"Soft Machine's sonic realm left an almost incomprehensible impact. It was a revolutionary, genius moment in musical history": Introduction to the global up-and-coming artists of the Canterbury scene
In the realm of modern music, a distinctive sound is making waves, harking back to the innovative days of the late 60s in Kent, England. Known as the Canterbury Scene, this loose connection of musicians and music has spawned a new generation of creative and quirky acts.
The Canterbury Scene, with its jazzy straddling of other genres, complex yet not flashy music, unique English voices, and often daft, saucy, or throwaway lyrics, originated with bands like The Wilde Flowers, Soft Machine, Caravan, and Gong. Today, some modern bands such as The Muffins, The Tangent, Milkbone, and Tom Penaguin, as well as newcomers like Zopp and Homunculus Res, claim or have been associated with this "Canterbury sound."
Homunculus Res, an Italian band, produces music with short, sharp, and convoluted songform, similar to Hatfield And The North in terms of lightness of touch and musical humor. Their album "Ospedale Civico" contains obvious references to National Health and Egg's "A Visit To Newport Hospital."
Zopp, a Nottingham-based band, has evolved from studio roots to live performances, incorporating bass, guitar, and saxophone. Their trademark sound is heavily-saturated keyboards, reminiscent of Mike Ratledge, Dave Stewart, and Dave Sinclair combined.
Magick Brother & Mystic Sister, a band from Barcelona, give an obvious namecheck to Gong's first album and have a sound reminiscent of classic early Caravan. Eva Muntada and Xavi Sandoval of Magick Brother & Mystic Sister recall their experience at the Canterbury Sound Festival in 2000 and their interaction with Daevid Allen of Gong.
Fabio Golfetti, a Brazilian guitarist, has been a fan of the Canterbury scene since the 1970s. His band Violeta De Outono is known for its use of glissando guitar, a textural sound associated with Daevid Allen but originally inspired by Syd Barrett. Violeta De Outono's music features punchy, riffy tracks influenced by Gong, Caravan, Pink Floyd, and The Beatles.
International bands, including Supersister from the Netherlands and Moving Gelatine Plates from France, started incorporating key components of the Canterbury sound into their own music in the early 1970s. Tom Penaguin, a band member, questions whether there's a Canterbury enclave in France, suggesting that RIO and Zeuhl scenes might be more prevalent.
Bjørn Klakegg, the lead of Norwegian band Needlepoint, unwittingly hit gold with an album influenced by Caravan, but he has not listened to their music. Alberto Villarroya is dubious about the reach of Canterbury music in Spain, citing lack of coverage and impact on Spanish bands.
Phil Howitt, editor of Facelift, and Hugh Hopper's biographer, is exploring the new breed of progressive acts inspired by the Canterbury scene. However, there are no specific new musical artists in Germany mentioned in the search results who are active and inspired by the Canterbury Scene; the results mainly provide historic context and current activities of original Canterbury Scene bands like Soft Machine.
The definition of the Canterbury scene has expanded to include any loosely affiliated bands, such as Henry Cow, Camel, Curved Air, Roxy Music, and even The Police. Gong and Soft Machine have enjoyed renewed leases of life in the last decade. Caravan has also made occasional appearances and recently launched a trio.
As the Canterbury sound continues to resonate and influence modern music, it's clear that this unique musical movement is far from over. The legacy of the Canterbury Scene lives on, inspiring a new generation of musicians to push the boundaries of music and create something truly extraordinary.
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