khan
4.26 | 1188 ratings
RADIO GNOME INVISIBLE VOL. 3 - YOU
Gong
4.26 | 1231 ratings
IF I COULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, I'D DO IT ALL OVER YOU
Caravan
4.25 | 1041 ratings
ROCK BOTTOM
Wyatt, Robert
4.25 | 928 ratings
HATFIELD AND THE NORTH
Hatfield And The North
4.28 | 549 ratings
OF QUEUES AND CURES
National Health
4.20 | 1195 ratings
THIRD
Soft Machine, The
4.19 | 922 ratings
FOR GIRLS WHO GROW PLUMP IN THE NIGHT
Caravan
4.21 | 690 ratings
THE ROTTERS' CLUB
Hatfield And The North
4.26 | 345 ratings
TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER
Supersister
4.14 | 812 ratings
RADIO GNOME INVISIBLE VOL. 2 - ANGEL'S EGG
Gong
4.30 | 208 ratings
THE WORLD OF GENIUS HANS
Moving Gelatine Plates
4.13 | 504 ratings
BUNDLES
Soft Machine, The
4.13 | 479 ratings
NATIONAL HEALTH
National Health
4.12 | 505 ratings
THE POLITE FORCE
Egg
4.11 | 531 ratings
FISH RISING
Hillage, Steve
4.12 | 391 ratings
MAINSTREAM
Quiet Sun
4.12 | 341 ratings
PICCHIO DAL POZZO
Picchio Dal Pozzo
4.03 | 628 ratings
VOLUME TWO
Soft Machine, The
4.14 | 249 ratings
VIVA BOMA
Cos
4.16 | 197 ratings
DOMINION
Zopp
4.08 | 253 ratings
ZOPP
Zopp
3.96 | 687 ratings
THE SOFT MACHINE
Soft Machine, The
4.19 | 134 ratings
POSTAEOLIAN TRAIN ROBBERY
Cos
4.04 | 279 ratings
PRESENT FROM NANCY
Supersister
3.94 | 677 ratings
RADIO GNOME INVISIBLE PART 1 - FLYING TEAPOT
Gong
4.14 | 131 ratings
MOVING GELATINE PLATES
Moving Gelatine Plates
3.95 | 471 ratings
GAZEUSE!
Gong
4.15 | 122 ratings
QUIET EUPHORIA
Amoeba Split
4.14 | 116 ratings
MANNA/MIRAGE
Muffins, The
3.94 | 311 ratings
SOFTS
Soft Machine, The
4.00 | 155 ratings
ABBIAMO TUTTI I SUOI PROBLEMI
Picchio Dal Pozzo
4.16 | 83 ratings
JOHN GREAVES, PETER BLEGVAD & LISA HERMAN: KEW. RHONE.
Greaves, John
3.91 | 275 ratings
THE CIVIL SURFACE
Egg
3.96 | 174 ratings
PUDDING EN GISTEREN [AKA: PUDDING & YESTERDAY]
Supersister
4.26 | 59 ratings
TOM PENAGUIN
Penaguin, Tom
3.92 | 244 ratings
LITTLE RED RECORD
Matching Mole
4.16 | 75 ratings
BARREN DREAM
Mr. Sirius
4.06 | 105 ratings
CAMERE ZIMMER ROOMS
Picchio Dal Pozzo
4.21 | 66 ratings
ECCO L'IMPERO DEI DOPPI SENSI
Homunculus Res
4.06 | 103 ratings
DANCE OF THE GOODBYES
Amoeba Split
3.91 | 238 ratings
GREEN
Hillage, Steve
4.17 | 70 ratings
DE LORIANS
De Lorians
3.91 | 194 ratings
REJOICE! I'M DEAD
Gong
3.87 | 241 ratings
HIDDEN DETAILS
Soft Machine, The
3.88 | 204 ratings
I SEE YOU
Gong
3.87 | 218 ratings
GILGAMESH
Gilgamesh
3.92 | 142 ratings
THE WINSTONS
Winstons, The
3.81 | 434 ratings
SHAMAL
Gong
3.96 | 103 ratings
