Matching Mole by Matching Mole

Theirs is Progressive Rock, with jazz influences and a strong avant-garde component with an emphasis on experimentation and improvisation, through the use of distorted organ and mellotron to create unique, dissonant atmospheres. 

A style not far from that of Soft Machine, but with a sound, melodies and vocalisms that will characterize Wyatt’s solo works. Wyatt had left Soft Machine precisely because he wanted to give more space to the vocal part, in contrast with the band.

The initial lineup, the one on this album, was made up of Wyatt, Dave Sinclair (ex Caravan) on keyboards, Phil Miller on guitar and Bill MacCormick on bass. The lineup also features, as a guest, the collaboration of Dave McRae (Nucleus) on electric piano.

On the following album, Dave Sinclair will be replaced by David MacRae.

The tracks alternate instrumental improvisations, sometimes atonal and chaotic, with more melodic and structured moments.

This album contains their best-known track, the ballad O Caroline, written by Wyatt and Sinclair. It’s an exciting, moving piece that Wyatt dedicated to his wife, with great organ work by Sinclair, with Wyatt on vocals and piano, and it begins an indivisible series of tracks among the most beautiful ever written, followed by Instant Pussy, a track with Wyatt’s gorgeous vocalizations, Signed Curtain one of the album’s top tracks, and completed by Part Of The Dance, which sits in the jazz-fusion sound and raises the album’s pace, great bass and a great piece. Masterpiece series.

Instant Kitten, beautiful with a driving melody and a climate of tension, outstanding keyboard and guitar work. A fusion of reversed tapes, vocal improvisations and a distorted organ. Top track.

Dedicated To Hugh, But You Weren't Listening, a tribute to Hugh Hopper (a reply to Dedicated To You, But You Weren't Listening on Soft Machine’s Volume Two). Psychedelic track with great guitar and organ. The piece starts from ambient sonorities with dark tones and evolves into a jazz-rock improvisation. Beautiful track.

Beer As In Braindeer is a track with lots of experimentation, with all instruments involved in the search, with free and atonal instrumental interventions, creating a confusing atmosphere, which is a beautiful atmosphere.

In Immediate Curtain the mellotron takes center stage, with an intense sound loaded with tension. Focused on the mellotron sound, it fades into a dark and aggressive atmosphere.

Despite the poor commercial success of this album, I consider it one of the best of the Canterbury scene, containing tracks with different moods: the first tracks more melodic, and then the entry of jazz with fusion and psychedelic, experimental accents.

A fundamental album in Wyatt’s career and for the Canterbury Scene. A must-have for the collection.

My Copy

Label: Klimt Records – MJJ397LP
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, White
Country: Europe
Released: 2019

Tracklist

1. O Caroline (5:06)
2. Instant Pussy (2:59)
3. Signed Curtain (3:06)
4. Part Of The Dance (9:16)
5. Instant Kitten (4:58)
6. Dedicated To Hugh, But You Weren't Listening (4:39)
7. Beer As In Braindeer (4:02)
8. Immediate Curtain (5:57)
Length 40:03

Bonus Track

Memories Membrane (11:16) previously unreleased

Lineup

- Robert Wyatt - vocals, drums, piano, Mellotron
- Phil Miller - guitar
- David Sinclair - Hammond organ, piano
- Bill MacCormick - bass
With:
- Dave McRae - electric piano

Here is their biographical profile: The Matching Mole: an "Instant team", creature of Robert Wyatt 

Note: All links to the musicians’ works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page