Kim Poor - “The Hermit”, 1975
*********************************************************
"...all the preparatory disciplines that must precede dialectics must be taught from the earliest age, but without fixing them in a rigid scheme that is imposed mandatorily."
"And why ever not?"
"Because a free man must never learn a science as if he were a slave. In fact, if the hardships endured by force by the body do not make it worse, no teaching forced upon the soul can ever be stable."
"It's true."
"Dear friend, you must not educate the young with coercion, but with play, so that you too may be able to distinguish what the natural inclinations of each one are."
Plato - "Republic", Book VII
*********************************************************
As I prepare to write these lines, I can't help but recall the cheerful words of Bartleboom, which I happened to read some time ago among the site's pages. Do I take my role and the function of my suggestions "on an amateur review site whose symbol is a cow" too seriously? Maybe I should relax, put aside abacus, weights and scale, and leave to the dozens of specialized sites the burden of properly illustrating the complex works I presumptuously attempt to describe. Despite the magnitude of doubt, the comments and trust that I've noticed around some of my old suggestions have convinced me to update those ancient judgments, perhaps giving credit to the vague semblance of critical sense that OleEinar and Supersoul, in ancient times, tried unsuccessfully to instil in my enthusiastic vision of the progressive universe. It's not that I now possess total objectivity, nor the endless knowledge of Master Jargon, but I like to think I've gained a slightly wider view than in the past. Since this platform allows me to do so, I also take the opportunity to introduce intermediate ratings, in order to further clarify the value of the listed works.
Since this is a simple list of epigraphs, I thought of including (in addition, of course, to the name of the band and its album) the year, the new rating, the difference with the previous one, the group's nation ("N"), the style ("S") and the ease of listening ("D"), which may depend on the amount of commitment, concentration, patience or repeated attempts required to adequately understand the album in question.
The levels of adversity are indicative and simply suggest the spirit with which to approach the listening.
D: "Trivial" (Eg. Caravan - "Caravan", 1968)
D: "Contained" (Eg. Genesis - "Trespass", 1970)
D: "Reasonable" (Eg. Yes - "Close to the Edge", 1972)
D: "Wavering" (Eg. King Crimson - "Starless and Bible Black", 1974)
D: "Noticeable"
(Eg. Henry Cow - "Leg End", 1973)
D: "Formidable" (Eg. Robert Wyatt - "The End of an Ear", 1970)
ALLEGORICAL INVENTORY
Considerations updated to Wednesday, 2 March 2011.
01. Anthony Phillips - “The Geese and the Ghost”, 1977 = {*****}
[N: England / S: Symphonic Folk / D: Contained]
(=): A velvety caress, messenger of distant times, romantically transposed into music. A one-of-a-kind serenade.
02. Steve Hackett - “Bay of Kings”, 1983 = {*****}
[N: England / S: Classical / D: Reasonable]
(=): The epic horizons of a lost universe emerge in the reflections of a purest diamond, extracted from the genius of the most measured and concrete classical composer to emerge from the Progressive Academy.
03. Steve Hackett - “Momentum”, 1988 = {*****}
[N: England / S: Classical / D: Reasonable]
(=): The precious stone becomes a finely crafted jewel. Perhaps less spontaneous than its predecessor, but made just as priceless
by the astonishing skill of its exceptional goldsmith.
04. Greenslade - “Time and Tide”, 1975 = {***}
[N: England / S: Symphonic Rock / D: Trivial]
(-1): Frugal but dignified conclusion to a tortuous series, which started out strong but was never truly convincing to the end.
05. National Health - “National Health”, 1977 = {*****}
[N: England / S: Canterbury Jazz / D: Reasonable]
(=): The perfect synthesis of different yet extremely fruitful experiences. A sublime tale told by a truly splendid voice.
06. Gilgamesh - “Gilgamesh”, 1975 = {*****}
[N: England / S: Canterbury Jazz / D: Reasonable]
(=): A legendary book of white magic, studded with miraculous spells and written by the most gifted and knowledgeable thaumaturge of Kent.
07. Gilgamesh - “Another Fine Tune You've Got Me Into”,
1978 = {*****}
[N: England / S: Canterbury Jazz / D: Reasonable]
(=): A secret itinerary, drawn with unmatched elegance, on an ancient parchment; essential for diving in and sounding out the remote depths of the soul.
08. Gowen, Miller, Sinclair, Tomkins - “Before a Word
Is Said”, 1980 = {****}
[N: England / S: Canterbury Jazz / D: Reasonable]
(-1): The testament of an immense musician. With his friend Phil Lee on guitar, we could probably have talked about yet another masterpiece.
09. National Health - “D.S. al Coda”, 1981 = {****}
[N: England / S: Canterbury Jazz / D: Reasonable]
(-1): Doctrine and inspiration bear Alan's unmistakable seal, but grace and reflective spirit have vanished. Tragically forever.
10. National Health - “Missing Pieces”, 1994 = {*****}
[N: England / S: Canterbury Jazz / D: Reasonable]
(+1): An orchestra of sacred monsters for an amazing collection of compositions. All characterized by boundless ingenuity and an inextinguishable irony.
11. Machine and the Synergetic Nuts - “Leap Second
Neutral”, 2005 = {*****}
[N: Japan / S: Jazz Rock / D: Reasonable]
(=): One of the most exciting works I've had the pleasure and honor of listening to. Colossal energy at the service of stunning moods, rendered with technique and originality from another world.
12. Gilgamesh - “Arriving Twice”, 2000 = {****}
[N: England / S: Canterbury Jazz / D: Reasonable]
(=): The various compilation stages of an esoteric text that has become essential. Disordered and at times indecipherable notes, that nevertheless cannot hide the enormous talent of their author.
13. Egg - “The Civil Surface”, 1974 = {****}
[N: England / S: Canterbury Jazz / D: Reasonable]
(=): Forget the cacophonies of the past, the language develops a perpetual tension between dynamism, lightness and warmth. An ideal prelude to the creative contests of the following year.
14. Arzachel - “Arzachel”, 1969 = {****½}
[N: England / S: Psychedelic Rock / D: Reasonable]
(+½): An afternoon spent in the company of friends, improvising bold lysergic excursions, by means of surprising flair and unlimited understanding.
*********************************************************
«The wall on which the prophets wrote
Is cracking at the seams.
Upon the instruments of death
The sunlight brightly gleams.
When every man is torn apart
With nightmares and with dreams,
Will no one lay the laurel wreath
As silence drowns the screams.
Between the iron
gates of fate,
The seeds of time were sown,
And watered by the deeds of those
Who know and who are known;
Knowledge is a deadly friend
When no one sets the rules.
The fate of all mankind I see
Is in the hands of fools.
Confusion will be my epitaph.
As I crawl a cracked and broken path
If we make it we can all sit back
and laugh.
But I fear tomorrow I'll be crying,
Yes I fear tomorrow I'll be crying.»
Peter Sinfield -
“Epitaph”, 1969
*********************************************************