Search - Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Company :: 1970-1973

Exceptionally beautiful.

Louie Bourland | 03/02/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this cd is entirely analog synth, with perhaps one sample. it is all instrumental. each track contains layer upon layer of mellowly glittering repeated themes that gradually change, measure by measure. i especially love the first track with its excellent bassline. the music progresses at a steady, unhurried pace, while its elements energetically explore their space and their role in the composition. i am at a loss to compare this recording to anything i know, although it definitely can abide by the 'trance' genre. if you appreciate rich, carefully arranged electronica, this cd is for you."

Historic Recordings from An Imporatant Yet Obscure Band

Louie Bourland | Garden Grove CA | 05/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Company is possibly the worlds very first all-synthesizer band. Although Tangerine Dream was formed first, TD began as a psychedelic rock band using rock-oriented instrumentation. Mother Mallard was a synth-band from the get-go.
This self-titled disc covers their first three years as a band. With the exception of a lone electric piano, all of the music heard is performed entirely on Moog Synthesizers. This music is quite ahead of its time considering it was recorded between 1970 and 1973. Elements of todays techno and ambient music are heard throughout the disc. The piece entitled "Music" uses a repeated tape loop which does not sound too far out of place with todays samplers and looping techniques. The closing track "Easter" is a masterwork built upon repeated sequencer patterns. Parts of this piece are quite similar to the mechanical rhythms that Kraftwerk would adopt much later in their career (ie: Trans-Europe Express). All of the music on this CD is very enjoyable and timeless. It's worth a listen.
On a personal note, I had never heard of this band until I read the book "Analog Days" by Trevor Pinch and Frank Trocco. "Analog Days" is about the history of the Moog synthesizer. Mother Mallard is mentioned extensively in one chapter of this book. I bought the CD plus "Like a Duck To Water" before hearing a note of music from this band. Needless to say, I was quite impressed and floored by just how ahead of their time this band really is.
So, I shall say it again, it's definitely worth a listen."

Where it all started?

A. Kerr | United Kingdom | 08/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is formidable in its insight, foresight, farsight, whateversight and overall scope. The names David Borden, Linda Fisher and Steve Drews are probably the least known (if not unknown) in the current EM field. Except probably, by the people they most influenced; the players of EM (Tangerine Dream, Klaus Shulze etc. and many of their subsequent students).

Listening to this material (almost 30 years later) is a humbling and at the same time, refreshing experience.

The track 'Ceres Motion' says it all. Listen to this piece and hear the birth of the sequenced moog backing beloved of TD (3 Moog Modulars and 2 Mini Moogs test-driven for Robert Moog plus Linda Fisher's absolutely wonderful RMI piano accompaniment (which I guess would be called a 'pad' nowadays - padding, this is not )).



All of this before 'Phaedra'!



There's no clutter in the arrangement of the music, the influences of John Cage show (they were colleagues and collaborators). The influence of Terry Riley's 'In C' and 'A Rainbow in Curved Air' also spring to mind, but more as a spirit of the time than anything else.

Unlike the work of Tangerine Dream at this time, these pieces are not improvised jams, but are compositions in the classical sense and were performed as such (albeit to an avid rock loving student audience in the 70s).



Listen to this group, and then compare them with Phillip Glass and probably anyone else you care to think of who performs elecronic music and you'll wonder why these people aren't better known. The piece 'Music' is another revelation, with its 'sampled' tape loop taken from the popular show song becoming the rhythm track over which the rest of the piece is performed. If that isn't ahead of its time, what is?



Can't recommend this and the other collections enough!

"