First published by Klaudio Zic Publications, 2009, www.lulu.com/astrology www.lulu.com/astrology.. Copyright © 2009 By Klaudio Zic. All Rights Reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, for commercial purposes or otherwise, without the written permission of the author, except when permitted by law.
CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN MUSIC ENCHIRIDIA
Copyright © 2009 by Klaudio Zic, all rights reserved.
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EUROPEAN MUSIC European music has a distinct rich melodic flavor a top of a legacy of variegated harmony. When blended with world music, it attains to sparkling vivacity, perhaps as adorn with political message. Among the central hubs of con temporary European music, Chris Cutler envisaged the RIO concept where rock is politically in opposition, as prophesied by Robert Fripp. An opposition as formed by liberal views along with excellent musical education forms an excellent offspring for many European alternative formations, most prominent prominently ly Art Bears. Essentially Essentially,, a triune triune flow of European European music streams streams from such colossi as Rick Wright's Pink Floyd, Pip Pyle's Hatfield and the North and Fred Frith's Henry Cow. Henry Cow turned to European mainland and into the hands of Magma, while dreamy Pink Floyd almost embraced Tangerine Dream. The Canterbury scene offered excellent as well as surprising alternative to an ear tired of Led Zeppelin. Europe is a separate chapter as led by Ange and Magma, towards the Köln school and ELP offspring in Italy. The following is but a brief list of the main study points, which can be profitably expanded in perusing the RIO site, Recommended Records or last.fm.
UK
Art Bears Hatfield and the North Gentle Giant Van der Graaf Generator Genesis King Crimson ELP
FRANCE AND BENELUX
Magma Ange Univers Zero Art Zoyd Etron Fou Focus
ITALY
The Watch Orme Museo Rosenbach
GERMANY
Can Tangerine Dream Popul Vuh
POP
Cocteau Twins Ultravox David Sylvian ~ Brian Eno ~ Robert Fripp ~ Peter Gabriel ~ Peter Hammill Queen Yello
The list of course expands towards Sweden and Finland, in the RIO direction, as well as along the course of such popular pop ular music as Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull or Led Zeppelin.
German kraut rock forms a special chapter on the trail of early electronic experiments typical to the Köln school. The orchestrating triumph of Univers Zero flowers in its own rich offspring. In an aviary of quality European music, Christian Vander's Magma stands aloof as compact musical giant in a linguistic world of its own magique noir.
Some Some additi additional onal guideline guideliness are provid provided ed by the key works works of the major major Europea European n ensembles, where for bands like Magma, Van der Graaf Generator or Jethro Tull we would simply enlist all albums.
ALBUMS
Pink Floyd ~ Atom Heart Mother Genesis ~ Foxtrot ELP ~ Tarkus Gentle Giant ~ Free Hand Hatfield and the North ~ Rotters Club Art Bears ~ Hopes and Fears King Crimson ~ Starless and Bible Black
We augur this little walk-through as vede mecum in contemporary European music, where mainstream cacophony threatened to underprice legacy, buon gusto and harmony.
Is European music rock and roll? Red, by King Crimson, determined a new definition of rock music, which reached even Japan in its shattering influence. Today we have perhaps more experts in European music in Japan than anywhere else. Many quality ensembles lied buried since the seventies under the heap of nonsensical mass products, only to be eventually uncovered by true interest in contemporary music.
The works by Univers Zero resemble classical music, while Magma stands for heroic oratory, even modern opera. Often it is impossible to determine if the band is of French or German origin, like in the example of the ensemble Raye. The predominant influence from from Euro Europe pean an clas classi sica call musi musicc is typi typical cal to Bene Benelu lux x and Fran France, ce, whil whilee Germ German an compos composers ers tend tend to introd introduce uce more more electr electroni onicc elemen elements ts along along with with experi experimen mentat tation ion.. Hatfield and the North pointed to an original approach to popular European jazz, in lack of better terms for the most exquisite product of the Ca nterbury school.
Why the seventies? In its long cycle, Pluto ascends towards Coma Berenices, when the planet is ready for a change in consciousness. Mainstream music was produced at the time of Pluto's re-entry into Virgo, typically labeled as Virgin Records. Pluto's post-Virgo entry into Bootes produced the so-called New Wave, of which we mentioned Suicide, Japan and Ultravox.
In return for what Zen has done for Robert Fripp, it is not without sense to look towards Japan for the new direction in world music, even rock and roll. Has Dagmar Krause's cry reached the heart of the samurai? If Peter Gabriel uncovered our Greek roots from Genesis to Revelation, it is not unlikely that somewhere under the eastern soil, a new curi curious ous giant giant rise risess in deter determi mini ning ng the the cours coursee of what what was was prov provis isio iona nall lly y term termed ed contemporary European music.
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