Lol Coxhill?

Nate Dorward · September-23rd-2003, 01:15 AM

Emanem seems to be adding to Coxhill's recorded oeuvre at a rapid clip. I don't know his work well--in fact the only disc I have is the 2CD sampler set Spectral Soprano: any thoughts on what's his best work?

bgugg · September-23rd-2003, 06:09 AM

Spectral Soprano is indeed the best introduction I could imagine. It gives you an idea of the different Coxhill strategies, everything from catchy, swinging, outrageously self-indulgent melodies to the most concentrating and pure poetry. I love both !
His records can be on one side only, but most of the times they mixed those different sides, a bit like Sun Ra, at times sublime, a few minutes later laughable.

Joy Of Paranoia was my introduction to Coxhill and I still have it only on cassette. It was reissued on cd with another record I don’t remember the name. But what I remember is that my favorite ex-Cadence reviewer and JC poster dismissed as unworthy of Coxhill the most catchy tune (with electric guitar). Indeed, I strongly disagree with him, even if I recognize it’s my favorite bad taste tune ! (Shepp Attica Blues is the other one). Both terribly self indulgent, but I love them !

On the harsh side, the Dunois solos are good but you really have to be in a very open-minded mood, not at all as immediate (at least for me) than the Lacy solos.
Instant Replay, 1981 Nato 2LPs never on cd, is probably his masterpiece. Solos, duos and trios with Léandre, Rutherford, Mengelberg, Boni, Nozati, Tony Coe, and a few more. Mainly harsh too, but it works much better than the Dunois solos for me.

Digswell Duets is an Emanem cd. Excellent first part, a 1978 duo with electronics. The second part is with Veryan Weston on piano, also recorded 1978, not that good.

Towerbal Sweet (1972) and Halim (1993) have a similar line up. Coxhill on soprano + synthesizer and
drums. Yeah, the Halim drums is … a drum box who supplies a sort of techno boum boum background. I love those 2 records, both with (nearly) the full range of Coxhill mixtures.

The Recedents (with guitar and drums) « Zombie Blood Bath On The Isle Of Dogs » is a great post punk new new wave record ! The closest which come to mind is the 1980 James Chance (White) Contortions.

Not really in the punk department, Three Blokes with Evan Parker and Lacy is a huge FMP record, with Lacy very predominant.

I have also Couscous on LP (Nato again, never on cd). First side hilarious with 1920’s Buck Funk & Reverand Anthony W. Reeves, indeed a fake Coxhill supplies with all its clicks and pops ! Second side has an Instant Replay mood and also a Recedents tune !

Otherwise, I had another Nato LP, Chantenay 80, trio with Raymond Boni (guitar) and alto violin. Never enjoyed that one and sold it recently. BTW, with a line up and a mood a bit similar, Global Village Suite
Improvised with Sun Ra alumnus Danny Davis on alto sax, a japanese violonist and Peter Kowald on bass is a tremendous record (FMP, LP only I think).

Humour and music usually don’t mixt very well together. Coxhill is one of the very few who succeeded in that direction. BTW, it looks like you need a lot to appreciate 10 : 02. Don’t remember precisely (heard only 2 minutes afew years ago), but he sings on that one ….

Lol forever !

Alastair · September-23rd-2003, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bgugg

Humour and music usually don’t mixt very well together. Coxhill is one of the very few who succeeded in that direction. BTW, it looks like you need a lot to appreciate 10 : 02. Don’t remember precisely (heard only 2 minutes afew years ago), but he sings on that one ….

Lol forever !

Is that the one with Daniel Deshays? I have that tucked away somewhere. A very odd record combining found sound, soprano sax and children's stories, IIRC. Another bargain bin pick up...

bgugg · September-23rd-2003, 06:35 AM

Yes, I think it's that one.
Or maybe I make a confusion and it was a Melody Four record ?

Alastair · September-23rd-2003, 07:52 AM

I don't have many Lol Coxhill records, but two of my most prized possessions are the LPs he made with Steve Miller (piano) as Coxhill/Miller, "Coxhill/Miller/Miller/Coxhill" and "The Story So Far...Oh Really" (not a compilation, whatever AMG says) for the Virgin subsiduary, Caroline, in the early seventies. As far as I know they've not been reissued on CD (a recurring theme for Lol's records, it seems), but they consist of duets and solo pieces by each of the performers, plus the occasional guest (Archie Leggatt/Richard Sinclair/Kevin Ayers/Robert Wyatt). Charming records both and worth snapping up if you ever see them.

Martin · October-3rd-2003, 05:27 AM

Two of Coxhill's more recent recordings which I like a lot are:

Duology: Duo recordings with Howard Riley (with and without an audience) - not the most likely of duets. For much of the 73 minutes both men play somewhat differently from what you'd expect them to play. The closer, "Broom Dust", develops into something like free improvised blues.

Out To Launch: Contains mostly solo soprano music from 2002. Coxhill's style is totally different from the ones of his soloing sax contemporaries. I usually find it tougher to listen to Coxhill than to Parker or Butcher or Doneda solo, but this one is quite enjoyable.

LeMo · October-3rd-2003, 08:17 PM

Get "Worms Organising Archdukes", his most recent duet with Veryan Weston on Emanem. It will give you a good idea of what Coxhill is doing today when playing at his best.
And Veryan Weston is great as usual (he plays a delicious "organ interlude" beetween the four duets). It's a live recording but the sound is of good quality.
I like "The Dunois Solos" (Nato, recorded twenty two years ago) also and a previous duet with Weston, "Boundless" (Emanem) even if I find it less interesting than "WOA".