Catapilla


Band members               Related acts

- Robert Calvert - alto tenor sax

- Hugh Eaglestone - tenor sax

- Malcolm Frith - drums

- Anna Meek - vocals
- Thiery Rheinhart - tenor alto sax, flute, clarinet 

- David Taylor bass

- Graham Wilson - lead guitar

 

 

- none known

 

 

 


 

Genre: progressive

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Catapilla

Company: Vertigo

Catalog: VEL-1006

Year: 1971

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: gatefold sleeve; clear  track listing sticker on cover

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4649

Price: $160.00

Cost: $66.00

 

Damn, this one caught me off guard.  I guess I was expecting a rather tame set of English jazz-rock. Instead, the first time I spun this one, I felt like I'd gone through an aural mugging!

 

Produced by Patrick Meehan Fur, 1971's "Catapilla" features four sprawling group-originals.  Tracks such as the brutal lead off 'Naked Death' and ''Promises offer up an intriguing mix of progressive, jazz-rock and psychedelic influences.  Propelled by Anna Meek's shrill, piercing and occasionally out of control voice (the lady sounds like she has some issues going on) and the Robert Calvert, Hugh Eaglestone and Thiery Rheinhart triple sax line up, this one's simply unlike anything else I've recent heard.  It isn't going to appeal to everyone, but the results are pretty stunning.  Perhaps the only real disappointment is the album's shortest and most commercial venture (I use the term loosely) - 'Tumbleweed'.  At the other end of the spectrum, the side long 'Embryonic Fusion' is a technically stunning effort.  Clocking in at over 23 minutes many folks won't be able to get through it in one take, but take my word for it, Calvert and Eaglestone turn in some amazing performances. One last warning - unless you have ulterior motives, be sure you don't play this one around anyone with a heart condition ...   

 

"Catapilla" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Naked Death   (Graham Wilson - Thiery Rheinhart - Robert Calvert - Malcolm Frith - Anna Meek) - 15:38
2.) Tumbleweed
   (Graham Wilson - Thiery Rheinhart - Robert Calvert - Malcolm Frith - Anna Meek) - 3:54
3.) Promises
   (Graham Wilson - Thiery Rheinhart - Robert Calvert - Malcolm Frith - Anna Meek) - 5:42

(side 2)
1.) Embryonic Fusion   (Graham Wilson - Thiery Rheinhart - Robert Calvert - Malcolm Frith - Anna Meek) - 24:08

 

There's a nice Catapilla tribute site on the web, though it is in Italian:

 

http://web.tiscali.it/catapilla

 

 

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