SECOND SPLIT
Amoeba Split
3.87 | 178 ratings
SHLEEP
Wyatt, Robert
3.79 | 480 ratings
CAMEMBERT ELECTRIQUE
Gong
3.77 | 686 ratings
WATERLOO LILY
Caravan
4.06 | 59 ratings
SUNSET WADING
Perry, John G.
3.97 | 80 ratings
THOUGHTS
Zyma
4.12 | 47 ratings
CUTTING BOTH WAYS
Miller, Phil
4.01 | 64 ratings
DIRGE
Mr. Sirius
3.77 | 365 ratings
EGG
Egg
3.94 | 73 ratings
LIMITI ALL'EGUAGLIANZA DELLA PARTE CON IL TUTTO
Homunculus Res
3.85 | 114 ratings
ACID MOTHERHOOD
Gong
3.86 | 94 ratings
ANDIAMO IN GIRO DI NOTTE E CI CONSUMIAMO NEL FUOCO
Homunculus Res
3.90 | 68 ratings
COME SI DIVENTA CIÒ CHE SI ERA
Homunculus Res
3.90 | 64 ratings
MAGIC BUS
Magic Bus
3.98 | 43 ratings
PROGRESS
Giles, Michael
3.73 | 331 ratings
EXPRESSO II
Gong
4.32 | 19 ratings
SEABIRD
Perry, John G.
4.20 | 23 ratings
MAN OUT OF TIME
Manna / Mirage
3.79 | 114 ratings
DELLA STESSA SOSTANZA DEI SOGNI
Homunculus Res
3.70 | 633 ratings
CARAVAN
Caravan
3.81 | 87 ratings
PHILLIP THE EGG
Magic Bus
3.78 | 109 ratings
DONDESTAN
Wyatt, Robert
4.08 | 27 ratings
AUTOBIOGRAPHIE
Manna / Mirage
3.78 | 102 ratings
COMICOPERA
Wyatt, Robert
3.80 | 78 ratings
TRANSMISSION FROM SOGMORE'S GARDEN
Magic Bus
4.05 | 26 ratings
LYS FREMTID I MØRKE
Actionfredag
3.94 | 37 ratings
FÜR EIN ¾ STÜNDCHEN
Tortilla Flat
4.42 | 13 ratings
IN CAHOOTS: MIND OVER MATTER
Miller, Phil
3.86 | 45 ratings
THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE
Volaré
3.80 | 64 ratings
DAEVID ALLEN & EUTERPE: GOOD MORNING!
Allen, Daevid
3.74 | 97 ratings
THE UNIVERSE ALSO COLLAPSES
Gong
4.11 | 18 ratings
AUSTRALIA AQUARIA / SHE
Allen, Daevid
4.27 | 13 ratings
MERCY DASH
Hopper - Dean - Tippett - Gallivan
3.78 | 63 ratings
HOPPER TUNITY BOX
Hopper, Hugh
3.72 | 117 ratings
KEVIN AYERS & THE WHOLE WORLD: SHOOTING AT THE MOON
Ayers, Kevin
3.84 | 42 ratings
REMOVING
Moving Gelatine Plates
3.96 | 25 ratings
SONGS
Greaves, John
4.05 | 19 ratings
REST OF THE WORLD
Manna / Mirage
3.76 | 67 ratings
BEFORE A WORD IS SAID
Gowen - Miller - Sinclair - Tomkins
4.38 | 10 ratings
BILLIE BOTTLE'S TEMPLE OF SHIBBOLETH
Bottle, Billie
3.79 | 50 ratings
CHRONOMETERS
Muffins, The
3.96 | 22 ratings
TURIST I EGET LIV
Actionfredag
3.79 | 47 ratings
BURDEN OF PROOF
Soft Machine Legacy
3.69 | 154 ratings
JOY OF A TOY
Ayers, Kevin
3.80 | 41 ratings
185
Muffins, The
3.90 | 24 ratings
PALINDROME
Muffins, The
3.77 | 48 ratings
HUGH HOPPER & ALAN GOWEN: TWO RAINBOWS DAILY
Hopper, Hugh
3.96 | 18 ratings
BLUE DOGS
Manna / Mirage
3.95 | 18 ratings
IN CAHOOTS: ALL THAT
Miller, Phil
3.66 | 225 ratings
L
Hillage, Steve

