Hatfield and the North self-titled album

Hatfield and the North, 1974, the debut album of the British band of the same name.
The lineup consisted of Phil Miller on guitars, Dave Stewart on Hammond organ, piano, Minimoog, and synthesizer, Richard Sinclair on bass and vocals, and Pip Pyle on drums and percussion, supported by a large horn section, vocals including Robert Whyatt, and a series of excellent backing vocalists, the "Northettes."

The origins of these great musicians are well known, and I discuss them extensively in the article "The Wilde Flowers: The Origins of the Canterbury Scene."

A classic of progressive rock and the quintessential example of the Canterbury Scene, with a complex, experimental, and at the same time melodic sound, a masterpiece of sophisticated, positive, and at times humorous creativity that blends the band's individual talents into a perfect whole. It's like blending Caravan's penchant for melodies with the complexity and experimentation of Egg and Soft Machine, the sum of the band members' previous experiences.

It's a suite composed of 15 parts, with long instrumental sections punctuated by Robert Wyatt's vocals, the excellent singing of the Northettes (a vocal trio composed of Amanda Parsons, Barbara Gaskin, and Ann Rosenthal), and, of course, Richard Sinclair's voice.

Stylistically, it's jazz-rock with sections of true progressive rock. Specifically, there's a complex (and sometimes heavy) ensemble playing that emphasizes classical chord progressions, passages bordering on avant-garde rock, and spacey sections like "Shaving Is Boring," which evokes Gong's psychedelic spacerock. The atmosphere is dominated by quiet, understated guitar parts, church organ, electric piano, and the Northettes' superb three-part vocal harmonies that function as a "mini choir." The performances of all the musicians are simply fantastic.

The beautiful track "Son of" "There's No Place Like Homerton" and the psychedelic, spacerock-influenced track "Shaving Is Boring" are, in my opinion, the album's highlights.

An absolutely excellent album and perhaps one of the best recordings of the Canterbury scene.

A seminal work, followed by this band's second and final album, "The Rotters' Club" this time without Robert Whyatt's vocal contribution.

Highly recommended!

Tracklist
1. The Stubbs Effect (0:23)
2. Big Jobs (Poo Poo Extract) (0:36)
3. Going Up to People and Tinkling (2:25)
4. Calyx (2:45)
5. Son of "There's No Place Like Homerton" (10:10)
6. Aigrette (1:38)
7. Rifferama (2:56)
8. Fol De Rol (3:07)
9. Shaving Is Boring (8:45)
10. Licks for the Ladies (2:37)
11. Bossa Nochance (0:40)
12. Big Jobs No 2 (by Poo and the Wee Wees) (2:14)
13. Lobster in Cleavage Probe (3:57)
14. Gigantic Land-Crabs in Earth Takeover Bid (3:21)
15. The Other Stubbs Effect (0:38)
Duration 46:12

LineUp
- Phil Miller - electric and acoustic guitar (6)
- Dave Stewart - Hammond, piano, Fender Rhodes, Hohner Pianet, Minimoog (9), tone generator
- Richard Sinclair - bass, vocals
- Pip Pyle - drums, percussion, effects (7, 9, 11)
Featuring:
- Jeremy Baines - pixiephone (5), flute (13?)
- Geoff Leigh - tenor saxophone (5), flute (5, 13 - uncredited)
- Didier Malherbe - tenor saxophone lead (7 - uncredited)
- Robert Wyatt - vocals (4)
- Cyrille Ayers - vocals (8?)
- Barbara Gaskin - backing vocals (5)
- Amanda Parsons - backing vocals (5)
- Ann Rosenthal - backing vocals (5)
- Sam Ellidge - voice (7?)

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