Recommendations on Expanding My Library

[Jonathan Jarrett]

On Mon, Oct 02, 2006 at 02:01:31PM +0100, Iain Ferguson typed out:
>  > Gong
> Angels Egg
> Camembert Electrique
> Floating Anarchy
> Live est Mort
> Gong Live
> You

	I'd endorse those of those that I've heard (not got either 
live one) but _Camembert Electrique_ is the essential introduction. 
_You_ is a bit *too* blissed out to be interesting in places I think.

>  > Osric Tentacles
> only ever saw them live upto about 7 years ago, when there output live 
> started dipping for me.

	They were absolutely incendiary live in 2001-2 but the albums 
don't seem to have reflected this. Over time they have got less random 
and more synthy so the early stuff is rawer and odder, but they've 
always been quite well worked out. If I had to pick one I would pick 
_Strangeitude_, and if I were allowed two I would add _Live 
Underslunky_. _Spice Doubt_ is to me the example of an increasing 
phenomenon whereby Ozrics live albums were nothing like the band when I 
saw them, slower and calmer and that really wasn't what they used to be 
about. I wouldn't recommend it particularly. _Pongmaster's Ball_ may be 
better.

>  > Kraftwerk
> Autobahn
> all their other stuff doesn't even come close for me.

	I agree with that, but _Radioactivity_ is the other interesting 
one. I can't stand _Man Machine_ and think it a laughably twee 
electropop album, perhaps because I came to it after electropop was 
dying so don't have the context for it, so even though it's their 
famous one I wouldn't waste your money on it. Get _Autobahn_ and listen 
on headphones. Be ready to jump out of your skin about twelve minutes 
in, if I recall correctly. Yours,
				  Jon

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 Jon Jarrett, Fitzwilliam Museum, jjarrett at chiark.greenend.org.uk