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Source: Japan SHM-CD Remaster
Bassist/singer Nicholas Greenwood was a member of the Crazy World of Arthur Brown between 1967 and 1970.Having struck out on his own,he recorded his only solo LP with help from Dick Heninghem and Eric Peachey(Khan)Bunk Gardner(the Mother's of Invention),BrynHowarth(Les Fleur de Lys)and others.Intense and moody,it was released in tiny numbers in France,Holland and the UK in 1972,and is one of the rarest albums of the progressive era,with originals changing hands for thousands of euros.
Bassist Nick Greenwood is best-known today for his fiery work with Arthur Brown in his own 1968-69 heyday. Moving on, in 1972, Greenwood chose to record a solo album, and to that end brought together a crack band of sessionmen. Even for its time the resulting Cold Cuts set was way out there, a mighty slab of psychedelia-laced prog rock that soared into musical recesses seldom explored. Besides showcasing Greenwood's superb bass skills, fans are also surprisingly treated to his vocals -- surprising, because Greenwood was not previously known as a singer.
He acquits himself quite spectacularly here, his delivery as powerful on the rockier numbers as it is nuanced and introspective on the proggier songs. Yet, what really captures one's attention is the interplay between keyboardist Dick Henningham, guitarist Bryn Howarth, and Bunk Gardner's woodwinds. Henningham easily reaches the majestic peaks of the showier Keith Emerson, but without the pomposity, however what he mostly brings to the table is a funky style that shimmers into blues and jazz and plays havoc with one's preconceptions of psych or prog. Overhead, Gardner's various woodwinds dip and soar, while Howarth's lead guitar strikes and sears the air and the string section sounds out.
The playing is phenomenal -- arguably this set features Howarth's best work, while Henningham, who co-wrote the album, is absolutely stupendous.
Greenwood virtually disappeared from view after the release of this album, perhaps because there was nowhere to go from it.
Having wrung every ounce of creativity from himself, then brought out the very best in all his sessionmen, what was possibly left to do? Even so, poor sales, possibly due to the album's strikingly revolting cover, resigned Cold Cuts to cult collector's status, but this masterpiece deserved better, and with its reissue perhaps it will finally get its due.
Line-up - Musicians
♦ Nicholas Greenwood - bass, vocals, effects, co-producer
♦ Bryn Howarth - guitar
♦ Chris Pritchard - guitar
♦ Dick Henningham - keyboards
♦ Bunk Gardner - woodwinds
♦ Janet Lakatos - violin
♦ Margaret Immerman - violin
♦ Margaret Shipman - viola
♦ Nils Oliver - cello
♦ Eric Peachey drums
♦ The Teardrops - harmony vocals
♦ Charles Lamont - arrangements
01. A Sea Of Holy Pleasure (Parts I, II, III) (7:12)
02. Hope/Ambitions (2:53)
03. Corruptions (3:09)
04. Lead Me On (3:47)
05. Big Machine (3:38)
06. Close The Doors (4:27)
07. Melancholy (3:23)
08. Images (3:18)
09. Promised Land (3:09)
10. Realisation And Death (5:14)
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