Wednesday 14 June 2017

Francis Monkman in 1978: Tempus Fugit, and many others...









When I was exploring the library music relating to space I was shocked to see there were some Francis Monkman albums I had missed out on, amongst them one entitled Tempus Fugit.  And it turned out to be quite something!

In fact, in the annus mirabilis of 1978 he made or perhaps contributed to no fewer than 5 records.
Do we remember who he was?  I actually had to look it up, I thought he was with one of those generic british early proggers, it was actually the prolific band Curved Air he was a member of, which was too commercially watered down for my taste, and I guess after they disbanded he got into the library music scene, how gratifying that must have been for him... at least it is for us now!!   At times he sounds like some watered down Lasry, and I think overall, he doesn't quite approach the variety that Hawkshaw was able to put forth in his library oeuvre... but he does come close here.

The astonishing composition called Daredevil (e.g. Evil Knevil, for those who remember!)






From Pictures, Slow Wave is simply stunning as a soft composition:





From Classical Concussion, check out the Sheer Release, like wow:






Of course the Island Universe from Predictions is very very Hawkshaw-like:





Oh how I miss so much that synthesizer sound that made one note alone sound like a whole orchestra, no, more even, a whole galaxy!

What the heck, I'll throw in all I have from him...


The Great Monkman on keys and guitar:







20 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1978
      Tempus Fugit:
      http://www59.zippyshare.com/v/XuatBuoh/file.html

      Energism:
      http://www35.zippyshare.com/v/GobyUlyd/file.html

      Auturbine:
      http://www46.zippyshare.com/v/TWukncAl/file.html

      Pictures in the Mind:
      http://www111.zippyshare.com/v/69YRj5Zw/file.html

      Contemporary Impact:
      http://www65.zippyshare.com/v/RtJTRo9v/file.html

      1979
      Predictions Part 1:
      http://www1.zippyshare.com/v/52xAUIfo/file.html

      Predictions Part 2:
      http://www75.zippyshare.com/v/Wob1pRQJ/file.html

      Classical Concussion:
      http://www94.zippyshare.com/v/TjOPvEvW/file.html

      1980
      Dynamism:
      http://www87.zippyshare.com/v/OROZtRlV/file.html

      Classical Odyssey
      http://www76.zippyshare.com/v/H4FHCah5/file.html

      1983
      Friday:
      http://www50.zippyshare.com/v/trZCE3Cv/file.html

      Forcefield:
      http://www63.zippyshare.com/v/3kD44iW5/file.html

      Total twelve albums, phew. Thanks to all those kind and generous people who bought and ripped these, I'm sure there are many...
      Let me know if there's one I missed

      Delete
    2. missing track 17 from auturbine
      https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/4p4qkq

      Delete
    3. I did fetch this to begin with
      : )
      Blessings...

      Delete
  2. Just...wow. Thanks to all involved for their time an work.


    Wow.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Zounds! Great post. I had forgotten about Mr. Monkman. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great stuff, thanks! BTW, Predictions - Part One is missing track #13 Hypercharge

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks for letting me know, really appreciate it:

      http://www1.zippyshare.com/v/52xAUIfo/file.html

      Delete
  5. I learned about Monkman some years ago, when I was delving into John Williams’ great instrumental band, Sky. I finally found 5 albums of him, and liked three compositions of his work: ‘Release of energy’ (1979), ‘Taken’ (1980) and ‘Fury’ (1980). Greetings from Athens! Keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is amazing. Feels like Christmas :) Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi,

    I think there is also a record named "Futurism" with Monkman and another guy "Paul Hart". The music is near of the records here,althought a bit more commercial !

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think that's a compilation of energism and paul hart's futurism:
    http://www22.zippyshare.com/v/PDszVRnW/file.html

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi, I´m missing this one piece in the link below, which I´m not sure if it is from Monkman or Sky.

    https://youtu.be/dEFdcLf2DRU

    Could you help, please? Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi, Julian. Is there any chance to re-upload all Francis Monkman albums?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Replies
    1. Forgive my last, I did manage the Monkman set from late April. Including 'Dweller' and 'LGF. TY!

      Delete