Annette Peacock - I Belong To A World That's Destroying Itself '1986/2014

Tracks list

Tracklist

01. A Loss Of Consciousness
02. The Cynic
03. I Belong To A World That's Destroying Himself
04. Climbing Inspiration
05. I'm The One
06. Joy
07. Daddy's Boat
08. Dreams (If Time Weren't)
09. Flashbacks
10. Anytime With You

Ironic Records presents I Belong To A World That's Destroying Itself (Aka
Revenge) by Annette Peacock. Recorded simultaneously live at various studios in
New York, 1968.

Annette Peacock gets it right again. In the lyric booklet here she writes "This
is my first record. It was the right album, in the wrong century." Startling but
true. An earlier version of I Belong to a World That's Destroying Itself was
released as Revenge by Polydor in 1971 - the same year as her classic I'm the
One on RCA, which is usually regarded as her debut. The former album was
credited to the Bley-Peacock Synthesizer Show. Her then-husband Paul Bley got
top billing, despite the fact he played on only half the record. Peacock's
Ironic label corrects this historical inaccuracy in deluxe fashion. Recorded
live in various studios in 1968 and 1969 (written and arranged completely by
Peacock), this is one of, if not the, very first record to feature a Moog
Synthesizer modulating lead vocals.

The rough recording aspect - understandable given technological limitations at
the time - is actually a boon to this version; it is remarkably fresh, raw,
energizing, and prophetic even now. This set marks the first showcase for
Peacock's iconic free-form songwriting style - which has inspired three
successive generations of musicians across several genres - and her trademark
phrasing and delivery. As evidenced here, she pioneered a radical technique of
commanding the synthesizer to serve her singing in perfect complement - she made
the instrument actually sound passionate. Check the way she makes it strain to
meet her high-pitched soaring on "A Loss of Consciousness."

The electric bass, trap kit, and a fingerpopping acoustic piano vamp behind her
foster the groove. Tom Cosgrove's guitar adds funky leads and the band matches
them, while her rhythmic pulse - processed through the synth - takes it over the
margin somewhere else entirely. The testifying title track is an environmental
anthem that demands a return to natural sources; its poetry is just as bracing
in the 21st century, and absolutely free of idle sentiment. The gospel stomp of
the B-3, electric bass, and breaking drums frame her distorted vocal, adding
primal urgency and steely poignancy. This set also contains the first version of
"I'm the One." With its rickety upright piano and slightly reverbed vocals, it
is at once earthy and otherworldly. On "Joy," with its bumping bassline and
grooving Rhodes-and-organ groove, Peacock marshals the Moog to add emotive
adornments in the instrumental mix as well as to her voice. She lyrically
embraces life and love because of their impermanence.

This edition includes two bonus cuts: "Flashbacks," a hard-driving funk jam with
a lyric comprised of a diary entry (complete with rough-cut studio moments) that
leads directly into "Anytime with You," a deeply moving, souled-out number with
clean vocals and Cosgrove's guitar as a second voice. Not that it was required,
but I Belong to a World That's Destroying Itself further cements Peacock's role
as a singular artist whose searing and provocative musical vision has always
been decades ahead of itself. - Thom Jurek 

Line-up / Musicians: Alto Saxophone – Mark Whitecage. Bass – Gary
Peacock, Glen Moore, Richard Youngstein, Stu Woods. Clarinet – Perry
Robinson. Drums – Barry Altschul, Laurence Cook, Rick Marotta, Steve
Haas. Electric Piano – Bob Mason. Engineer – Tod Levine. Guitar
– Tom Cosgrove. Mixed By (Remastered And Bonus Tracks) – Annette
Peacock, Tod Levine. Photography By – Kirsten Weinhold. Piano (Prepared)
– Apache Rose Peacock. Piano, Organ – Mike Garson. Synthesizer,
Electric Piano – Paul Bley. Tenor Saxophone – Michael Moss. Vocals
(Acoustic And Synthesized), Synthesizer (Moog), Vibraphone (Electric), Producer,
Written-By, Arranged By, Performer – Annette Peacock.

Born in 1941, Brooklyn, New York. American composer, arranger, producer,
musician, lyricist, singer. Composer of Paul Bley's repertoire from 1964 - 73.
Produced and appeared as instrumentalist/abstract vocalist on two recordings
with Paul Bley and Han Bennink, 'Improvisie' and 'Dual Unity'. Collaborated with
Bill Bruford on his first solo recording 'Feels Good To Me', as well as with
Coldcut on their last album 'Sound Mirrors.'

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