This is my first introduction to Trojan Horse, and I must confess that it took me a while to understand what was going on. This is true progressive music, refusing to conform to just about anything, and has very little in common with much of the modern progressive scene. Mind you, even though I would point to Krautrock in general and Can in particular as being an influence, along with the iconic Art Zoyd, they don’t have anything in common with much of the past either. They have also found room for guests Jimi Goodwin (Doves), Kavus Torabi (Knifeworld/Gong /Guapo/Cardiacs) and Pete Trewavas (Marillion), but don’t waste your time trying to work out who is providing what as this music just doesn’t work this way.
When music is as “out there” as this, it does take time for it all to make sense, even for a hardened proghead such as myself, but it is more than worth the effort. Just when I think I’ve got them worked out they disappear off onto another tangent and I must reset my mind and settle down again. I can imagine Robert Tripp listening to this and smiling, as there are times when they take even some of his work to an area he had yet to investigate, while I am sure that Frank Zappa would have enjoyed this as well. This sheer refusal to confirm to any preconceived norms is bound to restrict their fanbase, but if quantity of people buying music was an indicator of worth then we would all be listening to the likes of Justin Bieber. This won’t be for all progheads, but for those who have more discerning tastes will find much here to enjoy. www.badelephant.co.uk, and in a first for the label, BEM has joined forces with specialist tap label The City Is Ours, who issued a simultaneous cassette release.
