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Date Posted: 04:37:47 09/27/05 Tue
Author: Mark (who's name shall never be mentioned)
Author Host/IP: dialup-195.178.220.203.acc01-rowa-wan.comindico.com.au / 203.220.178.195
Subject: Clowns not Jazz Fusion!!?

Interesting to read Ed's rejection of the classification of the Clowns as a "jazz band" or even a "jazz-rock band" in an article appearing in the Melbourne Age September 11, 2005 (http://www.theage.com.au/news/music/no-laughing-matter/2005/09/08/1125772628812.html).

Certainly the 'mix' varied over the years. Their early Ep's (particularly the 2'nd and 3'rd) are an essentially experimental punk rock sound, much more than a jazz sound, but I think even Ed himself would have difficulty in arguing that Uddich Schmuddich is not a fusion of jazz and rock and much less a punk rock record.

The following Ep (Everything That Flies) appeared to have one foot firmly in each camp. The 'B' side is very jazz orientated, including the use of a stand-up bassist, whilst the 'A' sees them revert back to a harder and more free form experimental punk rock sound.

The following album (Law Of Nature) completed the retreat from jazz fusion. The arrangements are almost totally flat with few changes in tempo, melody or instrumentation. The melodies themselves are almost indistinguishable from the rhythm section. The vocals are sung in a monotonous tone with little or no change in pitch and words are not enunciated clearly.

If Ed is right and the Clowns are not or were never a jazz fusion band, then he does not say how he would classify them except to say that they where in a class of there own. That they were and remain "in a class of their own" is indisputable but do they also therefore defy classification?

Maybe. They certainly deserve their own class. I offer "Clownesque". It has been used to describe their sound when imitated by another band. For example, some of the very early Go-Between tracks on the demo for their first album (released as "Very Quick on the Eye ~ Brisbane 1981") could be described as such. It is characterized by their use of piano and trumpet in a manic and almost insane style of play. It is not officially credited on that album, but a member of that band (Morrison) has acknowledged the use of Dan Wallace-Crabbe on piano during the recordings for the album proper and the track "The Clowns are in Town" appears to have been written as a tribute to the band and appears on the demo only.

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