Can't believe I never heard this before-- and of course, it goes without saying I'm a lifelong, huge mega-fan of Soft Machine and all the artists that were involved with them.
Discogs page for the album here. I believe, but I'm not sure, when I went to explore the post-Matching Mole releases from him, a long time ago, I passed this one by because of its erroneous description as abstract or experimental. Admittedly there are passages that are exactly that, but there is at least half a (short) LP's worth of genuinely interestingly composed progressive synthesizer music. Or maybe it wasn't listed there at the time.
Description:
Soundtrack to anti-vivisection movie 'The Animals Film' directed by Victor Schonfeld.
Narration is by Julie Christie.
Luckily it has its own wiki page, here, on which you can read about the movie, if you're as interested as I am:
The Animals Film is a 1981 feature documentary film about the use of animals by human beings, directed by Victor Schonfeld and Myriam Alaux, and narrated by actress Julie Christie.
Synopsis
The Animals Film presents a survey of the uses of animals in factory farming, as pets, for entertainment, in scientific and military research, hunting, etc. The film also profiles the international animal rights movement. The film incorporates secret government footage, cartoons, newsreels, and excerpts from propaganda films.
etc.
I can just imagine how horrifying some scenes must be, based on the cover monkey. Probably I wouldn't have the heart to watch it. We have to bear in mind that standards are a little bit higher today than at the time, 24 years ago. Only a little bit though.
Note the following though:
Robert Wyatt composed an original soundtrack for the film, released in 1982 on Rough Trade Records. The film also features music from the Robert Fripp album Let the Power Fall, Talking Heads and ex-Audience frontman Howard Werth. Critical reception of the soundtrack was mixed. Ted Mills of album database AllMusic described the soundtrack as "moody" and filled with "tasty-sounding analog synths from the late '70s", but ultimately it "disappoint[s] fans of Wyatt's vocals." It was later issued in a heavily edited form (losing more than 10 minutes, with no explanation given) as a Japanese CD, and all later CD reissues have been cloned from this master.
Part 1.2 is fantastic prog:
Part 2.2 with the classic Wyatt reverbed vocalizing:
Wonderful stuff. Exciting for me to hear, for the first time. I'll try to watch the movie too, which I found here.
ReplyDeletehttps://krakenfiles.com/view/k1syCCU252/file.html
https://www.mediafire.com/file/uj5jbtkly8gevz8/Wyatt++Animals.rar/file
As horrific as the subject matter is, thanks for this. I love this album, most everything Robert Wyatt actually. I brought this years before I had a chance to see the film via DVD. The second review on Discogs for the original Rough Trade Ep release pretty much sums up the experience. I’m not sure I made it through the entire thing, but it was just awful. I can’t imagine being forced the watch it, but I agree there is a value in seeing certain aspects of humanity for what they are. To my ears, this release is as powerful and intense as Rock Bottom. I’ve struggled to figure out a way to explain what it is about Robert’s work that is so endearing, for me and apparently many others. I think one part if it is his acute empathy. As odd as a lot of his output is, for whatever reason I immediately understand what he’s on about and why. The only other musician/composers I can think of in a similar vein might be John Lennon, Igor Stravinsky and Frank Zappa when he’s not in ‘comedy / porn-rock’ mode. I hope those reading this will have a listen.
ReplyDeleteyes I agree completely
Deletethe review is this one
DeleteI was unaware that Robert Wyatt had written & performed the soundtrack to this film. What I did remember was being taken to a room at school with the class to see this film when it came out and it being the most harrowing thing I have ever experienced, class mates crying, leaving the room.... but good for the teachers to show us the reality of life for animals when eating meat, drug and cosmetic testing....it is not fiction, it does not preach, it led to change and it just shows that reality is more frightening that any fictional horror film........all children should see this film.......
https://www.discogs.com/release/384056-Robert-Wyatt-The-Animals-Film
Merci, Ryan, it's a discovery for me. Rock Bottom was one of the albums that fueled my psychedelic experiences (LSD) in the seventies. I can assure you that you should approach it with caution—or at the very least, be forewarned. Because it unlocks doors (Huxley) you never knew existed.
ReplyDelete