Canterbury Scene overlooked and obscure gems albums new


Random 3 (reload page for new list) | As selected by the Canterbury Scene experts team

CHRONOMETERS
Muffins, The
JOHN GREAVES, PETER BLEGVAD & LISA HERMAN: KEW. RHONE.
Greaves, John
THE BRUISED ROMANTIC GLEE CLUB
Jakszyk, Jakko M.

Latest Canterbury Scene Music Reviews


 Of Queues and Cures by NATIONAL HEALTH album cover Studio Album, 1978
4.28 | 549 ratings

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Of Queues and Cures
National Health Canterbury Scene

Review by Kaiba

5 stars National Health's Of Queues and Cures still holds up as a smart yet accessible prog rock album. The playing is intricate?think jazz-flavored rhythms and layered melodies?but avoids feeling overly calculated. Take The Bryden 2-Step: the guitar and keyboard trade sharp, interlocking phrases without losing the track's drive. Binoculars stands out with its raw emotional tone, offering a directness that contrasts with the album's more abstract moments (which makes it one of my favourite songs among all the works of National Health). What works in this album is how they balance complexity with groove; even the busiest sections feel grounded. It demands attention, but the payoff comes through repeated listens. A good gateway into 70s Canterbury Scene, whether you're a seasoned prog listener or just curious. 4.5 rounding up to 5.
 Waterloo Lily by CARAVAN album cover Studio Album, 1972
3.77 | 686 ratings

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Waterloo Lily
Caravan Canterbury Scene

Review by Kaiba

4 stars While this album offers moments of undeniable charm, it struggles to fully commit to a cohesive identity. The album starts strong with Waterloo Lily?catchy guitar riffs and bright melodies prove it's a solid opener. The second track isn't bad either: it takes a sharp turn into jazz-rock territory with bold experimental shifts. The issue begins later: from the third track onward, the band retreats to their comfort zone. The melodies grow repetitive, the rhythms turn predictable, and while their playful charm remains, it lacks freshness. Yet amidst these inconsistencies shines "The Love in Your Eye," a sprawling epic whose emotional resonance arguably ranks among Caravan's finest compositions. All in all, this isn't a disappointing album. In fact, its bold fusion-jazz experimentation?ironically?even overshadows the remaining tracks, which, while still pleasant, feel comparatively ordinary. Its high standard overall, along with the fragmented brilliance still justifies a solid four-star rating. For listeners open to jazz, this remains to be a album that's worth a listen.
 If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You by CARAVAN album cover Studio Album, 1970
4.26 | 1231 ratings

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If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You
Caravan Canterbury Scene

Review by Kaiba

5 stars Pure 1970s gold for anyone who loves rock that's smart but never stuffy. Caravan mixes jazzy basslines, trippy guitar riffs, and flutes that sound like they're dancing (Hello Hello is a straight-up joyride). As I Feel I Die shows their magic?crazy sax solos crash into gentle melodies without missing a beat, like a garage band that accidentally wrote a symphony. The whole album feels raw in the best way: fuzzy recordings, loose jams, and playful lyrics. Sure, it's "prog-rock," but forget the fancy labels?this is just great music that's aged like a weird vintage wine. Fifty years later, it's still the kind of album you'll want to play "all over again". 4.5 rounding up to 5.
 For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night by CARAVAN album cover Studio Album, 1973
4.19 | 922 ratings

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For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night
Caravan Canterbury Scene

Review by Kaiba

5 stars Definitely one of the best albums of Caravan. Mostly constituted by instrumental pieces, this album lays less stress on vocal parts, which may be the reason why it is sometimes eclipsed by former albums like "the land...". But it's still an indeed masterpiece that may even reach new heights in the essence of being a Canterbury Scene with all the superb performances made mainly by keyboard or drum. In particular, "memory lain"features truly uplifting passages and "surprise, surprise"is a real surprise as well. The combination of viola and strings also add a distinctive texture to this album, which can be highlighted the most in "a hunting...".
 Unending Ascending Special Edition-Live by GONG album cover Live, 2024
2.00 | 1 ratings

