Search - Ovary Lodge :: Ovary Lodge

Craftsmanship at it's finest

S. Dinsdale | Leeds, UK | 08/01/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you want to know what the antithesis of overblown 70's rock sounds like, look no further.This record was produced by Robert Fripp in 1973 (as had Tippett's even more obscure solo record `Blueprint',and the large scale work `Septober Energy'), and it was this relationship with free music which was clearly instrumental in Fripp's recruitment of percussionist Jamie Muir for King Crimson. The fact that Tippett himself had declined offers to become a permanent member of KC is testament to his determination to plough his own very singular furrow.Ovary Lodge is a trio album of Piano, Double Bass and Percussion and is free music at its intelligent best. The album is bookended with two group improvisations which fully explore the textural interaction of these wholly acoustic instruments in an improvised setting. In between are quieter explorations of sound and silence, firstly from Frank Perry's stunning array of Percussion, then joined by Tippett's thoughtful piano explorations. The music requires a peaceful environment and close listening and repays this with a feast of beautiful acoustic sound textures that could make you determined to never hear a synthesizer or electric guitar ever again. The purity of this music is admirable. (One star docked because this is mastered from vinyl, although it is very well done, it would have been nice to have heard it from the tapes because the music is so quiet in places)"