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Question: MotS vs. Star's End :: Total Votes:5 Poll choices Votes Statistics Music of the Spheres 4  [80.00%] Star's End 1  [20.00%] Guests cannot vote

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Holger Group: Members Posts: 1506 Joined: Feb. 2003 Posted: Sep. 30 2008, 18:02 I listened to Star's End (by David Bedford) today and it occured to me that, dang, Music of the Spheres wasn't Mike's first orchestral album after all! Except that he didn't write Star's End obviously. They even both have the star theme! (Did you know that Star's End was originally to be called "Heat Death of the Universe", btw?) I just thought it was hilarious to compare the two... so just for fun, vote for which album you prefer or don't prefer, and discuss if you like. Back to top

Harmono Group: Members Posts: 759 Joined: May 2005 Posted: Sep. 30 2008, 18:50 Dang, man, I've only heard a small snippet of Star's End. *Goes to iTunes store* Back to top

Dirk Star Group: Members Posts: 1331 Joined: Sep. 2007 Posted: Oct. 01 2008, 03:25 Well I voted for Music Of The Spheres but Star`s End was a great album I agree.Although it certainly has it`s fair share of atonal and avant guardish passages as such, it`s actualy a very accessible piece of work I think.It`s easily my favourite David Bedford album for instance although I`ll admit I don`t own them all.Mike plays some fantastic guitar on it as well.And for me those last few 3-4 minutes of both sides is just completely captivating.If I was going to vote for which of the albums has more of an astral theme to it by way of invoking images of space the universe and beyond however..Well I`d have definetly gone for Star`s End on that one, no contest for me. Back to top

Holger Group: Members Posts: 1506 Joined: Feb. 2003 Posted: Oct. 01 2008, 08:59 Quote (Dirk Star @ Oct. 01 2008, 09:25) Although it certainly has it`s fair share of atonal and avant guardish passages as such, it`s actualy a very accessible piece of work I think. It's interesting you should say that; I guess it depends on your definition of "accessible", but I have to say that, besides "Nurses Song With Elephants", this album is the least accessible of all nine Bedford discs that I've heard; lightyears away from the dreamlike beauty of albums like "The Odyssey", "Instructions For Angels" or "Rigel 9", and even from the eerie atmosphere of "Rime of the Ancient Mariner". But it is, after all, an interesting listen. Mike's interaction with the orchestra is fascinating. Up to the part we all know from "Boxed" (which is at the end of part 1), it is really hard listening though. Part 2 gets a little more harmonic, if not exactly melodic, and there's another very short but thrilling Mike moment near the end of this part. Quote If I was going to vote for which of the albums has more of an astral theme to it by way of invoking images of space the universe and beyond however..Well I`d have definetly gone for Star`s End on that one, no contest for me. Definitely agree with you here! Music of the Spheres, for all it may have going for it otherwise, doesn't give me that feeling at all; not even the slightest bit really. Star's End, on the other hand, does it quite thoroughly. Back to top

3Wheeler Group: Members Posts: 828 Joined: Aug. 2007 Posted: Oct. 01 2008, 10:23 Never Heard  any of David Bedfords Solo Stuff.. Should I be Kicking myself for missing out on something??   -------------- We're Flying Aeroflot, We've Got Reservations. Back to top

Holger Group: Members Posts: 1506 Joined: Feb. 2003 Posted: Oct. 01 2008, 11:03 Quote (3Wheeler @ Oct. 01 2008, 16:23) Never Heard  any of David Bedfords Solo Stuff.. Should I be Kicking myself for missing out on something??   Yes.   "The Odyssey" is a wonderful album that I think every fan of 70s Mike should hear. Another piece that I can't recommend highly enough is the Recorder Concerto. It's on this disc but it also exists as a "single". If you love Hergest Ridge, I can almost promise you'll like this also. Seriously, it's that good. Other albums that might be interesting to Mike fans are "Instructions for Angels" (featuring a duet of David on church organ and Mike delivering a ferocious guitar solo! ) and "Rigel 9"; both of those are quite similar in style to "The Odyssey". "The Song of the White Horse" is also an interesting piece that sort of blends mediaeval music with avantgarde. The rest of his music (that I've heard) tends to be more in a purely avantgarde vein; interesting stuff all but not recommended if you don't like avantgarde music in general. Back to top

