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-   -   Comus - First Utterance (1971) (https://www.musicbanter.com/prog-psychedelic-rock/54645-comus-first-utterance-1971-a.html)

Guybrush 02-21-2011 02:34 AM

Comus - First Utterance (1971)
 
This thread is for discussing the Comus album First Utterance from 1971. It was homework in our Prog & Fusion Album Club in February 2011.

Here's a quick description :

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Pat (Post 993622)
Comus - First Utterance (1971)

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...uZ5dzRmI8z0-9A

I'm sure most of you have heard this album, but I thought it would be a fun album to talk about. For those who don't know, this album is a folk album that uses worldly sounds incorporated into its music (you can hear bongos, Romani-sounding violin, old blues/slide guitar, folky voice, etc). The strangest and most interesting aspect about this album, though, is its juxtaposition between the sound of the music and the actual topic that the music is about.

So, whatcha think about it? :)

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra 02-21-2011 07:50 AM

I honestly loved it. Legit folky but with some of the most interesting lengthy instrumental sections I've ever heard. Long song structures, interesting atmosphere, and lyrics. This is an eclectic masterpiece. No way I could vote anything beyond 'brilliant' on this one.

Plus, god dammit, I love fiddle/violin. It honestly pleases me much more to hear than guitar 90% of the time, and these guys blended it in perfectly.

Sneer 02-21-2011 07:56 AM

It's brilliant, quite simply. It's an emotionally engaging, nebulous oddity that has the capacity to thrust the listener into pockets of their mentality rarely explored - and that is always a winner in my book. Sorry for the pretentious description, but I feel one is almost necessary to explain why the album works.

Anteater 02-21-2011 01:28 PM

A lot of albums attempt to connect listeners to a sense of mayhem and derangement (AKA every classic thrash/death/doom, etc. metal album under the sun). I suppose it's amusing (and telling) that First Utterance, released in 1971 and lying half-rotten in obscurity for the thirty years since then, has yet to be eclipsed in that area by even the sludgiest of the sludge.

And yes, I love metal. But in terms of blending the darkness of primeval myth with organic musical ideas, nothing touches what Comus concocted in seven measly songs during the ruinous, tar-skied winter of 1970.

What else can I say about one of the most emotionally and legitimately evil records ever made? Definitely gets the 'Brilliant' vote from me.

Palatable Vera 02-21-2011 02:09 PM

I haven't followed the Prog Album Club at all, but I'll still say something about it if that's alright:

The first time I heard First Utterance, I hated it. I couldn't understand why anybody would want to listen to it, let alone make it. But I put it on again awhile later -- probably because I forgot I listened to it in the first place -- and I loved it. I'm not exactly sure why I changed my mind about it. It's too bad their next album sounded like a bad Aphrodite's Child knock-off.

RVCA 02-21-2011 02:53 PM

I voted very good. Once you get past the male singer's voice/style (if that's an issue in the first place), it's very enjoyable.

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra 02-21-2011 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVCA (Post 1008725)
I voted very good. Once you get past the male singer's voice/style (if that's an issue in the first place), it's very enjoyable.

I liked his voice. It was very medieval. Reminds me a ton of early Idiot Flesh, suppose that's where they got it.

TockTockTock 02-21-2011 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skaligojurah (Post 1008734)
I liked his voice. It was very medieval. Reminds me a ton of early Idiot Flesh, suppose that's where they got it.

Never made that comparison. But when I think about it, the vocals do share some similarities.

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra 02-21-2011 03:36 PM

I think it's Gene Jun who kind of co-lead with Nils Frykdahl, and was essentially replaced by Carla Kihlstead to create Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. His voice is very similar to the guy in Comus. Especially the songs "The Tale", and "Meditation"(an amazing song).

Guybrush 02-26-2011 08:18 AM

I rated the album as a very good. I love it's uniqueness and the way the album expresses itself. It feels so insane sometimes. It's like they've taken some of those sinister and uncomfortable aesthetics experimented with by bands like Amon Düül (f.ex on Psychedelic Underground, 1969) or Cro Magnon (On Orgasm, 1968) and done that in a folky way which actually works and makes it an enjoyable experience to listen to.

I don't think it's quite brilliant, but that's not so much because it's not well done but basically because I tend to favour slightly different qualities, feelings and themes in music than what this album conveys, but .. If I ever make a movie in which a group of people with animal masks dance madly around a bonfire at night, I'll definetly put Drip Drip in the soundtrack.

Jymbot 05-01-2011 08:07 AM

Both Wootons have a solo lp.

Very difficult to find.

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra 05-01-2011 01:20 PM

This album is like crack... I keep going back to it over, and over again.

The followup album is amazingly disappointing, though.

777by 10-15-2011 02:04 PM

Great Album!!! Thanks a lot

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra 10-15-2011 05:48 PM

Still occasionally throw this one on.

Unknown Soldier 01-27-2012 03:56 PM

Its tragic that only 14 people have have replied to this thread. This album is a classic in every sense and a must for both prog rock and folk rock fans. I once saw the album described as "freak folk" and I'd say that description perfectly sums up this album. The singing is just plain twisted at times and the instrumentation something very special, wow 1971 was a stunning year in rock.

Oig 02-12-2012 08:07 AM

Oh I love this album. Definitely brilliant.

Howard the Duck 02-13-2012 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier (Post 1147093)
Its tragic that only 14 people have have replied to this thread. This album is a classic in every sense and a must for both prog rock and folk rock fans. I once saw the album described as "freak folk" and I'd say that description perfectly sums up this album. The singing is just plain twisted at times and the instrumentation something very special, wow 1971 was a stunning year in rock.

also the year I was born, and I'm stunning

back to the topic - just heard it for the first time today and liked it well enough to rate it "very good"

still, i'm a bit disappointed they didn't go the whole hog and made something as freaky as Red Krayola's The Parable of Arable Land

Unknown Soldier 02-13-2012 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard the Duck (Post 1154018)
also the year I was born, and I'm stunning

back to the topic - just heard it for the first time today and liked it well enough to rate it "very good"

still, i'm a bit disappointed they didn't go the whole hog and made something as freaky as Red Krayola's The Parable of Arable Land

The Red Krayola album is great album as well and pre-dates the Comus album by about 3 to 4 years. Of the two I slightly prefer the Comus album, but there's not much in it really.

Big Ears 05-10-2012 11:56 AM

I have never heard the album. I was going to get it following good press a few years ago, but that was followed by negative reviews. This thread has given me encouragement to consider the album again.

cledussnow 05-10-2012 12:10 PM

It is my favorite of all Folk Prog records. It is a strange collection of songs, the mood bordering on chaos and despair mostly, although there are some very soothing and lilting melodies included also. Each song is detached from the next and they have quite a psych bent to them. Youtube just about has the whole album.

Big Ears 05-10-2012 12:22 PM

Thanks, I hadn't thought of Comus and YT for some reason.


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