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Unending Ascending Special Edition-Live
Gong Canterbury Scene

Review by alainPP

— First review of this album —
2 stars This Special Edition album features all eight tracks from 2023's 'Unending Ascending' and incorporates five live tracks to make it seem like a live production, available digitally until the time of writing; no doubt, die-hard fans of this unclassifiable band will have gotten their hands on it under their 80s raincoat, the era of innovative ska. The bonus track 'Musica Per Aprire La Mente, Musica Per Aprire Il Cuore' is the best live track on this album. For the eight tracks, the spotlight goes to the languid Crimsonian 'Ship of Ishtar,' magnified by the bewitching voice of Saskia Maxwell, in fact the vocal engine inspired by the DEAD CAN DANCE or even COCTEAU TWINS. An album that has brought nothing since the death of its founding father, which maintains the legend of a band apart for many fans who remained attached to their sound of the 70s and who will die with an epitaph of said band on their tombstone for sure. An album with an Indian atmosphere, psychedelic above all and quite far from the Canterbury movement that it is supposed to represent. The most 'painful' pieces are those with wind instruments which upset by assaulting the ear.
 Hatfield and the North by HATFIELD AND THE NORTH album cover Studio Album, 1974
4.25 | 927 ratings

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Hatfield and the North
Hatfield And The North Canterbury Scene

Review by alainPP

4 stars 1. The Stubbs Effect and Big Jobs (Poo Poo Extract) as canter openings, soft, jazzy soft pop; soft rock, experimentation, already. 3. Going Up to People and Tinkling follows, a muted pop air, a fusion of genres from a jazzy bar night, ah, it's becoming clearer, sound effects too, cinematic one would say today. 4. Calyx continues, trumpet and backing vocals or both at the same time, vocal rambling above all with the great Robert leading the way. 5. Son of "There's No Place Like Homerton," an epic track whose sequencing is once again noteworthy, hence the prog vein certification; a beautiful peregrination with wind instruments at the forefront, the melody flowing unrestrainedly on an avant-garde side of the time, combining classical, hushed ambiance and suave compositions, the moment when we can understand the progressive wanderings of Pink Floyd, Genesis, Magma, Robert Wyatt. A subdued bon mot for this purely progressive take on the early 70s. An atmosphere that flirts with the works of the great King Crimson in the final third, with sax and shrill backing vocals. 6. Aigrette, not sour but almost, with this more instrumental vocal for the pastoral, floral interlude. 7. Rifferama and Richard with his swirling bass, a Camel, Caravan, born in Canterbury. Phil uses his energetic guitar to flirt with free jazz-rock, harking back to the future of Return to Forever.

8. Fol De Rol follows with this mantra from another age, a moment where each note coming together becomes nostalgic, vibrant, or exasperating, depending on the listeners' tastes; perfection of the moment, soulless tinkering.

9. Shaving Is Boring follows with the typical Canterbury take; It starts out of nowhere, it's barely audible, and then, and then it transforms into a minimalist electronic musical mishmash that holds up, like the work of Tangerine Dream; confusing, astounding, gradually captivating; an open-door break, the sound of footsteps, and the finale, as if coming from elsewhere, for the organ-bass-guitar assault on Canterbury time, the one that melts time with notes. 10. Licks for the Ladies follows, as if there were no sides on LPs at the time; a rural atmosphere with a distant vocal on an acoustic guitar and its electric organ. 11. Bossa Nochance follows, just more energetic. 12. Big Jobs No 2 (by Poo and the Wee Wees) in the same vein, well, why separate tracks that are only the musical continuation? Soft vocals and guitar play the part with a honeyed undertone. 13. Lobster in Cleavage Probe arrives, electric organ on choirs of sirens or nuns in bloom, the bucolic scene is confirmed; a battle without weapons between two female choirs wandering in cloudy limbo before the powerful solo, launching 14. Gigantic Land-Crabs in Earth Takeover Bid and its unashamedly crimsonian solo into violent, archaic, heavy territory?yes, the word is out, which makes me smile at the look of my prog friends, impervious to the prog metal movement, in short; a little sweetness, clarinet, tweet, tweet, or almost, before the new deluge and 15. The Other Stubbs Effect closes the debate with the psychedelically disturbing outro.

