I don't know if there has been a post about these guys, but I think The Bevis Frond is one the greatest bands in the last 30+ years. Nick Saloman has to be the one of the best relatively unknown guitar players/songwriters of his generation.
Agreed, do you have a favorite? I think one problem/great asset of his is that his albums are so sprawling and overwrought that it’s a hard slog sometimes, even with all the great moments and as a big fan. My favorite overall is usually New River Head, their classic I’d presume. Great mix of the perfect, if nasally, pop nuggets and the stretched out psych jams. North Circular is another that has some real gems on it. Great band!
You sound like a friend of mine, who has a connection with Blue Cheer with me. If it's you, that's fun. If not, that's ok. My favourite album is Valedictory Songs.
I don't know much about them at all...I've only heard We're Your Friends, Man and it was one of my two favorite albums of 2018.
Nick Saloman's group. He's pretty cool. Really good guitar heavy psych, fits the label "acid rock" perfectly. I had their first three albums on vinyl, on Reckless Records: Miasma, Inner Light, and Triptych. I'd recommend them all. "Eyes in the Back of My Head" was like an anthem of theirs. I'm afraid I lost track of them in the 90s, for awhile I wasn't interested in following rock music at all. Black Sun Ensemble was another group on the same label at the same time pursuing similar territory.
Yeah, they are still happening. Bevis Frond are just going on tour in Great Britten in the next few weeks. Nick's starting his own record company called 'Blue Matter' which will be releasing the highly anticipated 'Gadsby & Skol' material on a remastered vinyl lp, amongst others.
I think they are pretty good but I xtrugg!e with full albums. I have heard lots of individual tracks I really enjoy though.
I've only got a couple of albums, Any Gas Faster and New River Head. I enjoy them both, but I don't play them regularly.
Nick's been incredibly prolific and consistent for years now. One of Britain's best songwriters. Hard to pick a favorite album, but I'd also suggest Valedictory Songs and White Numbers.
Yes, it is solid, mature, a refinement over the more wild wooly idiosyncratic earlier Woronzow/REckless era albums.
It's a great one, but also a triple album with stuff like the 12+ minute endurance test The Pips. But you'll uncover some pop gems on it for sure. New River Head might be the best starting point.
Got a copy of North Circular on the way for a few bucks. I sampled New River Head and wasn't crazy about the skronky freakout of "White Sun." But then I liked the next tune, "Drowned." I imagine that sort of contrast in sounds happens more frequently on the earlier albums?
Yes, he does longer Hendrixian shronk fests and pastoral/poppy British psych homages. The Hendrixian blowouts are what made his name. Bevis Frond: Solar Marmalade
Super rare titles "The Clocks" and "The Long Stuff" available now on Nicks new BlueMatter label https://www.bluematterrecords.com/the-bevis-frond limited quantities
Subbing to this thread. Please tell me I'm not the only longtime fan with all the Woronzow releases on vinyl and also four different pressings of Miasma on vinyl.
Also, reading comments upthread... I love the full albums and each is a well worn glove at this point. Admittedly, "The Pips" is probably the only song I'm ever apt to skip, but not always. It does take immersion and repeated listens to really appreciate the eclecticism and depth of each title. I will grant that that's harder these days in the age of Twit(ter) bit sized chunks plus the speed and attention span of social media. Putting on a 2xLP or 3xLP of The Bevis Frond is meant to be a journey and a travelogue. Afterwards, you will feel as if you left and have been somewhere.
