Read a thread about a Howlin' Wolf youtube viddy, and someone said Wolf was good but the band sounded like it was falling apart (i.e. they didn't sound together). I was just listening to a Sonny Boy II King Biscuit Hour recording from Arhoolie, and that too sounded like everything was falling apart. I can see how some people can't dig that shambolic "on the edge of falling apart" kind of band/music; however, I think I love that sound more than anything else. Wolf's Memphis recordings, Hound Dog Taylor, Trout Mask Replica - that music on the verge of chaos is bliss to me. Do some of you sometimes feel the same way?
Trout Mask Replica has been my favourite album of all time since 1976. Except that in those days I used to listen to it a couple of times a day, whereas I only listen to it once every 5 years nowadays.
Controlled chaos is probably a better term than shambles. Sun Ra is a good one for that kind of thing.
---------- Andrew, gentleman of leisure, noodler extraordinaire.
Off the top of my head, I can't comment on the tracks you mentioned. But, as long as the beat is steady, any controlled deviation from it by band members does add to the drama.
The only other example I can think of, which most definitely is not blues, is from back in the 70s. I went to hear some old guy who's now passed on (Shura Cherkassky) play Rachmaninov's 3rd piano concerto at London's Royal Festival Hall. During the first movement cadenza, he was falling apart, losing it; he was almost playing as many wrong notes as right notes. It sounded great: pure drama. The piece is damn near impossible to play, and that battle he was having with it was like watching a prize fighter hanging on for dear life. ---------- YouTube SlimHarpMick
I used shambolic because it reminds me of the mythical kingdom of Shambala - but controlled chaos is cool, too. Same here with Trout Mask, although I go through periods where I listen to it for about a week straight before putting it away for a year or two. My desert island disc.
I love that sound. Who coined that term, 'shambolic'? [edit: British slang, first occurrence c. 1970]
My kid gave me a CD of TMR for my birthday last month, and I've been getting reacquainted with it over the past few weeks (vinyl is tough to listen to in the car)--amazing stuff. I think I'm with swampboy about Clear Spot though, although this might just be because CB plays a lot of harp on it.
I've often wondered why CB didn't get an honorable mention in the "all-time harp greats" list. He was no slouch as a harp player, and started off as a pretty straightforward blues guy in the 60s before taking off into the avant garde. Definitely innovative, and definitely influential.
---------- --Dave
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Last Edited by on Oct 19, 2010 9:49 AM
Beefheart is precisely the reason I'm playing harp now.
Clear Spot is a great album, but I haven't listened to it for a while. I asked Adam what he thought, but he said he'd never listened to Beefheart. I don't blame Adam - Beefheart's harp playing is too infrequent (there's none at all on Troutmask). If you're interested, Beefheart plays in 3rd position on a Db harp on I love You, You Big Dummy, on Decals. ---------- Andrew, gentleman of leisure, noodler extraordinaire.
Last Edited by on Oct 19, 2010 11:14 AM
People who say bad stuff about The Wolf or SBII (or their bands) need disciplinary action. Maybe we should send the MBH goon squad around to pay them a visit.
I vote for NOD and Buzdero to head up the team. . . ----------
Yes indeed - I am a big fan of Hound Dog Taylor and enjoy that 'shambolic' feel. Hound Dog allegedly said "... when I die they will say he couldn't play shit, but he sure made us feel good." I'm not sure how fair he was upon himself - about a year ago I heard a song recorded at a festival back in the late 60's (maybe Newport?) and Hound Dog was playing guitar in an ad-hoc band backing a singer - he was the model of restraint! However, I prefer him when he cuts loose!
Another great recording is Robert Nighthawk, Live on Maxwell Street. Interesting harp on some tracks and the tempo alters during several songs, at times quite considerably. I think this adds to the sense that it is 'real'
Ironically, I think it takes a very close-knit group to pull shambolic music off. My second year of Uni was soundtracked by (again; not blues, apologies) The Libertines debut album 'Up The Bracket'.
Both the band, and their music, were constantly on the verge of falling apart at any moment. but when they managed to hold it together they captured the moment perfectly.
