Matching Mole and Ayers/Wyatt/Bedford/Coxhill 1972

Two great 1972 videos from ILEA (Inner London Education Authority) archive uploaded on Nuthatch´s YouTube. Hope they stay there!

First Matching Mole and second Kevin Ayers, Robert Wyatt, Dave Bedford and Lol Coxhill.

(AND I´m struggeling with the new Blogger version!!)

Lindstrøm

Norwegian "contemporary disco" artist Lindstrøm´s new album "On A Clear Day I Can See You Forever" is out 11 October on LP, CD and digital on Smalltown Supersound.

He cites Robert Wyatt as an inspiration for this album, so check out the track "Deep snow", or wait for the full album to hear if you recognize some Wyatt vibes in there! Pre- order on Bandcamp.

"On A Clear Day I Can See You Forever (a title inspired by the 1970’s musical On A Clear Day You Can See Forever starring Barbra Streisand). “I’ve listened to Robert Wyatt’s solo albums and his Matching Mole’s debutalbum a lot lately. It so effortless, fearless and free. And not insisting. I was very inspired by this”.

Phil Miller

Phil Miller (Matching Mole, Hatfield and the North, National Health etc) died 18 October 2017. R.I.P.

Here is Sid Smith´s tribute from the yellow room (tracklist here).

John Greaves Solo Concert (23 June 2017)

A full solo John Greaves concert here (Le Triton 23 June 2017)!

If you for some reason don´t want to watch all of it, jump in at around 59 min. and check out the beautiful version of "God Song" by Phil Miller and Robert Wyatt.

Ex Norwegian - Signed Curtain

Check out Ex Norwegian covering Matching Mole´s "Signed Curtain"!

I know nothing about Ex Norwegian (hey, I´m only Norwegian) but they have a web site and a BandCamp site for you to study.

Miku Hatsune "O Caroline"

I must admit I´m not absolutely sure about this one, but I found it via Twitter today (@CCCharlieCCC), so here is"Vocaloid" Miku Hatsune with Matching Moles' "O Caroline".

Bob Stanley And Pete Wiggs Present English Weather

Matching Mole´s "O Caroline" is one of the tracks on "Bob Stanley And Pete Wiggs Present English Weather" (Ace 2013).

"The autumnal sound of Britain at the turn of the 70s, looking out through wet window panes to a new decade with a mixture of melancholy and optimism for what might come next. With the Beatles gone and the pound sinking, a new and distinctive sound emerges, led by flutes and mellotrons. Available in 18-track CD and 19-track double LP formats. The LP version is pressed on 180g vinyl in heavy-duty gatefold sleeve".

Also present: John Cale, Caravan, Camel, Daevid Allen etc etc.

Matching Mole live on Cuneiform

"Smoke Signals compiles all previously unreleased performances - selected & sequenced by Robert Wyatt biographer Mike King - from the band's most intense gigging period. The set list is mostly drawn from Little Red Record.." Released May 22, 2001.



"In 2001, Cuneiform released Smoke Signals, a collection of unreleased performances. The band was so pleased with that album that when one of the members came across a forgotten live show on tape - identified simply as "March, 1972", they immediately contacted us, and March is the result. Recorded live in Europe 3/72.." Released September 17, 2002.

Listen or buy over at Bandcamp.

The band:

- Robert Wyatt - drums
- Phil Miller - guitar
- Dave McRae - electric piano
- Bill McCormick - bass


Covers by: Tom Recchion.

The Canterbury Scene

I found this on Twitter today, and later saw that it was 4 years old, but so what?

Here is The Nimbus Hour (MixCloud) and almost 90 minutes of "The Canterbury Scene - Featuring Robert Wyatt, Soft Machine, Kevin Ayers, Hugh Hopper, Daevid Allen".

The Progect 2nd International Conference on Progressive Rock

An international progressive rock conference is going to be held at University of Edinburgh on the 25th, 26th and 27th May 2016.

You will soon be able to find the full programme here.

Paul Carr is presenting a paper on Matching Mole at the conference, and has posted the abstract in his blog.

Witold Bolik - Tribute to Robert Wyatt

"Muddy Mouse X" and "Muddy Mouse Z" [Fred Frith/Robert Wyatt] recorded in February/March 2015 for L'Oreille Absolue and "O Caroline" [Richard Sinclair/Robert Wyatt] taken from Witold Bolik´s album "Covers" (Bandcamp 2014).

Romantic Warriors III – Canterbury Tales

"Romantic Warriors III – Canterbury Tales" (USA/2015/118 min.) - DVD now available at www.progdocs.com.

Prog documentary series's directors: Adele Schmidt and José Zegarra Holder.

