Sunday, April 6, 2008

KEVIN AYERS AND THE WHOLE WORLD-COLOURS OF THE DAY (BOOTLEG), CD, LATE 90'S (RECORDED: 1970-1972), UK






Sun dappled, dewy eyed whimsified Canterbury godhead was what Kevin Ayer and his short lived Whole World band were and their "Shooting For The Moon" album (Ayers second after leaving Soft Machine) is one of the high water marks of the entirety of British rock of the era, for my money. Flanked for that one glorious album and subsequent tours by a truly idiosyncratic line-up that included outwardly bound soprano sax master Lol Coxhill, modernist composer David Bedford and a very young Mike Oldfield in it's ranks, the joyously mad and life affirming music that resulted was very much the product of a hot house creative environment where all parties concerned are operating at the top of their game. the live recordings captured on Colours Of The Day underscore just what a unique phenomenon The Whole World Band were, if also underscoring what a slightly drunken one they could be as well, a facet of their identity that fits Ayer's plummily stoned raconteur persona like a big floppy suede hat. Newcomers to Ayers might be advised to check out the studio versions first, but for those into the myth, the contents of this boot are enough to start a pool of drool forming, none more so (well...for me and my circle at least) than a jaw dropping 13+ minute version of his heartbreakingly beautiful (and originally brief) masterstroke, "Clarence In Wonderland" that sends Coxhill into endless fusillades of exalted soprano sax spirals; some of his finest on display anywhere. I could go on waxing rhapsodic about details track by track, but I won't belabor the point. This just simply kills. 'Nuff said.

Get part one Here


Get part two Here

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness. Kevin Ayers is one of my FAV'S. Thank you for this!

schlep said...

You did it again

:) :) :) :)

Gonzo said...

This is pure rapture. I'm almost as floored by this as I was the first time I heard Soft Machine One!

Anonymous said...

Hearing this prompted me to pick up the Hyde Park Free Concert 1970 disc released by Mike King's Reel Recordings imprint. The set is similar and similarly inventive, but the improvisational parts are completely different. Sound varies throughout, blown about by the wind, as Chris Cutler put it in his blurb on the ReR site. Robert Wyatt subs for Mick Fincher for the occasion. It's instructive to hear the two sets back to back for the sheer hutzpa in taking so many chances with tuneful pop music.

Sounds like it was quite a concert, as the bill included Roy Harper, Edgar Broughton Band and Pink Floyd with a brass choir, debuting Atom Heart Mother.

Anonymous said...

Oh wot a good egg you are, The sativa dripping from my mouth sez it all, "Thank You Very Much"
I had seen this around but now I can Enjoy the pure Decadence of hearing with my very own Cheers!!!!

Peter said...

Looks v interesting. Thx for UL!

Peter said...

Very nice surprise. Thanks!

orientecubano said...

Great! But - alas - part 1 was removed from BADONGO, and is impossible to download from ZSHARE...
Could you please re-up it?
Tks in advance!

gazbosue said...

yeh very tasty but a tease, cant

download from ZZZzzzzshare!

could you post to rapidshare

thanx.

Anonymous said...

having the same trouble with zshare...just tripped on mushrooms in the redwoods and listened to this on the ride home in my friends car. epic,
gotta have it.
thanks!

Norm said...

Alas, I'll ask too...is it possible to re-post??

gazbosue said...

mr mutant........are you there?
perdy please repost this.
pretty please with hash flakes on top!

Anonymous said...

An awful lot of VDO's spring & summer 2008 uploads to zshare are no longer available.

Anonymous said...

Link still dead, FYI

Bongo said...

I know you're insanely busy at the moment, and for that we all thank you. But if you could re-up this at some point it would make a few people very happy indeed.

Merry Christmas

tek said...

Been following MS for years. You are responsible for endless hours of aural enjoyment. Thank you for the repost. this one is particularly fun. your efforts are not in vain. this music would die on the vine without the MS team. There are thirsty ears out there, and this is nectar amid the dry sands...

pedda said...

zshare is dead :(

Unknown said...

Could you please re post this?? would love to hear!! thanks!