Search - Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Company :: Like a Duck to Water

The Second Album of Historic Mother Mallard!!

Louie Bourland | Garden Grove CA | 06/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Like A Duck To Water" is the second release from Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Company, the very first ensemble in history to create music entirely on synthesizers. This album picks up where the self-titled disc (aka "1970-1973") left off and covers material composed and recorded between 1974 and 1976. Whereas the first disc showed off a variety of experimentation, "Like A Duck To Water" shows the group tightening up their compositional style and focusing on minimalist structures a la Steve Reich, Terry Riley and Philip Glass.
Every track on this album offers something slightly different but retains a central structure and theme throughout. "Oleo Strut" and the 20-minute "CAGE Part II" both feature repeating phrases and display a vast amount of atmosphere. "All Set", "Theme from After the Fall" and "Downtown" have a definite hint of Tangerine Dream elements in them which closely resemble that band's style circa 1975-76 (ie: Rubycon or Stratosfear). "Waterwheel" is a dynamic standout piece with its Philip Glass-ian repeated arppegios and rolling tumbling electronic piano and basslines. "Harpsichord Truck" is a short coda to the album and features a jolly jingle-like melody that wouldn't sound to out of place as a theme to a children's TV show (think "Mister Rogers").
Like the music of their first album, Mother Mallard's "Like A Duck To Water" is way ahead of its time. Many of the sounds included in this album are now commonplace in today's electronic music. This album, as well as "1970-1973", are definitely a must for fans of early Moog music as well as electronic music enthusiasts.
Definitely High Quality Electronic Music from One of Its Obscure Pioneers!!!"