 Of Queues and Cures by NATIONAL HEALTH album cover Studio Album, 1978
4.28 | 549 ratings

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Of Queues and Cures
National Health Canterbury Scene

Review by Lobster77

5 stars National Health's second LP is generally similar to their first, but there are several points of difference: co-founder Alan Gowen is no longer involved, Amanda Parsons' lovely vocals are missing as well, and whereas all material on the debut was composed by Gowen and Dave Stewart, here the songwriting is more evenly distributed, with Stewart contributing three tracks ? "The Bryden 2-Step (for Amphibians)" Parts 1 and 2, and "The Collapso" ? and bassist John Greaves, guitarist Phil Miller, and drummer Pip Pyle one apiece ("Squarer for Maud", "Dreams Wide Awake", and "Binoculars").

Side A's first track, "The Bryden 2-Step (for Amphibians)" Part 1, begins with a hushed "dawn" introduction (complete with birdsong), which gives way to an energetic theme that might at first be mistaken for something by Emerson, Lake & Palmer before settling into a fusion-y interlude and concluding with a hypnotic passage featuring a bass solo. Regarding the next track, "The Collapso", suffice it to say that it bears no resemblance to calypso, even though Selwyn Baptiste appears briefly on steel drums; in fact, it sounds particularly ELP-ish. The final track on Side A, "Squarer for Maud", is rather more foreboding, sounding at times somewhat like some extended instrumental excursion by the Starless and Bible Black-period King Crimson, and incorporates a sudden spoken-word interjection that feels like it could have come from Robert Fripp's Exposure.

Opening side B is "Dreams Wide Awake", which starts out in a way that could put you momentarily in mind of Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein" and then goes back into the standard National Health solo-trading that's always enjoyable to listen to but would be a challenge to identify which track it came from if you were to hear a random segment of it. The next track, "Binoculars", features actual singing (by John Greaves), making it the most reminiscent of Hatfield and the North of anything on this LP; there's also some nice flute and clarinet by Jimmy Hastings. The album closes with "The Bryden 2-Step (for Amphibians)" Part 2, which starts with an almost bolero-like riff before breaking into the main theme from Part 1 and finally drifting off ethereally in typical Dave Stewart fashion. 4.99 a essential for the Canterbury section of a collection.

 Hatfield and the North by HATFIELD AND THE NORTH album cover Studio Album, 1974
4.25 | 927 ratings

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Hatfield and the North
Hatfield And The North Canterbury Scene

Review by Lobster77

4 stars Debut album by the legendary Canterbury group Hatfield And The North, probably one of the most iconic and unsurpassed masters of the genre. Comprising of keyboardist Dave Stewart, guitarist Phil Miller, bassist / vocalist Richard Sinclair and drummer Pip Pyle, with guests like reedman Geoff Leigh (Henry Cow), vocalist Robert Wyatt and others, they recorded what is considered to be the ultimate Canterbury masterpiece. The album represents everything that the genre stands for: brilliant melodies, strange harmonies, superb musicianship, quirk rhythmic patterns and a good dash of British humor. It is difficult to pinpoint why this album and its follow up turned out to be the genre's icons, but the fact that they are the first thing that come to mind when Canterbury is mentioned speaks for itself. Whatever the reasons, this is an absolute classic album, which lost nothing of its intrinsic beauty and musical perfection over time. A definite Canterbury essential 4.0
 Of Queues and Cures by NATIONAL HEALTH album cover Studio Album, 1978
4.28 | 549 ratings

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Of Queues and Cures
National Health Canterbury Scene

