From: piscine@rs1.tcs.tulane.edu (Mike Taylor)
Newsgroups: alt.music.progressive
Subject: Re: Hillage: what I dislike about KHAN
Date: 18 Dec 92 13:57:25 GMT
Organization: Tulane Museum of Natural History
Nntp-Posting-Host-[nntpd-26358]: rs1.tcs.tulane.edu


MH> I causually insulted KHAN - Space Shanty:

Well, I wouldn't call it an insult.  Just fightin' words...  <grin>

MH> I find this one a little weak, though I love Dave Stewart and
MH> Hillage much. 

MH> OK, I feel I should explain why I feel Space Shanty is a little
MH> weak. Keep in mind this is all IMHO, and in general I'm not real
MH> fond of vocals anyway...

I consider all musical conversations as IMO.  There is no right or wrong in
music, but rather just what works for you.

I'm not much for vocals either, perfering instrumental work over vocal laden
music.  But as long as the vocals aren't too harsh, I can usually listen through
them for the music I like.

MH> But it surprises me that so many folks rate this highly as much
MH> liked Hillage/Stewart release... I wonder if partly it's because
MH> it's one of the few places Stewart and Hillage are found on record
MH> together? **

That's probably at least part of the reason.  But for me, not the only reason.

MH> Overall I like it, but I find it one of the weaker Hillage releases
MH> for a number of reasons. First of all and mostly it's the vocals -
MH> I'm only fond of few vocalists - Wyatt, Cale, Hammill are the main
MH> ones that come to mind. Others like Hillage or Daevid Allen have
MH> grown on me a little, but in general I find lyrics and words to not
MH> be a necessary element of what I listen to and I prefer
MH> instrumental music.

I can't say I have a preference for any vocalist.  As long as they aren't
offensive, they are OK.  Lyrics as well.  I never seem to get the meaning of any
lyric "deeper" than "I wanna hold your hand!"  Many people won't listen to
progrock with non-English lyrics, but I almost prefer it that way.  In that
case, I listen to the voice as a melodic instrument, and not for what is being
said.  I find it much more enjoyable.

MH>  This is a pretty song oriented lp, [...] Overall I find this
MH> release to sound very dated, very late 60's/early 70's, and aside
MH> from a few very interesting parts of it the music is sort of too
MH> generic to me. Dave Stewart's organ tone is at times sort of goofy
MH> to me.

It is indeed a song-oriented album, and the songs all seem to have the same
structure.  Back to this in a moment.  One reason I like this album so much is
the tonal range that Stewart gets from the Hammond.  I just wasn't aware how
diverse the Hammond could sound until I heard this album.  For those who think
Emerson is the god of the Hammond, check out Stewart.  Hillage does have some
nice playing here and there, such as the opening of 'Driving to Amsterdam."
Hillage gets in a nice, bluesy solo.  Stewart's solo is also great and his tone
is wonderful.  They also sound good when the both play the melody
simultaneously.  But this isn't Hillage's or Stewart's most technical playing.
And I don't think it was meant to be, as the album has a different purpose.

The reason I most like the album is hard for me to put in mere words.  But the
mood is set by the album's title, _Space Shanty_.  This is one of the few albums
that I can listen to with my eyes closed the entire time.  Everything flows
smoothly.  The lyrics are intended more to help sweep you along, rather than to
make you listen to them.  The album has a conceptual feel, as each song seems to
be a variation on a single album melodic theme.  The "Space Shanty," to me, is
inside your head.  I have to stop here, 'cause everything else I feel about the
album just doesn't look write in print.  But I guess you get the idea that the
album simply "works" for me.

MH> ** BTW, Speaking of Hillage and Stewart together - did you know
MH> that in some of the early BBC sessions that National Health did,
MH> Hillage joins in with Stewart and Bill Bruford!

Yea, I know from the liner notes of the National Health _Complete_ CD.  One song
is included ('Paracelsus') in the set.  Steve is definitely brought in to play a
precomposed guitar piece.  Bruford drummed until they could find someone
permanent.  Based on what Hillage and Stewart are doing today, I wonder what a
modern-day collaboration would sound like.


Mike

      /-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=(*)=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-\
      ^ Mike Taylor                  <->                  rolyaT ekiM ^
      ^ piscine@rs1.tcs.tulane.edu   <->   ude.enalut.sct.1sr@enicsip ^
      \-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=(*)=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-/
Newsgroups: alt.music.progressive