A bit of background... The main songwriter on Cressida's debut album was guitarist John Heyworth, with contributions by other members (singer Angus Cullen, and to a lesser extent drummer Iain Clark, later of Uriah Heep, and organist Peter Jennings). Heyworth left after the first album, so the second album relied more on the contributions of Cullen and, especially, Jennings, who wrote "Munich". He met his future wife in Munich when the band were touring in Germany, which inspired this epic which also has echoes of an earlier, pre-WWII Munich. For me, this is the pinnacle of Cressida's recorded work, and I was lucky at attend a reformation gig they did in London (with everyone but the guitarist taking part) in 2011, and "Munich" was, predictably, the highlight of the performance for me. Angus Cullen's vocals and Peter Jennings' organ in particular make me wish they had continued in music - alas, they were the only members who didn't, at least not in a visible way.
That's my film of them doing "Munich" in 2011. The band later asked for a copy of my clip, for some sort of official record of the gig, but nothing has happened since. th-cam.com/video/XY0d94WzRHc/w-d-xo.html
Given my love of 70s prog I'm surprised I haven't heard of this one. Has a very Moody Blues vibe to start, but moves more into Caravan territory when they get to the jammy solo. Very cool stuff.
Both Cressida albums are great. There is much of the same atmosphere that some of the Love albums had a few years earlier. I think that Loves Forever Changes from 1967 has been one album that inspired Cressida a lot.
Iain Clark is excellent, and indeed jazz drummer. Later he completed the sound of Uriah Heep on Look At Yourself album, their heaviest and finest recording where everything Uriah Heep comes together making this album their finest achievement. It was Iain's a year long denure with Heep that made the band international success: Iain's very hard work on tours practically drummed Heep to its fame. Don't take my word, just listen the album and bootlegs from the era. No wonder their took Iain to join the already excellent band.
So happy you liked it so much! I was expecting critique on lack of coherence, but since you perciecved it as a piece from a musical, it makes sense that you "bought it". Though the same can be said about loads and loads of longer prog pieces, since they're more like a classical piece (than a "song"), with different movements to illustrate e.g. changes of events in a story. Anyways, a really underappreciated band with a short career in 68-70. They did, however, do two reunion gigs. One in London 2011 and the last one at "Melloboat" (a ferry Festival at the Baltic Sea) in 2013 which I got to witness ❤. Even though not originating from Canterbury, their style is very related to "the Canterbury scene" imo. You might have a soft spot for that style of prog which often is very melodic and jazz infused.
When I saw them in London in December 2011, they announced that Akerfeldt had invited them to play an opening set for Opeth's gig the following evening. Before London they'd done a low-key "public rehearsal" in Scotland (iirc), so counting Melloboat that's 4 reunion gigs.@@progperljungman8218
Omg you made my day, thank you 😊 Glad you enjoyed this so much, and I'm sure your community which has a broad appreciation for music also will welcome this. Truly, this of my favourites. I'll certainly be queueing up my other favourite too, and hope that is as well received. Glad you really enjoyed the layers, with incredible balance from so many different instruments, whilst not being convoluted. I also always love the change to 3/ 4 in the end part. It's so subtle ;) Probably right about the analysis. A socially awkward young man delving into the circus in pursuit of a love interest from a very social 'it' girl, perhaps a little older. Out of their comfort zone, but braving it with the crowd. I imagine a mummy's boy in the sex, drugs, rock and roll crowd. I used to always envisage a rehab centre...
A bit of background... The main songwriter on Cressida's debut album was guitarist John Heyworth, with contributions by other members (singer Angus Cullen, and to a lesser extent drummer Iain Clark, later of Uriah Heep, and organist Peter Jennings). Heyworth left after the first album, so the second album relied more on the contributions of Cullen and, especially, Jennings, who wrote "Munich". He met his future wife in Munich when the band were touring in Germany, which inspired this epic which also has echoes of an earlier, pre-WWII Munich. For me, this is the pinnacle of Cressida's recorded work, and I was lucky at attend a reformation gig they did in London (with everyone but the guitarist taking part) in 2011, and "Munich" was, predictably, the highlight of the performance for me. Angus Cullen's vocals and Peter Jennings' organ in particular make me wish they had continued in music - alas, they were the only members who didn't, at least not in a visible way.
