The release of "The Polite Force" marks the end of Egg, who, dropped first by Decca and then by bassist and singer Mont Campbell, do not survive the summer of 1972. Keyboardist Dave Stewart and drummer Clive Brooks find themselves abandoning the project, both not yet able to replace Mont's compositional genius, who, in the meantime (after spending a short period earning a living as a plumber), decides to enter the Royal College of Music in London to pursue classical studies, dedicating himself to learning the horn (known in England as the "French Horn"). Dave then explores other opportunities and participates in the creation of "Space Shanty," the first and only album/masterpiece by Steve Hillage's Khan, and the subsequent tour, until he is contacted by Pip Pyle to join Hatfield and the North. Two years later, thanks to the visibility obtained by the aforementioned group, Dave manages to secure a deal with Virgin to release the third and final Egg album, composed of pieces that had not been previously recorded and therefore remained unreleased. Mont accepts the proposal to temporarily reunite with his old bandmates and shortly thereafter "The Civil Surface" sees the light, this time with the help of numerous guests, such as Jeremy Baines, Lindsay Cooper, Tim Hodgkinson, the Northettes, and Steve Hillage.

Right from the album's opening, it becomes immediately clear how the melodic contamination with fusion shades from Dave's "Hatfieldian" experience is destined to heavily influence Mont's compositions, giving this work rather hybrid sounds, ranging from the technical and complex experimentalism of the early Egg, to the quintessential Canterbury sound of Hatfield, up to some hints of warm and enveloping jazz, but not as refined, in the Gilgamesh style (a combination perfectly and wholly embodied later by National Health).

The best episodes, as well as the longest, provide space for Dave's instrumental digressions on keyboards and organ ("Germ Patrol"), impeccably supported by Clive's technical skill ("Enneagram") and Mont's deep and impactful vocals ("Wring Out the Ground (Loosely Now)"), or acute and sweet in the case of the Northettes ("Prelude"). The shorter pieces focus mostly on winds, both in their more classical use, as demonstrated by the two baroque frescoes created by the quartet featuring Mont on horn, Maurice Cambridge on clarinet, Stephen Solloway on flute, and Chris Palmer on bassoon ("Wind Quartet 1 and 2"), and in more experimental uses, where Jeremy, Lindsay, and Tim's wind instruments play with the drums, alternating moments marked by a march rhythm with others where complete silence reigns ("Nearch").

Even though he is not the author of the pieces, Dave, thanks to the confidence gained from experiences in other groups and the consequent growth of his personal style, is the undisputed protagonist of this album release, which can be seen as an intermediate step towards achieving a sound that would be realized through collaboration with Alan Gowen shortly thereafter.

Tracklist

01   Germ Patrol (08:31)

02   Wind Quartet I (02:25)

03   Enneagram (09:09)

04   Prelude (04:17)

05   Wring Out the Ground (Loosely Now) (08:11)

06   Nearch (03:27)

07   Wind Quartet II (04:45)

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