National Health

Here’s something in 2024 worth celebrating without reservation or caveat or vague dread that it might go away: a new album from Inner Ear Brigade. It’s been a long time since Dromology, but Perkunas is proof that the band not only still exists, but still has all of the qualities that made that album so great. The band’s mainstays are Bill Wolter (guitar, keyboards) and Ivor Holloway (saxophone, EWI), who have been part of the project since the first album in 2011, and Chris Lauf (drums, percussion), who was with them on Dromology. Many other musicians also take part, some of whom have appeared on previous recordings, though not on every track. Stylistically, IEB is in a class of their own, with complex compositions reminiscent of other avant progressive bands like Thinking Plague, Cheer-Accident, and MoeTar, but also a tinge of jazz in the same way that Canterbury bands like National Health and Hatfield and the North did it…

Here’s something in 2024 worth celebrating without reservation or caveat or vague dread that it might go away: a new album from Inner Ear Brigade. It’s been a long time since Dromology, but Perkunas is proof that the band not only still exists, but still has all of the qualities that made that album so great. The band’s mainstays are Bill Wolter (guitar, keyboards) and Ivor Holloway (saxophone, EWI), who have been part of the project since the first album in 2011, and Chris Lauf (drums, percussion), who was with them on Dromology. Many other musicians also take part, some of whom have appeared on previous recordings, though not on every track. Stylistically, IEB is in a class of their own, with complex compositions reminiscent of other avant progressive bands like Thinking Plague, Cheer-Accident, and MoeTar, but also a tinge of jazz in the same way that Canterbury bands like National Health and Hatfield and the North did it…

Low Budget doesn't have a narrative like Preservation or Soap Opera, but Ray Davies cleverly designed the album as a sly satire of the recession and oil crisis that gripped America in the late '70s - thereby satisfying his need to be a wry social commentator while giving American audiences a hook to identify with. It was a clever move that worked; not only did Low Budget become their highest-charting American album (not counting the 1966 Greatest Hits compilation), but it was also a fine set of arena rock, one of the better mainstream hard rock albums of its time. And it certainly was of its time - so much so that many of the concerns and production techniques have dated quite a bit in the decades since its initial release. Nevertheless, that gives the album a certain charm, since it now plays like a time capsule, a snapshot of what hard rock sounded like at the close of the '70s…

Formed in 1967 at the height of the UK psychedelic scene, Uriel consisted of Steve Hillage (guitar/vocals), Dave Stewart (organ), Mont Campbell (bass/vocals) and Clive Brooks (drums). When Hillage left the band Uriel continued as an organ trio, later changing their name to Egg. Arzachel ~ Collectors Edition is a re-mastered version of the legendary 1969 psychedelic album recorded under a pseudonym by Uriel, featuring the amazing 17-year old Steve Hillage on guitar throughout. The CD also contains four unreleased, ultra-rare Uriel studio demos, a spoken-word message from the past and a live snippet recorded in 1968. Steve Hillage plays on two of these bonus tracks.

French TV is a Louisville, Kentucky based progressive rock band that has been in existence since 1983. Over the years, members have come and gone, but founder, bassist and main composer Mike Sary continues to drag the band into the next millennium. The band deftly nod to prog-masters like National Health, Soft Machine, Zappa, Brudford, Brand X, Happy the Man, and Samla Mammas Manna, among others. The history of French TV is complex, filled with lineup changes, missed opportunities, delays, and disillusions. And yet, a growing body of work testifies to one man's sagacity and stubbornness. Blending elements of progressive rock, fusion, cartoon music, and Rock in Opposition (RIO), the music of his group has been described as being "simultaneously hilarious and highly challenging, making it one of the most original American prog rock outfits."

This is Annie Barbazza’s first solo album. She was a young drummer in love with progressive rock when Greg Lake discovered her talent as a singer and wanted her on stage with him for the concert which would later become the posthumous “Live in Piacenza”. Again Lake produced “Moonchild”, the duo with pianist Max Repetti for Manticore Records where she sang many songs formerly sang by Lake with ELP and King Crimson. If these were the beginnings of Annie’s career, now she is a rising star of the international Avant / Prog scene. Her friendship with John Greaves (Henry Cow, National Health …) leads her to collaborate permanently live with the Welsh musician and to collaborate on his latest albums (“Piacenza” for Dark Companion and “Life Size” for Manticore). Another one of her stable collaborations is the one with legendary writer-singer-songwriter Paul Roland with whom Annie regularly performs live as a bassist and singer and in the studio also as a drummer.

Turning Point were a late 1970s fusion band from the UK. The band was formed by Jeff Clyne (bass) and Brian Miller (keyboards), who had previously played together in Isotope, and Pepi Lemer (wordless vocals). Also in the band were David Tidball (saxes) and Paul Robinson (drums). They recorded two albums: Creatures of the Night (1977) and Silent Promise (1978), both on the Gull label. They toured the UK, including supporting National Health in 1977. Their final tour in 1980 included Allan Holdsworth and Neil Ardley.