AUDIENCE was a London-based group that recorded their first album in 69 and had their eponymous debut pulled from the stores a few months after its release, which makes the album a major collectible (Cd versions were also hard to come by until a recent reissue). They got signed by Tony Stratton-Smith of the Charisma label ( GENESIS , VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR, THE NICE and a few others) but although not a purely progressive group , they bore a lot of characteristics of the masters. Among which , a profound (and somewhat derangesome) singer whose voice reminds you a bit of PETER HAMMILL, a great wind players able to switch to from flutes to saxes and oboe and a bassist (who wrote the acknowledgement written above ) that doubled on KBs but those remain discreet.Three more albums were released under the Charisma label , and Friend's Friend's Friend is easily their best although the much-better known House On The Hill is equal in quality , both featuring tight frenetic and high-energy rock but also virtuosity and inventiveness. No real long epics , but plenty of space for all musicians to expand themselves and minor classic tracks like "Raid" , "Jackdaw" , "Priestess" and "House On The hill" can be called minor classic in their own right. Then , the band seemed to want to take things a step further by adding three extra musicians ( a KbB and two reed men) writing a concept album that was supposed to be their crowning achievement. Sadly the album was only partially succesful and the band folded almost immediately after due to internal friction. Only a compilatio...Listed under Folk Rock, AUDIENCE consisted of Howard Werth, vocals/guitar, Keith Gemmell, sax/clarinet/flute, Tony Connor, drums and myself on bass. We ran from 1969 to 1972 and, although featuring acoustic guitar, were not exactly folky. I think we were more usually classified as art rock. When band folded, Howard joined The DOORS as replacement for Jim Morrison then went solo, Keith joined STACKRIDGE and later The PASADENA ROOF ORCHESTRA and I joined The NASHVILLE TEENS, then Jonathan Kelly's OUTSIDE. Tony joined HOT CHOCOLATE, where he has been ever since. The band has recently reformed with only one personnel change - that of John Fisher on drums.
We produced albums as per your list. A recent addition is "Unchained", which is a best-of with two additional unreleased tracks. The most lauded album was "House on the Hill".
: : : Trevor Williams (AUDIENCE), ENGLAND : : :
AUDIENCE was a London-based group that recorded their first album in 69 and had their eponymous debut pulled from the stores a few months after its release, which makes the album a major collectible (Cd versions were also hard to come by until a recent reissue). They got signed by Tony Stratton-Smith of the Charisma label ( GENESIS , VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR, THE NICE and a few others) but although not a purely progressive group , they bore a lot of characteristics of the masters. Among which , a profound (and somewhat derangesome) singer whose voice reminds you a bit of PETER HAMMILL, a great wind players able to switch to from flutes to saxes and oboe and a bassist (who wrote the acknowledgement written above ) that doubled on KBs but those remain discreet.
Three more albums were released under the Charisma label , and Friend's Friend's Friend is easily their best although the much-better known House On The Hill is equal in quality , both featuring tight frenetic and high-energy rock but also virtuosity and inventiveness. No real long epics , but plenty of space for all musicians to expand themselves and minor classic tracks like "Raid" , "Jackdaw" , "Priestess" and "House On The hill" can be called minor classic in their own right. Then , the band seemed to want to take things a step further by adding three extra musicians ( a KbB and two reed men) writing a concept album that was supposed to be their crowning achievement. Sadly the album was only partially succesful and the band folded almost immediately after due to internal friction. Only a compilation album (never released on Cd) appaered later that yaer.
AUDIENCE is one of those almost forgotten band of the early 70's , that will bring you much shivers down the spine of most progheads.
Audience were a much underrated band of their time with all of their albums full of excellently played woodwind, brass and keyboards and blended in lots of subtle and always melodic tunes. Howard Werth's vocals are very distinctive and should have given this band lots more commercial success than they achieved.
Tracklisting:
1. Nothing You Do
2. Belladonna Moonshine
3. It Brings a Tear
4. Raid
5. Rigth on Their Side
6. Ebony Variations
7. Priestess
8. Friends, Friend, Friends
9. The Big Spell
Playing Time.........: 42:39
VIRGIN RECORDS - CASCD 1012 -1992-
2 comments:
best album. thank you very much!
Merci! :)
Post a Comment