Sunday 22 September 2013

In the Plain - Savage Rose

Clear, cool and cloudless nights are not usually conducive with prolific catches of Moth, so add to that a 'near'
FULL-MOON
and you have the 'kiss of death'. At least that is what I though
reaching the bedroom last night! Not withstanding there were a
number of interesting specimens within including this
HARVESTMAN SPIDER
the Micro
GARDEN PEBBLE
what is thought to be a baby
LEAF/FROGHOPPER?

 PINK-BARRED SALLOW
This specimen is the far more unusual form, devoid of markings,
of THE SALLOW (Xanthia icteritia flavescens)
the beautiful
FROSTED ORANGE*
2 variants of
LUNAR UNDERWING
Not in the trap, but perched on my car parcel shelf in the
garage the by no means 'rare' but beautifully marked
 HERALD.
This PLUME MOTH Sp
 and this nifty little DANCE FLY brought up a better catch than
most days recently.
Otherwise around the farm a bedraggled
 ROBIN
sought sanctuary under the wheel-arch of a car, while
 at long last we have now 'seen' a
 GOLDCREST
They have been present here throughout the year, and undoubtedly
bred, but have been very much keeping their own council!
 GREY HERON
in the 'wood pile' was the last of the images.
Other activity here over the last few days has seen 'dozens' of Swallows and House Martins congregating on the telephone wire prior to departing for warmer climbs. Both Tawny and Barn Owls are now heard on a nightly basis, while Hugh has had 2 sightings of the later on consecutive early mornings. Down by the riverside Reed and Sedge Warblers now all seem to have departed, with still no 'vocals' from Cetti's Warbler, undoubtedly they are there. Kingfisher too is now a 'daily' sighting and also vocal, both 'large' Woodpeckers seem to have had a successful breeding season as have Lapwing.
With the i-Pod now firmly installed in the car I'm revisiting bands that have for far too long been confined to the attic. Danish Psychedelic outfit 'Savage Rose' were highly thought of from their inception in 1967. Three years later, after 'In the Plain' had arrived, a few of us from the ship caught up with them (I believe it was) at the Kimbles Ballroom, Southsea. By then we were all hyped up on Floyd, Beatle, Stones et al but this was a new genre with vocalist Anisette, drummer Alex Riel and Andres Koppel keyboards coming over as 'outstanding'!
from the seminal album
Music Critic Joe Viglione's slant on the album:-
In the Plain by Denmark's Savage Rose has a striking cover photo with psychedelic colour coordinated band members surrounded by wild pink lettering of the group name. Inside is innovative music, pretty much living up to the typical Polygram hype from this era written on the back cover. "Let's See Her" sounds like Ten Wheel Drive meets Vanilla Fudge; brothers Anders Koppel and Thomas Koppel wrote seven of the eight tracks, and created with this one clever sound and arrangements. The sleeper on In the Plain, though, is the one non-original, five minutes and 38 seconds of "Ride My Mountain," a composition by Jade. It's a wonderful production number where Anisette's vocal scream out over the very together instrumentation. The back cover photo reflects the intensity of "Ride My Mountain," the band looking like exiles of Charles Manson's clan in the positive of the back cover photo, a larger negative version above it making this import very hip. The Savage Rose look like they are auditioning for the film The Savage Seven. The opening track reminds one of a hipper Peanut Butter Conspiracy, and there is no doubt that Savage Rose find more inspiration in their music than similar bands from the era. The production is somewhat like David Briggs' work on Alice Cooper's Easy Action, while titles like "The Shepherd & Sally" are as experimental as anything on that early Cooper disc. Having the male vocals on "His Own Happiness" is unnecessary, sort of like Big Brother & the Holding Company letting Janis Joplin take a time out. Thankfully, Anissette comes back after a mini-instrumental interlude for a rare look at the band's sangfroid. It is also interesting to hear Thomas Koppel's to-be ex-wife, Llse Maria Koppel, on harpsichord backing his next wife, Anissette. "Evening's Child" is like a psychedelic powwow of jazz-influenced garage rock which cascades into the dirge that is "A Trial in Our Native Town." Without the polish producer Jimmy Miller would bring to the mix on Refugee, In the Plain is a very good look at a highly creative band.
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