That's my film of them doing "Munich" in 2011. The band later asked for a copy of my clip, for some sort of official record of the gig, but nothing has happened since. th-cam.com/video/XY0d94WzRHc/w-d-xo.html
Timeless beauty. Symphonic prog at finest , their masterpiece.
Given my love of 70s prog I'm surprised I haven't heard of this one. Has a very Moody Blues vibe to start, but moves more into Caravan territory when they get to the jammy solo. Very cool stuff.
Both Cressida albums are great. There is much of the same atmosphere that some of the Love albums had a few years earlier. I think that Loves Forever Changes from 1967 has been one album that inspired Cressida a lot.
Iain Clark is excellent, and indeed jazz drummer. Later he completed the sound of Uriah Heep on Look At Yourself album, their heaviest and finest recording where everything Uriah Heep comes together making this album their finest achievement. It was Iain's a year long denure with Heep that made the band international success: Iain's very hard work on tours practically drummed Heep to its fame. Don't take my word, just listen the album and bootlegs from the era. No wonder their took Iain to join the already excellent band.
Never heard of them, and I just listened the whole album before, it's all great, thank you!
So happy you liked it so much!
I was expecting critique on lack of coherence, but since you perciecved it as a piece from a musical, it makes sense that you "bought it". Though the same can be said about loads and loads of longer prog pieces, since they're more like a classical piece (than a "song"), with different movements to illustrate e.g. changes of events in a story.
Anyways, a really underappreciated band with a short career in 68-70. They did, however, do two reunion gigs. One in London 2011 and the last one at "Melloboat" (a ferry Festival at the Baltic Sea) in 2013 which I got to witness ❤.
Even though not originating from Canterbury, their style is very related to "the Canterbury scene" imo. You might have a soft spot for that style of prog which often is very melodic and jazz infused.
So. Damn. Cool
@@billy2896 Mikael Åkerfeldt was in the audience as well. Same in 2008, when Comus was reunited @Melloboat
Amazing
When I saw them in London in December 2011, they announced that Akerfeldt had invited them to play an opening set for Opeth's gig the following evening. Before London they'd done a low-key "public rehearsal" in Scotland (iirc), so counting Melloboat that's 4 reunion gigs.@@progperljungman8218
@@muskett00 Here's Munich from that last gig th-cam.com/video/mxEmGB6zVIA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=GD8M_MptckezAKSp
Omg you made my day, thank you 😊 Glad you enjoyed this so much, and I'm sure your community which has a broad appreciation for music also will welcome this. Truly, this of my favourites. I'll certainly be queueing up my other favourite too, and hope that is as well received.
Glad you really enjoyed the layers, with incredible balance from so many different instruments, whilst not being convoluted. I also always love the change to 3/ 4 in the end part. It's so subtle ;)
Probably right about the analysis. A socially awkward young man delving into the circus in pursuit of a love interest from a very social 'it' girl, perhaps a little older. Out of their comfort zone, but braving it with the crowd. I imagine a mummy's boy in the sex, drugs, rock and roll crowd. I used to always envisage a rehab centre...
Thanks for this great selection!
hi critical reactions!!! :3 great to see you again. every video you make is a great favor to muscians everywhere! ❤️
Thanks so much!
That’s a great album. Kind of proto prog. Their second album is also good, proggier and with more orchestration.
This is from their second album Asylum though
You should react to tally hall they’re made by the same people as miracle musical
There's a typo "Cressda" in the title that you may want to fix :)
Thanks for catching that!