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After leaving Soft Machine, drummer/singer Robert Wyatt formed a
new band: Matching Mole (1971). His departure came not
completely as a surprise; Robert’s voice was less and less
heard, live as well as on records. And after “Third” it even
completely vanished. Further more Soft Machine took a more jazzy
direction and left rock behind. Their music pieces became longer
and more complex and Robert felt uncomfortable, as drummer and
as a person, and that in his own band. In April, the tension
raised that high that Robert mentioned that he better could play
in another band. That was the trigger for the other members to
throw him out. It didn’t happen in a nice and friendly way, and
it troubled Robert for years. Maybe that’s why he picked the
name “Matching Mole” for his new band. It’s a free
interpretation of the French words “Machine Môle” which means
Soft Machine (or, to be more precise: Weak Machine). Although
Matching Mole existed for only one year, two albums were
released during it's existense. The Mole's sound is jazzier than
you would expect. There is enough space for improvisations and,
most of all, it’s more relaxed and sometimes even funnier than
the Soft Machine sound. The first album is simply called
Matching Mole. The recording of it took place in December 1971
and January 1972. Actually it was supposed to be a solo project,
but during recordings the musicians grew more and more into a
group like behaviour. That group on these recording sessions
was: David Sinclair (piano, organ); Phil Miller (guitar); Bill
MacCormick (bass) and of course Robert Wyatt (mellotron, piano,
drums, vocals). Special guest star was Dave McCrae on
electric piano. One of the tracks was called “Dedicated to Hugh
but you weren’t listening”. It is a bit of a cynical revision of
“Dedicated to you but you weren’t listening”, an old Soft
Machine number written by Hugh Hopper. After the release of
the record, the band toured through Europe. At the end of the
tour David left the group and was replaced by Dave. A new
tour followed, more extensive this time. Due to all concerts,
the band members got more comfortable with each other. That’s
why they dared to loosen their musical structures more and more
and dive into more experimental music. During the summer of
1972 Matching Mole recorded thit's second album: Little Red
Record. Special guest this time is Brian Eno. The album is
produced by another phenomenal musician: Robert Fripp (known
from King Crimson). Little Red Record is a sultry album, full of
Fender Rhodes piano solo’s and Robert’s voice singing improvised
lyrics with some sexual insinuations in certain spots. Also,
there is a magnificent piece, sung by Robert, accompanied by
acoustic guitar: “God Song”. Soon after this record was
released Robert stated that he no longer could or would be the
leader of the band. Saying that it was clear he terminated his
second band. After a while he started a new and successful solo
career. In 1994 BBC released a series of recordings of Matching
Mole on cd, It included a short concert (27 minutes) of the Mole
from July 1972. Short, but worth listening to. In 2001 and
2002 Cuneiform Records released two more discs: “Smoke Signals”
and “March”. On Smoke Signals various live recordings. are to be
heard The songs are placed in such way that it gives a good
impression of how the band could have sounded in the beginning
of the seventies. The former band members were very pleased
with Smoe Signals. And after the discovery of more material
Cuneiform released a second disc: March, containing
live-recordings from March 1972. The two 'new' cd’s
clearly shows a band playing their music different every time.
Because of that, these live recordings are maybe even more
interesting and more intense than the studio-recordings. Most
remarkable in the short history of Matching Mole is the fact
that Robert “left” the Soft Machine, because he wished to play
simple music and could sing again and ended up with a band that
played in a fairly free and jazzy style with rather long pieces
and often no room for vocals. Anyway, Matching Mole is without
doubt worth listening to. |

Phil, Dave, Robert, Bill




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Matching Mole (1972)
Original version:
1. O Caroline 2. Instant Pussy 3. Signed Curtain 4.
Part of the Dance 5. Instant Kitten 6. Dedicated to Hugh,
But You Weren't Listening 7. Beer as in Braindeer 8.
Immediate Curtain
2012 Remastered Esoteric release:
1-8 as shown above Plus bonus tracks: 9. O Caroline
(single version) 10. Signed Curtain (single version) 11.