The film highlights these bands:

Wilde Flowers, UK
Soft Machine, UK
Caravan, UK
Gong, France
Delivery, UK
Egg, UK
Matching Mole, UK
Hatfield and The North, UK
Gilgamesh, UK
National Health, UK
In Cahoots, UK
Quiet Sun, UK
Supersister, Netherlands
Moving Gelatine Plates, France
Forgas Band Phenomena, France
Glass, USA
The Muffins, USA

Matching Mole facsimile vinyl edition

Esoteric Recordings will release a limited 180g facsimile vinyl edition of Matching Mole's debut album re-mastered from the original CBS master tapes.

This is probably the same remastered version that was released by Esoteric in on CD in 2012 (see blog post).

You may pre-order from Burning Shed, who says that the inner bag is featuring an essay by Sid Smith. Again probably the same essay as in the booklet of the CD edition.

Romantic Warriors III - Canterbury Tales

Would you be interested to help funding the film "Romantic Warriors III - Canterbury Tales"?
Then head on over to IndieGoGo for more info on the film and how to help funding.

The film makers promise they will "will guide you through the amazing history, development of the Canterbury school of progressive-rock and its influence on modern bands".

Matching Mole, Paris 1972

I´m sure I have posted this one several years ago, but it might be one of the videos that come and go on the net.
Anyway, here is Matching Mole in Paris 1972, broadcasted on some French program called Live Pop2, with interviews too.

Phil Miller (g), David Sinclair (keyb), Bill MacCormick (b) and Robert Wyatt (dr, voc, keyb).

Yumi Hara Cawkwell: "Shipbuilding" and "O Caroline"

Yumi Hara Cawkwell recorded at Last Waltz, Shubuya, Tokyo, 13 June 2013, playing "Shipbuilding" (Langer/Costello) and "O Caroline" (Sinclair/Wyatt).

Songs that speak for themselves

The Wire no. 352 (June 2013) focus on sound and the word.

In "Songs that speak for themselves" Rob Young mentions two of my favorite songs: Matching Mole´s "Oh Caroline" and "Signed Curtain" (both on the eponymous 1972 album), where Robert Wyatt describes the act of songwriting in the lyrics.

"Oh Caroline" (Robert Wyatt/David Sinclair)

David's on piano, and I may play on a drum
And we'll try to make the music work, we'll try to have some fun
But I just can't help thinking that if you were here with me
I'd get all my thoughts in focus and play more excitingly
I love you still - Caroline
I want you still - Caroline
I need you still - Caroline

If you call this sentimental crap you'll make me mad
Cause you know that I would not sing about some passing fad
And if my attempts at rhyming aren't convincing to your ear
Then memories betray you through the passing of the year
I love you still - Caroline
I want you still - Caroline
I need you still - Caroline

You must think it doubtful that I mean the words I sing
Or that all attempts to reach you this way could not mean a thing
But you must admit we both thought we'd be man and wife
And that I could make you happy for the best part of your life
I love you still - Caroline
I love you still - Caroline

"Signed Curtain" (Robert Wyatt)

This is the first verse
This is the first verse
This is the first verse
This is the first verse...
And this is the chorus
Or perhaps it's a bridge
Or just another part
of the song that I'm singing

This is the second verse
Or it may the last verse
This is the second verse
Or it may the last one
And this is the chorus
Or perhaps it's a bridge
Or just another key change
Never mind
It doesn't hurt
It only means that I
lost faith in this song
'Cause it won't help me reach you...

Both lyrics copied from Calyx ("Lyrics").
Now get The Wire, and find those Matching Mole songs!

Canterbury Soundwaves Episode 21

Are you ready for a new episode of Canterbury Soundwaves? Lol Coxhill, Robert Wyatt, Soft Machine, Matching Mole, Kevin Ayers and lots of others. Head on over here for more info on #21.

Please note: It is still possible to buy some of this music!

John Wesley Harding & Rick Moody - Signed Curtain

John Wesley Harding and Rick Moody sing the Matching Mole song "Signed Curtain".
Great lyrics for sure!

Matching Mole Remastered

Esoteric Recordings recently released remastered and expanded versions of both Matching Mole albums from 1972, "Matching Mole" and "Little Red Record"!

They are both double CDs and contain the original albums (of course!) with great sound, the single versions of "O Caroline"/"Signed Curtain", unreleased alternative recordings of several tunes (among others a 20 minutes long "Part of the dance jam"), BBC sessions that have been released on "Matching Mole on the Radio" (Hux 1996) and three new tracks.

In 2007 I had a post called "Robert Wyatt for beginners - Matching Mole", where I listed all known recorded tunes from this band. Now we have to add "Memories Membrane" and "Horse" from "Matching Mole", and "Mutter" from "Little Red Record" to the list. "Mutter" is not a song, to be honest, but a quite entertaining recording of a slogan workshop! "It´s a mole! Can you dig it?"

I have not had the albums in the house for more than a day, but they sound SO good, that the conclusion will be: You need them! No reason to wait.


Added 7 May 2012:

Well, you might rather want to listen to Michael King, who is disagreeing! Check out his "Thoughts On Matching Mole's Little Red Record ~ Remastered" over at "What´s Rattlin´".