Review by SliprKC70

5 stars National Health was a late Canterbury Scene supergroup consisting of Dave Stewart, Pip Pyle, John Greaves, and Phil Miller. It's essentially Hatfield and the North with the addition of Greaves instead of Richard Sinclair. Out of all these talented men that played on this record, I want to quickly say that I personally loved Pip Pyle's performance on all these numbers. I just love Pyle's style as a whole, but here it's very much present all over this thing. Going along now, for the longest time, I avoided much of the main Canterbury Scene bands, but in the past couple of months I've opened up to bands like Hatfield and the North, Moving Gelatin Plates, and obviously National Health. Their second album, Of Queues and Cures, is an absolute masterpiece and possibly one of the last great moments of the classic progressive rock era. Its musicianship, precision, and sheer complexity rival even some of the greatest albums in the scene, and the sprawling song lengths give room for the band to exercise and explore their creative playing and ideas into such stunning tracks. It's perfectly balanced between playful and humorous progressive rock and fast- paced, serious avant-garde jazz fusion. All of this makes for a stellar record that, while a bit hard for some listeners to digest, is a staple for the progressive rock genre as a whole. It's also an impressive achievement, seeing how this is coming off the heels of the amazing self-titled debut they made the same year.

The album begins with The Bryden 2-Step Pt. 1, a lush and powerful melody of fast-paced jazz fusion while mixing avant prog elements into it, all while staying on a positive side. This is an excellent way to start the album and truly shows National Health's creativity when writing. The clean production on this track also puts it out there as one of the Canterbury Scene's finest examples. It's always shifting in different ways everywhere the song goes, keeping the sound fresh and unique from anything else on the song. The instrumental aspects also add more space for the band to experiment in, and they take it to their full advantage. Seriously, it's incredible how the band can go from ambient nature noise to rapid-fire jazz tunes at such volumes in such little time during the first minutes alone. The next song, The Collapso, continues this trend, being much more quirky guitar and drum work. This track is much more laid back while still pushing boundaries and exploring many different wacky instrumentations and structures. Sure, the technicality and quality of the first track aren't here, but this is still an incredible piece. One of the main problems I have with the song, though, is that it is far too short. I know the band was already stretching out what they could fit on a vinyl and that they were running out of space on a singular vinyl, but if it weren't for those limitations and they could've made this song longer, I would've liked it a lot more (as good as it already is). Squarer for Maud is probably the best song on the album, and while it might be one of the longest, the true greatness of this number is revealed more and more as the song progresses. The perfect transition from dark and ominous jazz fusion to lush and powerful avant-rock melodies is truly one of a kind in this song. The structure is also constantly teetering between different strange time signatures and wild jazz experimentation. It's hard for me to state the key perfection this song has, but basically it has every good aspect on this album doubled in terms of quality.

Dreams Wide Awake is the opening on side two and is composed mainly of drum-driven, hard-rocking, progressive rock accompanied by excessively evolving guitar and keyboard solos in the beginning, while the second half has more happy-sounding material similar to what was found on The Bryden 2 Step Pt. 1; it still brings its own unique twists and manic rhythms into the mix. It's another great piece of this record, and while it may be on the weaker side of things, it's still essential to keep this album's flow going. For a while, the next song, called Binoculars, was probably one of my most played songs. It's catchy while staying inside the realm of the band's best music, with the eleven minutes of length giving it length to squeeze wonderful vocal sections with instrumental jamming and individual spotlights on each of the band members talents. It has a neat dynamic between uplifting, soft, and quiet moments and heavy levels of loud and bombastic experimentation that make this song all the better. There is a short interlude called Phl'kat'n before we end off the album in the second part of The Bryden 2 Step, which, as the name implies, continues the musical developments found on the first part. This song definitely focuses less on having an introduction and throws the listener into the wild stuff. Sure, there are some repeating melodies from the first part, but the band manages to stay original and create a whole new atmosphere within this track. It ends off the album magnificently with this great performance.'

In conclusion, every listener of progressive rock needs to hear this marvelous sensation and feel the experience and excitement that is Of Queues and Cures. Literally, this is one of my top favorite albums of all time. Nothing on this record lets me down, and while this might be my second favorite Canterbury Scene album (behind Hatfield and the North's debut), it is impossibly close. I would give this record a perfect 5/5, but I think it's just barely out of reach, mainly because of that eight-second song (if you could call it that), and when talking about perfection, everything matters. My official rating is 4.75/5. I would highly recommend it to all listeners of this genre if you haven't already. It's incredible!

