Musicians:
Billy Swan - bass, piano, guitar, percussives
Paul Sears - drums, gong, xylophone, vibes, percussives, pots, pans, pennywhistle
Tom Scott - piccolo, e flat, alto and c flutes, soprano, alto and baritone saxophones, b flat and alto clarinets, oboe, soprano recorder, percussives
Dave Newhouse - pianos, organ, piccolo, flute, alto and baritone saxophones, bass clarinet, cereal box whistle, percussives

Guest musicians:
John Schmidt - baritone horn and tuba
Doug Elliot - trombone
Larry Elliot - trumpet
Steve Feigenbaum - guitar, underwater guitar
Greg Yaskovich - bubble trumpet

Tracklist:
Monkey with the Golden Eyes
Hobart Got Burned
Amelia Earhart
The Adventures of Captain Boomerang

The Muffins were an American band that existed from 1973-1981. This is a re-release of The Muffins debut album from 1978. Their music is a blend of chamber music, experimental progressive rock, avant-garde, Canterbury and Jazz.

The musicians are very skilled and they're throwing themselves between these genres with a big doze of humor and playfulness. There are lots of odd rhythms, chord progressions and melodies. Sometimes they reminds of Caravan, Hatfield and the North, Henry Cow and Soft Machine. Besides the regular rock instruments there are lots of other instruments such as xylophone, saxophone, clarinets, oboe and flute.

There are only four lengthy tracks on this album. All of them are highlights in their own rights. But if I should point out one specific track, it would be the epic closing 23-minutes track "The Adventures of Captain Boomerang".

This is a musical adventure from a really interesting band from the past.

Released by CUNEIFORM RECORDS (55004)
Contact & Info:
Cuneiform Records
P.O. Box 8427
Silver Spring, MD 20907
USA
Website: http://cuneiformrecords.com/
E-mail: cuneiway@aol.com

Paul Sears E-mail: info@themuffins.org

Reviewer: Greger Rönnqvist
greger.ronnqvist@infodata.sema.se

Musicians:
Dave Newhouse - Piano, organ, baritone, alto & soprano sax, bass clarinet, percussion
Tom Scott - Alto & soprano sax, Bb & alto clarinet, oboe, flutes, percussion
Billy Swann - Electric bass, guitar, percussion, vocals
Paul Sears - Drums, percussion

Guest Musicians:
Fred Frith - Guitar, piano
Mark Hollander - Alto sax

Tracklist:
Queenside (5:19)
Hobart Got Burned (2:40)
Horsebones (2:40)
Antidote To Drydock (5:06)
Zoom Resume (1:28)
Boxed & Crossed (5:38)
Under Dali's Wing (3:17)
Vanity, Vanity (2:47)
Dancing In Sunrise, Switzerland (3:11)
Blind Arch (8:51)
Expected Freedom (2:21)
In The Red (5:08)
Not Alone (13:38)
Open City (0:52)

This album is a real goodie!

It contains previously unreleased material from The Muffins; recorded 1977-1980, including outtakes from "Manna/Mirage" and Fred Frith's "Gravity" LP, live performances and demos. Although the album contains live performances and demos, the sound quality
is really good.

The Muffins music is a blend of Gong, Hatfield and the North, Henry Cow, Magma and Soft Machine. The main part of the material is complex and all- instrumental. Often the songs are closer to Jazz then Rock. Some sort of avant-garde free form jazz that is really amazing.

This album is interesting both as a supplement for the collector and as an introduction for newcomers to the band.

Released by CUNEIFORM RECORDS (55010)

Contact & Info:
Cuneiform Records
P.O. Box 8427
Silver Spring, MD 20907
USA
Website: http://cuneiformrecords.com/
E-mail: cuneiway@aol.com

Paul Sears E-mail: info@themuffins.org

Reviewer: Greger Rönnqvist
greger.ronnqvist@infodata.sema.se