Perfect Trouble – Perfect Trouble (CD2070)

An international supergroup of avant-rock and free improvisation. Perfect Trouble brings together Chris Cutler, drummer of the legendary British avant-rock band Henry Cow, American cellist Tom Cora, Scottish vocal improviser Maggie Nicols, Berlin saxophonist Sibylle Pomorin and bassist Klaus Wilmanns. The album was recorded on June 17, 1989 at Acoustic Studio in Berlin.

The music is as unpredictable as the line-up. Song-like pieces such as “Crazy with You” and “Hard to Speak Out” stand next to free improvisations, short sound sketches and spoken-word moments. Cutler’s drums and electronics, Cora’s wild cello, Nicols’ voice and Pomorin’s saxophones and flute meet somewhere between art rock, free jazz and new music. Titles like “What Is This???”, “Sie! die immer so schüchtern ist” (“She! Who’s always so shy”) and “Bedenken Sie die ultravioletten Strahlen!” (“Consider the ultraviolet rays!”) show the band’s dry, absurd humour.

This is a must for fans of Henry Cow, Art Bears, Skeleton Crew and the Rock in Opposition scene. Released on Moers Music. When you buy here, you’re buying directly from the label, and we only sell originals.

The Side Story

Every member of Perfect Trouble came from a different scene. Chris Cutler played with Henry Cow until 1978 and then co-founded bands like Art Bears, News from Babel and Cassiber. He also played with Pere Ubu and founded the label Recommended Records. Over his career he has appeared on more than 100 recordings, and he lists Perfect Trouble among his lasting collaborations.

Tom Cora was one of the most important cellists in experimental music. He played with John Zorn, Fred Frith and Butch Morris, and was a member of Skeleton Crew, Curlew and the Dutch punk band The Ex. He died in 1998 at just 44. Maggie Nicols had already made history at the Moers Festival in 1986, with Irène Schweizer, George Lewis, Joëlle Léandre and Günter Sommer in a performance that won the German Record Critics’ Award. Sibylle Pomorin co-founded the women’s big band Reichlich Weiblich in 1984, which you can hear on Live at Moers Festival ‘87.

The Moers connections don’t stop there. Tom Cora also played with Wolfgang Mitterer in the Dirty Tones, and Mitterer’s Call Boys Inc. appear on CD2068.

Tracklist

1. What Is This??? – 4:05

2. Renaissance Hymn – 8:55

3. Sie! die immer so schüchtern ist – 2:25

4. Forest – 1:28

5. Deadlock – 2:54

6. Hello Everybody – 3:04

7. Eine befahrene Straße … – 1:58

8. Crazy with You – 7:55

9. Bedenken Sie die ultravioletten Strahlen! – 2:48

10. Überwachen Sie das glimmende Feuer! – 6:39

11. Hard to Speak Out – 8:34

Total running time: approx. 51 minutes

Personnel

• Chris Cutler – drums, electronics

• Maggie Nicols – vocals

• Tom Cora – cello

• Sibylle Pomorin – alto & tenor saxophone, flute

• Klaus Wilmanns – bass

Details

• Format: CD

• Label: Moers Music

• Catalog no.: CD2070

• Recorded: June 17, 1989, Acoustic Studio, Berlin

• Price: €14.00