SOFT
MACHINE - "Facelift"
This
double CD was compiled from a recording made on a portable cassette
player by Brian Hooper and features a line-up of Mike Ratledge- keyboards,
Hugh Hopper- bass, Elton Dean- saxes and electric piano and Robert Wyatt-
drums and vocals in fine form at the Fairfield Hall, Croydon on 26 April,
1970.
Admittedly lo-fi this release captures the spirit and essence of a band
at the height of its creative peak in front of an enthusiastic audience.
Apart from missing the first few bars of 'Slightly All The Time' and
some tape slippage on that track 'Facelift' (dedicated to Phil Howitt,
editor of the Canterbury music fanzine of the same name) is perfectly
listenable.
All of the seminal 'Third' is included as well as (among others) 'Mousetrap',
'Noisette', 'Backwards', 'Esther's Nose Job' 'Eamonn Andrews' and 'Pigling
Bland'.
This is a worthwhile release from Voiceprint and a valuable addition
to any Softs fan's collection.
(VP233CD) 
(Phil
Jackson)
DICE - Waterworld
(ZeitPunkt)
It
takes a brave or foolish band to name an album after a dodgy Kevin Costner
movie, but German progsters Dice are such a band. Fortunately, the music
banishes memories of the sci fi folly, instead drawing you into what
may be their best release yet.
Now
we were taken with "Dreamland" and "Dice In Space"
but once the 12 minute opener "21st Century Space Blues" gets
going, there's little doubt about the premier quality music on offer
here. Dice basically deal in a traditional progressive sound with nods
to the likes of Camel, Pendragon and solo Roger Waters, but there's
also a political heart beating inside this prog beast (which I'm sure
Rog would approve of).
The
lyricism helps make the likes of "SOS Planet Earth Cries"
all the more addictive. And despite the prevalence of guitars (and some
tasty solos), it's the little keyboard touches that make you pause and
listen all the more carefully, be it the boogie woogie piano fill on
"21st Century..." or the Hammond sound on top tune "Things
Are Getting Better".
A
must have for died in the wool progsters, and an eye opener for the
unbelieving infidels.
www.dice-band.de
www.scene-records.de
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