In Praise Of Learning＜限定盤＞

Canterburyシーンを超え全世界を股にかけて活動し、"Recomended"というジャンルを生み出した奇才バンド、'73年デビュー作が英ReRから'11年限定180g重量盤アナログで登場!SLAPP HAPPYとの連名作と同様に両方のバンド・メンバーが合体し制作、'75年作『DESPERATE STRAIGHTS』と表裏を成す作品。より緻密かつ考察に基づいた演奏/内容を追求する一方で、大幅に歌詞を導入し明確な思想/思考を打ち出した転機作です。マスターは現行CDと同じ'00年リマスター音源を使用。

Henry Cow's third album, originally released in 1975, found them expanded to an eight-piece ensemble after a guest session on another group's record. Henry Cow absorbed Slapp Happy into their lineup after appearing on Slapp Happy's Desperate Straights album. It was a tenuous relationship (lasting only long enough for this release, and with Slapp Happy crumbling after Dagmar Krause decided to stay on with Henry Cow), but one that produced some stunning results. Anthony Moore and Peter Blegvad's "War" has enormous proportion and power that would have been beyond the scope of a relatively quiet trio. The sheer ambition of this work is bracing. Intricately composed and arranged pieces, rife with lyrics that meld poetry with politics, give way to extended improvisations. While that had always been the Henry Cow recipe, it was never given such dramatic sweep. No one has ever, before or since, sounded like this incarnation of Henry Cow. ~ TiVo Staff