Quite reasonably described in recent reviews as "acoustic death metal" and "too weird for folkies, too folky for weirdos", it would be hard to identify any album from the sixties/seventies cusp that was more wilfully intended to alienate the mainstream record-buying public than this totally unique progressive folk effort by Comus. First Utterance was, and still is, "difficult". Fortunately today an appreciative audience exists for "difficult" stuff like this. Kent-based art students Roger Wootton and Glenn Goring had played acoustic covers of Velvet Underground numbers in London folk clubs, thereby alienating the contemporary folk audience as [...]
Some albums are released, others escape. Comus had a fairly sweet, if short, career that included two studio albums--1971's First Utterance, a favorite of not-so-closeted prog fan Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth), and 1974's less revered To Keep From Crying. 2008 marked the first time the band had played live in 34 years and that performance, at the Melloboat Festival (me either), was recorded for this seven-track release. That reunion was probably the end of many sleepless nights for four or five Comus...
India has long held a place of mythic fascination for those in the West. India was where a British man without means, but maybe a few connections, could stake his claim. A place where the modern pop star can attain and taste exotic forms of spiritual enlightenment that come with a high sheen when compared [...]
Aquarius Records Writes: "What has to be our favorite British pagan folk psychedelic prog rock album ever (in other words, quite possibly our favorite album ever, period!) is finally available again on cd, and in a gorgeous Japanese mini-lp gatefold sleeve to boot, with the disc itself all state-of-the-art remastered, sounding great. THIS RECORD SCARES US. Hearing it is like stumbling upon some forbidden ancient ritual that scares you to death. You stand paralyzed, too afraid to look away. Comus's singular, frightening sound and violently poetic lyrics have kept them from taking their rightful place [...]
Finally, the volcanic dust has (almost) settled! For everyone no longer fighting short term memory loss and extreme fatigue caused by sleep deprivation and sensory overload, get ready to re-live the highlights of Roadburn Festival 2010 ! Now we all know that Roadburn is undoubtedly one of the absolute coolest festivals of the year. Masters of bringing the best of heavy rock, stoner and doom together under one smoky haze, Roadburn is the highlight of the summer festival season for tons of rock fans. Unfortunately, not everyone has the chance to get there, whether because [...]
They, only set on sport and play, Unweetingly importuned Their own destruction to come speedy upon them. So fond are mortal men, Fallen into wrath divine, As their own ruin on themselves to invite. - J. Milton, Samson Agonistes [...]
Just before 12 o'clock on the 21st of December, 1975, a six-member terror squad stormed a conference of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC ) in Vienna. During a gunfight, an Austrian detective, an Iraqi security officer and the Libyan delegate Jusuf al-Azmarly were killed. A man later identified as the terrorist Hans-Joachim Klein was wounded. The terrorists, under the leadership of Ilich Ramirez Sanchez alias " Carlos " took about 70 hostages, among whom are eleven oil-ministers from OPEC countries. The [...]
Doctor Craig - Acid Folk mix 'Acid Folk! To me, this collection of tunes is about sun-tinged long grass, big floppy hats and lots of clear, vibrant colours (Well, apart from the song about the black sun!). I put this mixture together a couple of years ago to give to friends with the idea they could lie around on the floor at home and listen to. It was around the time Neo Folk was emerging. Tunes from such artists as The Espers, Bright Black Morning Light [...]
Thus time draws forward each and everything Little by little into the midst of men, And reason uplifts it to the shores of light. - Lucretius, Beginning of Civilization . . " Welcome to Alflolol " 01. Comus - Children Of The Universe Song to Comus: The Complete Collection (Castle Music UK, 2005) 02. DM Stith - Just Once [...]
Who? Comus What? The first real Freakfolk band Sounds like? Irish Leprechauns holding some strange ritual druid parties near Stonehenge and the sun is just going under never to rise again. Ok, because i'm too busy listening to music from 2008, I decided not to blog about bands that have released something this year anymore until my list is complete and published. Old stuff (stuff from last year is old too by the way) is all it's about next month. So, let's start with really [...]
Hi, Happy New Year! . . " 2008. The First Day List. " 01. Vashti Bunyan - Diamond Day Just Another Diamond Day (Dicristina Stair, 1970) 02. Dr. John - Mama Roux Gris -Gris (Collector's Choice, 1968) 03. Comus - Song to Comus First Utterance (Breathless, 1971) 04. James Brown - Papa [...]
Another of this year's reformations/comebacks, and one that I've found most surprising is undoubtedly that of Comus. Formed in 1971 by Roger Wootton, Comus were a progressive rock/folk band who many claim can be seen as a primary influence on today's freak-folk and apocalyptic folk genres. Though they only released two albums, 71's utterly classic First Utterance and 74's lesser but very much underrated To Keep From Crying , these records are so undeniably exciting that it's been inevitable that they would soon get the acclaim they deserve. If you haven't heard them, nothing can quite prepare [...]
Last night was so embarrassing I won't even describe how I spent it. Sure, I left the apartment at five in the afternoon and didn't return until after 4am, but the hours in between were so utterly unremarkable I feel it could actually damage my reputation if I recounted the details for you. I awoke to my phone ringing at noon. There were television characters making cameos in my dreams this morning. RULES for uninitiated noobs : With 100MB of webspace, I give birth to a weekly Mix Tape to be deposited on your iPods or [...]
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Madonna producer unloads on CD disaster
Michael Jackson - Bad (Afrojack Remix) [Preview]
Check Out: Antony And The Johnsons – “Rise”
