70s KnockOut Cup- Final 2 *Modernist 12- fange 11*

[never/ever]

A

Linda Perhacs - Chimacum Rain





B

Harmonia - Dino

[Rayge]

see below

[Diamond Dog]

I have that Perhacs album..... I don't ever play it though.

I don't see what all the fuss is with Harmonia but I quite like that.

B it is.

[Dayodead]

The first one is so fragile is breaks half way through...Went with the more fun one..Vote B

[toomanyhatz]

Like B a lot, but A's fragile beauty and just plain uniqueness hits a deeper spot. Great choice.

[T. Willy Rye]

B

[fange]

A is so goddam pretty, it's really nice to hear LP whenever she comes up. Lovely soundscapes with the vocals and production touches, the sort of thing that is just perfect when you're in a mellow or want-to-be-mellow mood. B captures two aspects of what i love most about Krautrock - that motorik Neu groove that is both spacey and exciting, and Cluster's subtle yet totally absorbing gift for melodies. I love the way it just seems to take me on a journey. Hard call, but B.



B

[Darkness_Fish]

I never thought there'd be a tie between Moddie and fange where there'd be two tracks I like an awful lot. Bonus points to A for not picking the title track, which is the obvious one to go for. The way the vocal lines overlap is really key to the Perhacs sound, it's effortlessly pretty and warm, but kinda disorienting at the same time.

Harmonia are one of those bands where their very understated nature is difficult to showcase in a head to head battle. They never went for crescendos and climaxes, it's all about the tone and the fluttery motorik rhythm. Each piece is gossamer thin (if I'm allowed to borrow muso critic terms from 4AD album reviews) and ephemeral. Sparks up something interesting, sticks to it, and disappears without leaving a lasting impression, despite being rather lovely. Artisan candy floss. Which is a good thing.

But A just nicks it for me.

[naughty boy]

oooh Linda Perhacs! ooh haunting! ooh church! ooh ooohh

the Harmonia thing isn't much better but at least it aims to fucking do something with all its unpleasant hissing pistons and tin-whistle fucking about

B

[Purgatory Brite]

A

[Goat Boy]

I remember trying that Linda Perhacs album after people raved about it but this sorta thing sets my teeth on edge. Honestly, I'd rather listen to Smelly Cat.

By default...

b

[Diamond Dog]

... but this sorta thing sets my teeth on edge. Honestly, I'd rather listen to Smelly Cat.

[The Modernist]

A is very beautiful but has enough strangeness and odd touches in the way the song twists and turns to stop it falling into twee ( although that won't stop some making that kneejerk judgement simply because it's a female singer and an acoustic guitar). The results are mysterious and beguiling.
I really like that Neu/Harmonia motorik sound and B is very good, but A has a greater uniqueness for me.

A

[C]

Easy B






.

[Polishgirl]

I’m not sure I like A; in fact, I may actually dislike it. But there’s something evocative and whimsical about it that I can’t deny.

A

[trans-chigley express]

Never heard A before but it was a delight, beautifully evocative and gorgeous use of layered vocals. B is a top pick and I love those Harmonia albums but got to give it to A for a new discovery that I must investigate further.

A

[Osgood]

Top match, both would have won against match 1 picks.

A

[Lord Rother]

Never heard of either of them.

B

[Jumper K]

Dreadful both of 'em. B. On a coin toss.

[Rayge]

I already did a drive-by vote on this, but seeing as how both tracks have the Rother seal of disapproval, I thought I'd give them a closer listen
a - actually I don't need to listen to this. Someone on imdb or the Refuge recommended the album to me, and I DLed it. I wasn't hugely impressed with the album, to tell the truth but this track... I remember that I played it (not for the first time) the last time I took acid, on my 60th birthday: it remains my peak musical experience of this century. That cascade of overlaid vocals is simply exquisite. It took all the way to the final of the second cup, but finally someone has chosen a track that I would have chosen had I competed. 8.5 / 10
b - Krautrock was never my thing, so the fact that this is some kind of supergroup means nothing to me. And the four minutes went reasonably pleasantly by (although that was probably more to do with the hummus on toast I'm necking) without leaving any impression. As a piece of up-tempo ambient, it scores, but there's nothing to lift it to Perhacs levels. 6 / 10
A