Material - Memory Serves

Title: Memory Serves Artist: Material Release Date: 1981 Re-Released On: 10/6/1992 Label: Restless Records Duration: 43:15 UPCs: 018777265324, 018777265348, 075596004213 Genre: Rock Styles: Funk, Prog-Rock, Experimental, Experimental Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Dance-Rock, Art Rock Moods: Cathartic, Cerebral, Confrontational, Fiery, Freewheeling, Intense, Quirky, Rambunctious, Tense/Anxious, Visceral, Volatile Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 4 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Memory Serves
2. Disappearing
3. Upriver
4. Metal Test
5. Conform to the Rhythm
6. Unauthorized
7. Square Dance
8. Silent Land
9. For a Few Dollars More

Year Type Label Catalog # 1992 CD Restless Records 72653

No other editions were found for this album.

Material was a prolific band in the early '80s, and if you had to pick just one of the many EPs and LPs that came out around this time, this is the one to take. First of all, just check out the personnel -- it's a who's who of the downtown avant-party set: Bill Laswell and Michael Beinhorn, of course, aided and abetted by the likes of Fred Frith, Sonny Sharrock, Henry Kaiser (and those are just the guitarists), violinist Billy Bang, drummer Anton Fier, and too many more to mention. The sound is consistently challenging yet just as consistently rewarding; Laswell's bass is front-and-center most of the time, churning out funky and angular lines that provide a solid foundation for more outre sounds like Frith's prepared guitar and George Lewis's splayed trombone on "Memory Serves" and the scratchy violin and edgy seven-beat melody of "Metal Test." "Conform to the Rhythm" indulges Beinhorn's singing at its tuneless, Orwellian worst, but there's far more to recommend than to criticize on this album. Strongly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide

Name Credits Anton Fier Drums Bill Laswell Mixing, 6-String Bass, Bass, Producer Billy Bang Violin Charles K. Noyes Drums, Percussion Daniel Ponce Percussion Dave Jerden Mixing Fred Frith Guitar, Mixing, Xylophone, Violin Fred Maher Drums George Lewis Trombone Grandmixer D.ST Turntables Henry Kaiser Guitar Henry Threadgill Sax (Alto) Howie Weinberg Mastering Martin Bisi Engineer, Mixing Material Producer Michael Beinhorn Tapes, Guitar, Voices, Mixing, Synthesizer, Drums, Keyboards Olu Dara Cornet Robert Musso Guitar, Engineer Sonny Sharrock Guitar Thi-Linh Le Photography, Design