THE MUFFINS-SECRET SIGNALS 1, TAPE, 1989 (RECORDED: 1974-1978), USA

This unpromisingly monikered but wonderfully innovative unit existed on a parallel course to most everything else prog or fusion related occurring within the U.S. at the time of their existence and shone all the brighter for it. Initially a direct descendent of the Canterbury jazz rock strains cultured by the likes of Soft Machine, Hatfield And The North, National Health and Gilgamesh, this crew's sound would latterly morph into something much more angular, hectic and R.I.O. indebted on their Fred Frith-produced 80's albums "185" and "Open City". Spanning the period between the archival material heard on their Chronometers CD and their vinyl debut in '78 with Manna/Mirage (and with tracks from each appearing in modified versions), the sound on this obscure odds and ends compendium is firmly in a nimble and finespun Canterbury mode, though with rather more of the wacky pants improv bits that cropped up sporadically on their albums tacked on here.

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