Ken Hyder's Talisker - The Last Battle
I posted a little while ago the second album from Talisker, which met with a very positive response, so all reason then to move on to their third, "The Last Battle", out on the Vinyl label in Germany. There were a few more Talisker albums, but I haven't been able to locate any yet.
The idea is, as on the former, to mix traditional or traditionally-tinged tunes with vocal and instrument improvisations. Here the group does their own vocalising, starting with a little introduction from all four of them. It moves on through jigs and laments and home-made funk to free-for-all collective playing, some written or at least pre-planned and others done on the spot. For further info, consult the two-page insert that came with the record and which I have scanned and apprended to this post. A highlight, for this listener, is the wonderfully emotive tenor solo by John Rangecroft on "McCrimmon's Lament". Also note Hyder's clipped, precise playing throughout. I'm sure he's picked up a thing or two from John Stevens. In general, top lads all around!
Basic info:
Ken Hyder's Talisker - The Last Battle
Vinyl VS 107 (1978)
Side one
a1_My Name Is
a2_Miss Mary Morrison of Barra-Paddy's Leather Breeches*-MacCrimmon's Lament*
a3_Calum Hyder's Welcome to South London
Side two
b1_Tha Cu Ban Againn**-The Last Battle
b2_Wee Davie and Big John
b3_Whistle Ower the Lave O'T*
Personnel
Davie Webster alto saxophone, vocals
John Rangecroft tenor saxophone, clarinet, vocals
John Lawrence string bass, bass guitar, vocals
Ken Hyder drums, percussion, kalenga, dried peas, vocals
All compositions by Ken Hyder, except *trad. arr. Hyder and ** Hyder/Rangecroft
Recorded and mixed at Riverside Recordings, London, 15th and 16th February, 1978
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