 Space Shanty by KHAN album cover Studio Album, 1972
4.29 | 876 ratings

BUY
Space Shanty
Khan Canterbury Scene

Review by Lobster77

4 stars "KHAN" were a 4 piece made up of Canterbury-influenced musicians who later went on to their own projects, primarily guitarist Steve Hillage. He and keyboard virtuoso Dave Stewart dominate the album with better-than-average prog ideas that are intermittently interrupted by "far out" hippie rock cliches in the vocal verses of the song. Which is too bad, because it somewhat distracts and detracts from some creative instrumental work that is as playful as it is complex. I like what user Loserboy said that some of Dave Stewarts best Hammond work is on here, he's definitely right. Dave Stewart's keyboard sounds and arrangements make this album more detailed than spacy, despite the silly outer-space themes (especially compared to Hillage's subsequent work with the much more psychedelic band Gong). Whether playing rhythms, arrangements, or psych/hard rock leads, Hillage's guitar style is strong and unique. Many of the tendencies of prog rock, for better and/or worse, are abundant on this lesser-known release during its heyday. some of these tracks on their sophomore album ( that wouldn't be released) would be placed onto Steve hillage's solo debut "Fish Rising". 4.0 Canterbury classic
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Canterbury Scene bands/artists list

Bands/Artists Country
ACTIONFREDAG Norway
DAEVID ALLEN Australia
AMOEBA SPLIT Spain
ANTIQUE SEEKING NUNS United Kingdom
KEVIN AYERS United Kingdom
BIG HOGG United Kingdom
THE BOOT LAGOON United Kingdom
BILLIE BOTTLE United Kingdom
BRAINVILLE United Kingdom
CARAVAN United Kingdom
CLEAR FRAME United Kingdom
COS Belgium
DE LORIANS Japan
DELIVERY United Kingdom
EGG United Kingdom
THE FILIBUSTER SALOON United States
THE GHOULIES United Kingdom
MICHAEL GILES United Kingdom
GILGAMESH United Kingdom
GONG Multi-National
GOWEN - MILLER - SINCLAIR - TOMKINS United Kingdom
JOHN GREAVES United Kingdom
NICHOLAS GREENWOOD United Kingdom
GRINGO United Kingdom
HATFIELD AND THE NORTH United Kingdom
HENRYTENNIS Japan
STEVE HILLAGE United Kingdom
HOMUNCULUS RES Italy
HOPPER - DEAN - TIPPETT - GALLIVAN United Kingdom
HUGH HOPPER United Kingdom
JAKKO M. JAKSZYK United Kingdom
THE KENTISH SPIRES United Kingdom
KHAN United Kingdom
THE LODGE United States
LUNOPHONE Multi-National
MAGIC BUS United Kingdom
MANNA / MIRAGE United States
MASTER CYLINDER United States
MATCHING MOLE United Kingdom
MILLER & COXHILL United Kingdom
PHIL MILLER United Kingdom
MOLESLOPE Japan
MOOM United Kingdom
MOVING GELATINE PLATES France
MR. SIRIUS Japan
THE MUFFINS United States
NATIONAL HEALTH United Kingdom
OCARINAH France
PANTHEON Netherlands
PAZOP Belgium
TOM PENAGUIN France
JOHN G. PERRY United Kingdom
PICCHIO DAL POZZO Italy
THE POLITE FORCE United Kingdom
PIP PYLE United Kingdom
QUANTUM JUMP United Kingdom
QUIET SUN United Kingdom
SHORT WAVE United Kingdom
RICHARD SINCLAIR United Kingdom
SOFT HEAP United Kingdom
SOFT MACHINE LEGACY United Kingdom
THE SOFT MACHINE United Kingdom
SOFT MOUNTAIN Multi-National
SOFT WORKS United Kingdom
STUBBS Japan
SUPERSISTER Netherlands
SUPPLY DEMAND & CURVE Ireland
TORTILLA FLAT Germany
TRAVELLING France
TWENTY FIVE VIEWS OF WORTHING United Kingdom
VOLARÉ United States
THE WILDE FLOWERS United Kingdom
THE WINSTONS Italy
ROBERT WYATT United Kingdom
ZOPP United Kingdom
ZYMA Germany

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