Nicholas Greenwood-Cold Cuts (1972)

Nicholas Greenwood was a member of legendary bands such as Crazy World of Arthur Brown, alongside keyboardist Vincent Crane, and Khan, with whom he released the seminal album "Space Shanty" in 1972. Following this latter venture, Greenwood formed a band and recorded the album "Cold Cuts," considered one of the hidden gems of 1970s progressive rock. This band consisted of drummer Eric Peachy, also from Khan; keyboardist Dick Henningham; guitarists Bryn Howarth and Chris Pritchard; and Frank Zappa's former Mother of Invention member Bunk Gardner on wind instruments. Greenwood himself played bass and sang lead vocals. The rest of the lineup included violinists Janet Lakatos, Margaret Immerman, and Margaret Shipman; cellist Nils Oliver; and the vocal group The Teardrops. "Cold Cuts" is composed of a diverse amalgamation of sounds, which, without quite reaching the level of strict progressive rock, incorporates elements of psychedelic rock with passages of progressive jazz and blues rock. The album begins brilliantly with "A Sea Of Holy Pleasure Parts I, II, III", a three-part composition with superb arrangements that showcase the excellence of its talented musicians: a heavy Hammond organ, a delightful flute, effective bass lines, and exquisite drumming, all bathed in addictive vocals. The overall sound is further enhanced by subtle string and brass arrangements, which amplify the dynamism and diversity of the track and add progressive depth to its three segments. Other highlights include the bluesy "Big Machine" and "Melancholy", or the psychedelic "Hope / Ambitions" which coexist with more accessible and catchy pieces like "Lead Me On", and "Close The Doors", or the dark "Promised Land", which contrast totally with the deep and introspective "Corruption", the ambient jazz rock "Images" and the dramatic "Realisation And Death".