3Wheeler Group: Members Posts: 828 Joined: Aug. 2007 Posted: Oct. 01 2008, 13:12 Thanks for the "Tip"  Ill look around to see if I can pick up a Bargain Copy of "The Odyssey" then..   Im wary of buying new Artists as ive got this terrible habit of having to Back Buy Everything if I like the 1st thing I hear which can get a tad expensive lol.. -------------- We're Flying Aeroflot, We've Got Reservations. Back to top

Dirk Star Group: Members Posts: 1331 Joined: Sep. 2007 Posted: Oct. 02 2008, 05:08 @Holger I take your point about the "accessibilty" of Star`s End with comparison to some of Bedford`s other albums.And I would`nt dis-agree with you on your descriptions of some of his other work there,although I must admit I hav`nt heard Rigel 9.I think the main thing that helped for me personaly with regards to Star`s End is simply the fact that it`s just the two tracks.You know Side One and Side Two if you like.My problem is with some of Bedford`s other works is that if I don`t like a particular track after a few plays then I`ll just tend to skip it in the end and move on.Where as with Star`s End of course you don`t really have that option.I mean I`m not saying I love every second of it start to finish.But I think it certainly helps me work that bit harder in listening to it and appreciating it as a whole I suppose.Probably a little unfair in all reality but that`s the way it is with those things for me. @3wheeler.There are quite a number of Bedford`s tracks up on Last Fm.I`m sure the last time I was there Instructions For Angels was up there as well which Holger mentions.Certainly worth checking out that track just for Mike`s guitar playing on it alone.Awesome stuff. One track of Bedford`s that I`ve yet to hear and probably still leaves me the most curious of all of "his" works is..Wagner`s Ring Cycle In One Minute... You know it kind of makes you wonder what the hell you`d put on the b side of that thing???..Tales Of Topographic Oceans in 0.32 seconds perhaps?.. Back to top

Bassman Group: Members Posts: 548 Joined: Feb. 2008 Posted: Oct. 04 2008, 23:18 "Star's End" just sounds more "spacey" to me.  It's a lovely record.  Very typical of what good, old-fashioned orchestral prog was back in the day.  I wish the ending of Part 2 that Holger mentioned had been tacked onto the excerpt that was put on "Collaborations".  Crossfading from one to the other as one track would have been neat. "Wagner's Ring Cycle In One Minute" is awesome.  When you hear it for the first time it sounds like another drunken romp like that which spawned "Speak...", but then you realize how meticulously planned out and executed it really is.  Very clever. -------------- Turn up the music... Hi as Fi can go. Back to top

The Caveman Group: Members Posts: 2178 Joined: Jan. 2008 Posted: Oct. 09 2008, 07:22 I know the bit you mean Holger.Mike plays an accending scale and ends with 1 note repeated 2 or 3 times that sends shivers down the spine!!! -------------- THE COMING OF THE GREAT WHITE HANDKERCHEIF IS NIGH. Back to top

Holger Group: Members Posts: 1506 Joined: Feb. 2003 Posted: Oct. 09 2008, 08:15 Quote (The Caveman @ Oct. 09 2008, 13:22) I know the bit you mean Holger.Mike plays an accending scale and ends with 1 note repeated 2 or 3 times that sends shivers down the spine!!! That's the one. It's "nothing", really, but it sounds terriffic. Back to top

The Caveman Group: Members Posts: 2178 Joined: Jan. 2008 Posted: Oct. 09 2008, 08:45 Perfect example of the 'one note' theory.I don't know what makes it so special.It's just played with such conviction and passion.I love the whole album but this and the solo and bass/guitar 'duet' (makes me feel so sad as it really is moving) are the best bits. -------------- THE COMING OF THE GREAT WHITE HANDKERCHEIF IS NIGH. Back to top

ommadawn,ah!ooh! Group: Members Posts: 60 Joined: Mar. 2008 Posted: Dec. 14 2008, 10:15 For UK fans (probably).With the sad passing of Oliver Postgate this week, take a look at the cover of Star's End directly under B for Bedford. Tell me that is not a Clanger? And perhaps a second-to the left? Back to top

Dirk Star Group: Members Posts: 1331 Joined: Sep. 2007 Posted: Dec. 14 2008, 11:12 Don`t know if I`ve got a different cover here,but I can`t make any Clangers out I have to say.Sad news about Oliver Postgate though I agree,we were just talking about him here this afternoon funnily enough.Anyway I think I`ve linked this before here,but it`s still quite amusing all the same. Back to top

ommadawn,ah!ooh! Group: Members Posts: 60 Joined: Mar. 2008 Posted: Dec. 14 2008, 11:19 It's the Monique Froese cover,DS.Maybe the reduction to CD jewel case size has done it... Back to top

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