ALTERATIONS – Up Your Sleeve (Quartz Publications – !QUARTZ 006 / LP-1980)

Label: Quartz Publications – !QUARTZ 006
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: UK / Released1980

Style: Experimental, Free Improvisation

A1 recorded at the Bimhuis, Amsterdam, 30 .1. 1980.

A2 and A3 recorded at the Palais des Beaux Arts, Brussels, 2 .2. 1980.

Side B recorded at the London Musicians Collective, 9. 3. 1980.

Artwork [Cover/labels], Photography By – David Toop

Mastered By – David Cunningham

Music By [All Improvisations], Edited By – Alterations

Recorded By [Live] – David Toop, Peter Cusack

Matrix / Runout (Side A): !QUARTZ 006-A.

Matrix / Runout (Side B): !QUARTZ 006-B.

A1 - He Feels Like A Doris Day ........................................................................... 4:35

A2 - Trail Of Traps .............................................................................................. 11:03

A3 - The Life And Opinion Of Masseur Ichi ....................................................... 10:30

B1 - Not So Dumb Deaf And Mute Heroine ......................................................... 2:56

B2 - Fear Of Mayonnaise ................................................................................... 11:39

B3 - Stand By Your Sheep ................................................................................... 7:27

B4 - Party Political ............................................................................................... 4:22

Personnel:

STEVE BERESFORD – upright piano, piano [toy], electric piano [toy], percussion, synthesizer [toy], melodica, euphonium, performer [whirlers, electronic bird, snapits], whistle, voice bass guitar, musical box, violin, electric guitar

DAVID TOOP – flute [concert], flute [flutes], synthesizer [toy], bass guitar, reeds, whistle, performer [scraping, squeaker], flute [Plastic Bamboo], guitar [vibrato], performer [ratchet, feedback], diddle [bottleneck], performer [animal decoys], fiddle [1 string], reeds [Chinese]

PETER CUSACK – guitar [wah wah], electric guitar, guitar [nylon string], guitar [prepared nylon string (amplified)], guitar [bowed]

TERRY DAY – drums [drum kit], drums, cymbal, maracas, reeds, bells [bycicle bell], voice [speaking, laughter], mandolin, performer [squeakers], alto saxophone, vocals [singing], cello, instruments [toy], performer [siren], panpipes, harmonica, performer [crackle box]

Ultra Rare and beautiful original UK 1st pressing of this cult Avant Garde LP!

Alterations existed as a group 1977-1986. They published 3 LP's (Alterations, bead 9,1978; Up Your Sleeve, !Quartz 006, 1980; My favourite Animals, nato 280, 1984) - the first two with live recordings.

During the reasonably long lifespan (by group standards) of this ensemble, it was something of a collective study seminar for four of the brightest minds from the British music scene. Since they all liked playing lots of different instruments, including each other's instruments sometimes, and were all interested in weaving together just about any kinds of music and sounds imaginable, it was usually impossible to predict where a set by Alterations was going from minute to minute.

Then again, this wild mix of electronics, traditional instruments, free improvisation, rock & roll, anarchy, and sentimentality might lead a listener's imagination just about anywhere.

The great discovery of Alterations was that musical styles and idioms are there to be played with, not taken dead serious - whether while cultivating them or while striving to avoid them. Such an approach opens up new semantic perspectives: musical travelling takes place not just within one universe of sound, but between several ones. Speaking of historical context, Alterations was formed at a time when the London improvised music scene was widening out, mixing musicians of all ages and stylistic backgrounds.

Dealing with music as a pluralistic and inclusive process involves tolerance and the acceptance of conflict. Steve Beresford's statement seems to hit the point: "The improvised music performances which don't work for me are those which are exactly trying to project an image of pure music which doesn't have the same problems that most music has and that most life has".

Review by CARL BERGSTRØM-NIELSEN

If you find it, buy this album!