Part of the Dance Jam DISC TWO: 1. Signed Curtain (take
two) 2. Memories Membrane 3. Part of the Dance (take one)
4. Horse 5. Immediate Kitten (same as On the Radio) 6.
Marchides/Instant Pussy/Smoke Signal (same as On the Radio)
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 this original postcard from 1948
was the
inspiration for the sleeve of Little Red Record |
Little Red Record (1972)
Original
version: 1. Starting in the Middle of the Day We Can Drink
Our Politics Away 2. Marchides 3. Nan True's Hole 4.
Righteous Rhumba 5. Brandy is in Benj 6. Gloria Gloom
7. God Song 8. Flora Fidgit 9. Smoke Signal
2012
Remastered Esoteric release: 1-9 as shown above Plus
bonus tracks on DISC TWO 1. Instant Pussy (same as BBC Radio
1) 2. Litheing and Graceing (BBC Radio 1) 3. Marchides
(BBC Radio 1) 4. Part of the Dance (BBC Radio 1) 5. Brandy
is in Benj (BBC Radio 1) and also: 6. Starting in the
Middle of the Day We Can Drink Our Politics Away (take one)
7. Smoke Signal (take four) 8. Flora Fidget (take eight)
9. Mutter
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BBC Radio 1 - Live (1994)
1. Instant
Pussy 2. Litheing and Graceing 3. Marchides 4. Part of
the Dance 5. Brandy is in Benj |
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Smoke Signals (2001)
1. Intro 2.
March Ides I 3. Smoke Rings 4. Nan True's Hole 5.
Brandy is in Benj 6. Electric Piano Solo 7. March Ides II
8. Instant Pussy 9. Smoke Signal 10. Lything & Gracing |
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March (2002)
1. March 2. Instant
Pussy 3. Smoke Signals 4. Part of the Dance 5. No 'alf
Measures 6. Lything & Gracing 7. Waterloo Lily |
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On the Radio (2006)
1. Marchides /
Instant Pussy / Smoke Signal (John Peel Session recorded
17.04.1972) 2. Part Of The Dance CJohn Peel Session
recorded 17.01.1972) 3. No 'alf Measures 4. Lithing And
Gracing CJohn Peel Session recorded 06.03.1972) 5.
Immediate Kitten (John Peel Session recorded 17.01.1972)
6. Instant Pussy 7. Lithing And Gracing 8. Marchides 9.
Part Of The Dance 10. Brandy As In Benj (BBC Radio 1
Live In Concert 27.07.1972)
Tracks 6-10 are the same as
the BBC radio 1 live- sessions. Tracks 1 en 4 are from Smoke
Signals and track 3 comes from the Robert Wyatt compilation:
Flotsam & Jetsam. Tracks 2 and 5 are new, with recordings of the
first band with David Sinclair on organ and special guest star
Dave MacRea on piano. Immediate Kitten is a combination of
Instant Kitten and Dedicated To Hugh...
About On the
Radio (from Hux Records-site):
Robert Wyatt formed
Matching Mole in 1972, shortly after he left Soft Machine and
just before launching his solo career. Matching Mole bore some
similarities to his later work with Soft Machine. In fact, Wyatt
came up with the name 'Matching Mole' as a subtle pun on the
French translation of 'Soft Machine' - 'machine molle'.
Matching Mole released two great albums in 1972, before Wyatt
disbanded the group and set out as a solo artist. But it is this
Hux compilation which Wyatt now describes as the definitive
Matching Mole album.
'On The Radio' is a compilation of
rare BBC recordings, including 3 John Peel studio sessions and a
live concert. The band includes Dave Sinclair (ex Caravan) on
tracks 2 & 5, Phil Miller (Hatfield & The North and National
Health), Bill MacCormick and Dave MacRae
This special
'digi-pack' format features an original cover photograph by
Robert Wyatt, who also compiled the running order. The
accompanying 12 page CD booklet features extensive liner notes
by Matching Mole bassist, Bill MacCormick, plus rare period
photo's and comprehensive recording details. |
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Live at the BBC 1972 (2019 - lp)
A1.
Marchides/Instant Pussy/Somke Signal
B1. Immediate Kitten
B2. Instant Pussy/Lithing and Gracing B3. Part of the
Dance/Brandy as in Benj
Parts of the cd set above.
Released by DBQP |