London Symphony Orchestra Vol 1 &2
The good news is that the material really does have merit. While I think the chamber compositions on "Yellow Shark" represent him better on many levels, I enjoyed the compositions on these LSO CD's. The bad news is that the recording quality is so awful I can't listen to it. I won't get too geeky about this, but suffice to say that FZ used 40 or 50 PZM microphones--practically one for every instrument. This technique can work for rock music (though even in rock one would not choose the harsh quality of a PZM type microphone). However in classical music, from the listener's perspective it's like having every flute, every trumpet, every drum, etc. wailing away ten inches in front of your face. It's an assault. It's painful. This is the single most fatiguing recording I have heard in my life. I am a fan of FZ, and if you're reading this review, chances are good that you are too. So buy these recordings if you really want to hear these pieces of music, but for your sake I hope your ears are less easily offended than mine.
Something magnificent to move the air in your room around. FZ's compositions performed by the LSO, conducted by the now-well-known Kent Nagano. These are some of the most intricate compositions in all of Zappadom; even with the LSO working at full strength, FZ has noted that it took many hundreds of tape splices to get the pieces just right. Along with the grandeur of "Bogus Pomp" (much-expanded from its original appearance on ORCHESTRAL FAVORITES), there's the rich melodicism of "Sad Jane" and the many musical nooks and crannies of "Mo 'n' Herb's Vacation."
Tracks from this session were originally scattered among two vinyl albums and one CD. This new and expanded edition includes all the LSO tracks on 2 CDs. Other highlights include "Strictly Genteel" (also reworked from ORCHESTRAL FAVORITES) and "Bob In Dacron."
Of all the interviews I have read from the folks in the orchestra, they seemed to forget that FZ paid for these sessions and wanted things done his way. But, FZ had very little influence on these musicians to be what they were reported to be, MUSICIANS. FZ stated in many interviews that 'The LSO can play most classical music with their eyes closed, but were not really all that good at reading music they didn't know 'by heart.' Which kinda, at the time, really suprised me.
After listening to other orchestras play FZ music (try national philharmonic on 'orchestral favorites' and bootleg berkley orchestra doing 'Sinister Footwear') and you will see just how stiff the LSO seems to be. Considering that the LSO has a reputation of being a 'swinging classical orchestra'. Maybe it was the tension between the master and the pupils.... who knows.
Something magnificent to move the air in your room around. FZ's compositions performed by the LSO, conducted by the now-well-known Kent Nagano. These are some of the most intricate compositions in all of Zappadom; even with the LSO working at full strength, FZ has noted that it took many hundreds of tape splices to get the pieces just right. Along with the grandeur of "Bogus Pomp" (much-expanded from its original appearance on ORCHESTRAL FAVORITES), there's the rich melodicism of "Sad Jane" and the many musical nooks and crannies of "Mo 'n' Herb's Vacation."
Tracks from this session were originally scattered among two vinyl albums and one CD. This new and expanded edition includes all the LSO tracks on 2 CDs. Other highlights include "Strictly Genteel" (also reworked from ORCHESTRAL FAVORITES) and "Bob In Dacron."
Of all the interviews I have read from the folks in the orchestra, they seemed to forget that FZ paid for these sessions and wanted things done his way. But, FZ had very little influence on these musicians to be what they were reported to be, MUSICIANS. FZ stated in many interviews that 'The LSO can play most classical music with their eyes closed, but were not really all that good at reading music they didn't know 'by heart.' Which kinda, at the time, really suprised me.
After listening to other orchestras play FZ music (try national philharmonic on 'orchestral favorites' and bootleg berkley orchestra doing 'Sinister Footwear') and you will see just how stiff the LSO seems to be. Considering that the LSO has a reputation of being a 'swinging classical orchestra'. Maybe it was the tension between the master and the pupils.... who knows.
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