MOONDOG - Moondog And His Friends (Reissue) - 10"- Black Vinyl
Label: Honest Jon's Records
SKU: WORLD
Catalogue ID: HJP024
Format: vinyl
10" - Black Vinyl Reissue
Originally released in 1953, this collection of very early Moondog pieces features the same tribal rhythmic impulse as his famed Prestige recordings,
There's an impressive line in chamber music running through these compositions: the B-side is dedicated to two suites for strings, which could easily pass for more traditional works were it not for the heavy bongo presence (something Haydn, Mozart et al were always sorely missing).
Essentially though you can hear a sense of discipline, and a thorough working knowledge of conventional classical composition in Moondog's work, even if he ultimately chooses to subvert it. All this is further destabilised by slightly weirder excursions like 'Tree Frog - Be A Hobo', which fit into some odd percussion-centric take on what might loosely be termed as a 'song'. More idiosyncratic, entirely uncategorizable work from one of 20th century music's true mavericks.
Tracklist:
Side A
A1 Dragon's Teeth, Voices Of Spring
A2 Oasis
A3 Tree Frog, Be A Hobo
A4 Instrumental Round, Double Bass Duo, Why Spend The Dark Night With You?
A5 Theme And Variations, Rim Shot
Side B
Suite No. 1
B1a First Movement
B1b Second Movement
B1c Third Movement
Suite No. 2
B2a First Movement
B2b Second Movement
B2c Third Movement