LP-Egg-Polite Force 60's UK prog psych

$

60

(THE POLITE FORCE..) by ( EGG )...... ....(A FAN SAYS: This is extremely complex and fully-developed progressive rock (released in 1971 on the Deram label) that features the extraordinary keyboard talents of Dave Stewart with superb bass playing by Mont Campbell, and excellent drumming by Clive Brooks. Although this keyboard-led trio is part of the "Canterbury' scene, the music sounds nothing like Caravan or Hatfield and the North. Rather, the music of Egg combines a significant proportion of dissonance and avant-garde tendencies with over-the-top technical excess (trust me-these guys are good players). In fact, it is this combination that might lead people to describe them as "intellectual" or "arty". In terms of instrumentation the Hammond organ and piano are used nearly exclusively (with one short passage of pipe organ and altered mellotron on "Boilk"), and although the Tone Generator is used sparingly, synthesizers are generally absent. This was 1971 after all. Although the standard bass-keys-drums dominate, there are occasional "freak-outs" consisting of bizarre electronic effects in addition to a neat (and very short) horn section on "Contrasong" that was arranged by bassist Mont Campbell. Speaking of the bass player, Mont Campbell does not simply follow the left hand piano part but is thoroughly contrapuntal, which makes an Egg composition a bit more interesting than a composition written by a more famous keyboard-led trio. Although his vocal abilities are not great, the vocals are not a big part of the Egg sound and do not detract from anything. Odd time signatures abound and include meters such as 5/8 and 9/8, although more complicated time signature are used. Chord structures are also um...exotic and lend an air of doom and menace to the music. Sometimes the avant-garde aspects can get a bit grating (as on Long Piece No. 3) but are tolerable. The four pieces range in length from the 4'21 "Contrasong" to the epic 20'42 "Long Piece No. 3" and are uncompromising in their metric and harmonic complexity. Cover art is very cool. Excellent stuff that is highly recommended. 1. Visit To Newport Hospital 2. Contrasong 3. Boilk 4. Long Piece No.3 SL IS VG TO VG++ DISC IS M- RARE )