Re: Art Bears

[K.Spagnolo@massey.ac.nz]

In article <9005241812.AA16317@gaffa.MIT.EDU> Love-Hounds@gaffa.MIT.EDU writes:
>Really-From: Doug Alan <nessus@mit.edu>
>
>> I also found a copy of the Art Bear's _Winter Songs_ for $1.00.  I
>> like it, it's kind of early/mid King Crimson meet punk.  Anyone have
>> the lyrics?  Oh BTW who sings for them and what else is out there by
>> them.

Hmmmm, I'm not sure Fred would like the analogy, let alone Chris!

>The Art Bears contained Chris Cutler and Fred Frith of Henry Cow fame.

Don't forget Dagmar Krause on vocals, also of Henry Cow, by way of
Slapp Happy.

>Both are incredible musicians.

No doubt.  Art Bears were to tour the States in 1980(?), but as Dagmar
was in poor health, it ended up being a Frith/Cutler improv tour.  The
Baltimore show was possibly the best improvisation I've ever seen.
There was an lp released of the tour called something like Frith/Cutler
in Washington DC/Prague, with a side of live stuff from each city.  It
is interesting that a friend who saw the DC show said it wasn't very
good.  From what I've heard about Chris, it would seem typical that he
would pick the shows for the contrast in cities, rather than the
performance.  I think he is a bit of a dogmatic socialist/communist.
Incredible drummer though.

>There is another Art Bears album, *The World As It Is Today*.

I think their best.  It is a rather bleak view of the world, however.
I could always listen to this to get cheered up when I was down.
Things never got as bad for me as they are on this gem!

>"my hands went on working,
> the work huried by,
> my life like a desert
> I, empty inside"

I think Dagmar wrote the lyrics.

-- 
K.Spagnolo@massey.ac.nz