Clark Hutchinson - Retribution (1970)




Clark Hutchinson (Andy Clark and Mick Hutchinson) were one of the most interesting and irreverent bands of the British underground rock scene of the late 60s. Like the Deviants, Edgar Broughton Band, Pink Fairies, and Third World War, Clark - Hutchinson had an anarchic attitude towards the establishment, in their case represented by the music business. They were were well-known to regulars at legendary London clubs such as UFO and Middle Earth when they decided to branch out as a duo.Their debut album A=MH2 combines many influences, brilliant ideas and the talent of Mick Hutchinson, whose guitar style recalls his passion for Indian music and rock blues.

Two musicians, Andy Clarke and Mick Hutchinson, recorded this album in two twelve hour sessions, playing all instruments between them including bass, keyboards, rhythm and lead guitar and various percussion instruments, and as the sleeve notes stress, " no technical wizardry or trickery", meaning good old fashioned musicianship! Many influences on this their first album such as flamenco guitar, "raga" style and various ethnic rhythms all work together creating a very interesting listen. All are technical masterpieces, though by today's standards they may sound somewhat basic, and only using an eight track recording studio. For 1969 made very interesting listening as eastern music was very popular then.


One wrong step (reunion)

"Retribution" was absolutely crazy album - the first track on side one, "free to be stoned" contains some wild, raw blues riffing and vocals repeating: "i just wanna beeeee stoned for the rest of my natural life...!" ...catch the drift? sounds like a jam session, i bet this was great live. wild vocals on this album Andy Clark, guitar Mick Hutchinson, "amazing" bass Amazing Stephen Amazing, percussion Del Coverley. This album is very blues orientated, much moreso than their previous debut album "A=mc2". "when i'm stoned everything seems to turn out right.." and it does seem to on this track. the sound quality is typical of albums from this period, solid bass, fairly clear, not cluttered and over-produced,not bad at all. the next track, a jazzy/bluesey ten minute instrumental called "After Hours" has a bluesey tinkling piano intro and shuffles along nicely, includes a fairly standard guitar solo, late-night smoky club music. on side two, not as good as side one in my opinion, the first track, "In Another Way" is not an outstanding song but includes a nice litle guitar solo. "Best Suit", the longest track on side two at ten minutes, is very similar to "Free to be Stoned" , half-spoken/screeched vocals about a lost hat (??),though less manic but just as raw.to some this track may sound a bit like a monotonous and repetitive jam but it settles into some basic bluesey guitar soloing and riffing. the final track "Death, the Lover" has a monotonous plodding beat and the aforementioned vocals and goes on for seven minutes. they muck about too much on this one and is not my favourite track, near the end it breaks into a completely different song .."i wish i was a mountain" all the tracks on this album are done very tongue-in-cheek and make "interesting" listening - hope you've got a good sense of humour! the band's philosophy is summed up thus on the reverse of the sleeve: "We are what we are and nobody can change us, because of this we have had to learn to swallow the aches of humiliation, perhaps now our exile is over. ah! there is hope in dust thrown up by the wind. out past the paper, out past the plastic, comes the music. Andy Clark." A record exec's nightmare! despite my seemingly lack of enthusiasm about side two of this album i play it often, and its subtle humour always cheers me up! not an essential album but interesting nonetheless. recommended (progarchives)

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4 komentarze:

  1. Anonimowy17/8/08

    Osobiście dla mnie lepszą płytą jest "A=MH2".

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  2. Anonimowy22/11/09

    Jestem inny anonimowy:
    Dla mnie też zawsze już chyba najlepszą płytą pozostanie A=MH^2 - od niej zacząłem. Ponieważ trzeszczała to sprawiłem sobie dublet wraz z "Retribution"
    Nieoczekiwanie w ostatnich dniach trafiłem na ich płytę o której istnieniu dotąd nie wiedziałem - album "Gestalt". Pomimo mijających latek jest dla mnie naprawdę dobrym albumem a utwór "Boat in the Morning Mist" miał wszelkie dane aby stać się ponadczasowym przebojem (pomimo doskonałości).

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  3. Anonimowy22/11/09

    Dodam jeszcze tutaj na próbkę coś z płyty "Gestalt" wokal Andy Clarka -
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ7al9eBmns
    Ponadto link do obecnie nagranej sesyjki Clark-Hutchinson + ktoś:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IrmA4sdkng&feature=PlayList&p=011631E15EB42C36&index=11

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