Ultramarine "United Kingdoms"

Proggdog

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Oct 8, 1998, 3:00:00 AM10/8/98

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ULTRAMARINE "UNITED KINGDOMS" SIRE
(UK) 1995 9 24528-2

The British music scene has generally given sanctuary to marvelous whims
of experimental escapades, resulting in some of the most innovate and
challenging music of the past thirty years. From the liberating and
intoxicating intensity of Henry Cow to the melodic Canterbury stylings
of Hatfield & The North, these,and many others, brought about an
avant-garde jazz sensibility in an era reeking of glamour and image
intense projections creating the aid in advancement of commercial
endeavors. 1995 held many of the past's qualities in forming the taste
of mass appeal, but there were many who fought the stream of commercial
viability and continued in the spirit of musical discovery. In many ways
the duo of Ian Cooper and Paul Hammond, coming together in the guise of
Ultramarine and creating "United Kingdoms", picked up and continued the
tradition of these fruitful experimentation's, embellishing them with
Techno-rhythms and well planned compositions of ambient washes, mixing
them with lyrical integrity. "United Kingdoms" pays homage to this
British experimental,jazzy scene with reflections often reminiscent of
Soft Machine, attracting the aid of Robert Waytt to round off its
ambiance and air of distinction. With the cover art depicting three
statues representing Arthur,Merlin and Guinevere, surrounded by a lushly
produced background of Emerald green, one is inspired to quickly place
the contents in the prescribed playback mechanism and bask in the
glories about to unfold. Opening with "Source" we are introduced to a
vibrant instrumental wash of organ,accordian,flute and keyboard
embellishments within a sea of conga,drum,synthisizer canvas that evokes
an underlining quality worthy of the best avant-jazzphonics from any
era,very pleasant and moving. "Kingdom" would fit neatly beside any of
Robert Wyatt's compositional masterpieces. With Robert singing "We're
low--we're low--we're very very low, Yet from our fingers glide the
silken flow----and the robes that glow. Round the limbs of the sons of
pride.And what we get----and what we give--We know,and we know our
share; We're not too low the cloth to weave, But too low the cloth to
wear". With lyrics adapted from "The Song of the Lower Classes" by one
Ernest Jones(c.1848), Wyatt adopts it to vocal form as his own, inciting
one to pull out their old Wyatt collections for another listen. "Happy
Land" is the other Wyatt sung composition of a parody adopted from
patriotic Victorian times with a beautifully executed sax and piccolo
solo that instills balance and equilibrium to an already perfect
representation. The remaining six tracks on "United Kingdoms" are filled
with instrumental ingenuity and compositional excellence that stands
well beside any of the past achievements of improvisational brilliance
so illuminated by those who came before it. Following up with 1995's
"Bel Air" Ultramarine all but disappeared from the musical scene leading
into 1998. Recreating an era of terminally unfashionable musicians in a
very engaging, inventive and masterful way, "United Kingdoms" is a
milestone awaiting discovery by all those imbued with the magical
majestic aura that gave rise to an era of creative outpourings, rarely
repeated in an age fit for mass consumption and discard.

Ultramarine Discography

Every Man and Woman is a Star 1992 Sire
United Kingdoms 1994 Sire
Bel Air 1995 Sire

Discover&Enjoy!
Proggdog

Proggdog

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Oct 8, 1998, 3:00:00 AM10/8/98

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For further information on Ultramarine:

Music Central:
http://musiccentral.msn.com/MCGen/ReEntry?theurl=http%3A//musiccentral.msn.com/Album/Display/153261

Discover&Enjoy!
Proggdog

Js (Jim) Adams

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Oct 14, 1998, 3:00:00 AM10/14/98

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Proggdog <mga...@onr.com> writes:

>Ultramarine Discography

>Every Man and Woman is a Star 1992 Sire
>United Kingdoms 1994 Sire
>Bel Air 1995 Sire

Addendum ...

http://www.paragon.co.uk/junkkulture/music/ultramar.htm

Wyndeham Lewis (EP) 1990 Les Disques du Crepuscule (BE)
Folk 1990 Les Disques du Crepuscule (BE)
A User's Guide 1998 New Electronica (UK)

There were also remix EP's from United Kingdom and EM&WIAS plus other
singles (including their versions of Kevin Ayers' "Hymn") ... plus
their remix work for groups such as Nav Katze and Everything But the Girl.

Agreed, EM&WIAS and United Kingdoms were a nice mix of Cantedbury and
dance ...