National Health 'Play Time'

NATIONAL HEALTH - Playtime, 2001 (Cuneiform)

Tracks:

1. Flanagan's People
2. Nowadays A Silhouette
3. Dreams Wide Awake
4. Pleaides
5. Rhubarb Jam
6. The Rose Sob
7. Play Time
8. Squarer For Maud, Parts 1 & 2

Musicians:
Phil Miller (Guitar)
Alan Gowen (Keyboards)
John Greaves (Bass and vocals)
Pip Pyle (Drums)

Recorded: 27 Apr 1979 - Location: A L'Ouest de la Grosne, Bresse-sur-Grosne (France) - Eng: Jacky Barbier [1-4]
Recorded : 1 Dec 1979 - Loc: The Main Point, Bryn Mawr, PA (USA) [5-8]

We have the US Cuneiform label to thank for rescuing this wonderful album from the unreleased band archives.
The album is basically a live recording of the 'Of Queues and Cures' band without Dave Stewart. The main thing with this new version of National Health is that it decided on a more freer / improvised approach to music than was evident in the Stewart era. Although the tightly arranged composition that Stewart brought to the band is still present the ways of getting from one theme to another are left more open to individual interpretation.

As you will know from David's review of 'Complete' the original structure was built around the duel keyboard themes created by Stewart and Alan Gowen. With two keyboard masters creating nearly all the sound-scape the Bass and Guitar were rarely used as dominant instruments. However take away one keyboard and Phil Miller and John Greeves are left, perhaps for the first time, to shine out brightly.

Although never committed to 'vinyl' before the interesting fact is that this bands reduced line up lasted longer and did more touring than any previous. With that in mind perhaps it is best that if anything is to be released from this period it is in the 'live' environment.

There are four 'new' National Health works on this album (Nowadays A Silhouette, Pleaides, Rhubarb Jam /The Rose Sob and Play Time). Rhubarb Jam and The Rose Sob are perhaps unessential 2-minute jams but the National Health interpretation of Gowen's 'Gilgamesh' era Play Time is worth the price of the entrance alone. Starting with a thudding Greave's bass riff and a dreamy Gowen keyboard backing - Millers guitar soars. As the track continues the traded improvisation that sparks between all the players just makes Play Time (both track and album) possibly the best National Health I have ever heard!

To me, National Health are one of the main bands that have come closest to my own personal music nirvana where the rich structured themes of 'Prog' are mixed with an open framework of 'Jazz'. The required high musicianship required to attain this is taken for granted........

Another bonus, with this release, that should be mentioned is the inclusion of a 16 page booklet telling the story of this last National Health lineup. This includes interviews and track comments by all the surviving members.

All in all Play Time becomes the first BoA essential purchase of 2001.


Ian Oakley February 2001

Phish & Chips