Art Bears — The World As It Is Today (1981) [2015 Japan Remasters]

Art Bears — The World As It Is Today (1981) [2015 Japan Remasters] ^{Art Bears — The World As It Is Today (1981) [2015 Japan Remasters]}Ξ• Guitarist Fred Frith, drummer Chris Cutler, and singer Dagmar Krause formed the uncompromising Art Bears upon the 1978 breakup of Henry Cow. If you thought Henry Cow was a pretty political band to start with, you may be even more taken aback by the Art Bears, which was put together following Henry Cow's demise by former Cows Chris Cutler (percussion), Fred Frith (guitar, violin), and Dagmar Krause (voice). On The World as it is Today and its predecessor, Winter Songs, the Art Bears move away from the long–form art rock of Henry Cow and get much, much more politically explicit: song titles like 'The Song of the Dignity of Labour Under Capital' and 'The Song of Investment Capital Overseas' almost sound like Monty Python gags today, but if any humor was intended it was clearly meant to be mordant. Frankly, the lyrics are so overwrought and portentous that it's hard to take them seriously. But the music is something else again.   © Chris Cutler with the Peter Blegvad Trio performing at a Rock in Opposition Festival in Southern France in April 2007 Photo credit Michael S Eisenberg, Chris Cutler, April 2007
Location: England, UK
Album release: 1981
Record Label: Belle Antique Japan / ReR
Duration:     35:24
Tracks:
01. The Song Of Investment Capital Overseas      2:38
02. Truth      2:56
03. Freedom      3:25
04. (Armed) Peace      2:30
05. Civilisation      4:52
06. Democracy     2:22
07. The Song Of The Martyrs      4:09
08. Law      0:51
09. The Song Of The Monopolists      1:48
10. The Song Of The Dignity Of Labour Under Capital      2:27
11. Albion Awake! (Times Unavailable)      4:08
12. Silence      1:00
Bonus Tracks:
13. Coda To Man And Boy 1981      7:17
14. All Hail      4:08
15. Duck And Cover: The Song Of Investment Capital Overseas      3:50
Ξ•     All tracks written by Chris Cutler / Fred Frith
Personnel
Ξ   Fred Frith — guitars, violin, keyboards
Ξ   Chris Cutler — drums, percussion
Ξ   Dagmar Krause — vocals
Ξ   Etienne Conod Audio Engineer, Engineer
Ξ   Chris Cutler Arranger, Booklet, Composer, Drums, Drums (Electric), Lyricist, Noise, Percussion
Ξ   Bob Drake Remastering
Ξ   Fred Frith Arranger, Composer, Guitar, Guitars, Keyboards, Lyricist, Viola, Violin
Ξ   Dagmar Krause Vocals
Ξ   Matt Murmann Mastering
Ξ   Robet Vogel Audio Engineer
Ξ   Tim Schwartz Graphic Design
Ξ   E.M. Thomas Cover Art, Engraving, Illustrations
Ξ   Robel Vogel Engineer
Review by Rick Anderson; Score: ****½
Ξ   The World as It Is Today is the third and last album by English avant–rock group Art Bears. It was recorded at Sunrise Studio in Kirchberg, Switzerland between 24 August and 7 September 1980, and was first released in 1981.
Ξ   If you thought Henry Cow was a pretty political band to start with, you may be even more taken aback by the Art Bears, which was put together following Henry Cow's demise by former Cows Chris Cutler (percussion), Fred Frith (guitar, violin), and Dagmar Krause (voice). On The World As It Is Today and its predecessor, Winter Songs, the Art Bears move away from the long–form art rock of Henry Cow and get much, much more politically explicit: song titles like "The Song of the Dignity of Labour Under Capital" and "The Song of Investment Capital Overseas" almost sound like Monty Python gags today, but if any humor was intended it was clearly meant to be mordant. Frankly, the lyrics are so overwrought and portentous that it's hard to take them seriously. But the music is something else again. Cutler and Frith are natural collaborators; Cutler's drumming always rides a very fine line between the scattershot and the funky, while Frith bounces his horror–show guitar noise and carnival piano off of Cutler's grooves with manic abandon and fearsome inventiveness. And Krause's singing is just as inventive; she whoops, croons and screams her way through the density of Cutler's lyrics without a hesitation or misstep. Easy listening it isn't, but it's sure worth hearing. Frith fans, in particular, should consider this album a must–own. / Recorded: August–September 1980, Switzerland
•  The World as It Is Today comprises 11 songs, all composed by Fred Frith with texts by Chris Cutler. The last song, "Albion, Awake!" was recorded as an instrumental because Dagmar Krause objected strongly to the violent nature of the lyrics. The lyrics for "Albion, Awake!", however, still appear in the booklet accompanying the album.
Website: http://www.fredfrith.com/
Website: http://www.ccutler.com/ccutler/
Interview:
Umberto Fiori with Chris Cutler:
•  http://www.ccutler.com/ccutler/interviews/fiori.shtml
Progressive Ears: http://www.progressiveears.org/forum/showthread.php/8260-Art-Bears-The-World-As-It-Is-Today
Review:
Kyler Stoneman, July 27, 2011
•   http://progulator.com/reviews/review-art-bears-the-world-as-it-is-today/
•  Dagmar Krause (born 4 June 1950) is a German singer, best known for her work with avant–rock groups including Slapp Happy, Henry Cow, and Art Bears. She is also noted for her coverage of songs by Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill and Hanns Eisler. Her unusual singing style makes her voice instantly recognisable and has defined the sound of many of the bands with whom she has worked.
_____________________________________________________