Captain Beefheart - Trout Mask Replica

Presenter

Stephen Hall

Published

Friday 7th September

Label: Reprise / Ada

This near 40 year old has aged remarkably well, however reviews are still highly polarised.

The Frank Zappa produced Trout Mask Replica is a rebellious arrangement of jazz, delta blues, electric rock guitar, and untamed rhythms; with vocals in the style of Howlin’ Wolf and Tom Waits. To many, its rhythms and images appear incoherent. However, no matter how chaotic this album appears, the music is more structured than many think.

It’s not music that I’d put on as background at a dinner party, but there’s a lot to get out of what it has to offer. It was originally a double album, so it has stacks of tracks; among them are: Frownland, the opener, a progressive track with blues-style vocals; Dachau Blues, showing Beefheart’s incredible vocal range; Moonlight On Vermont, the best track, with great guitar and demented lyrics; and the closing track Veteran’s Day Poppy is a highlight of the album.

It remains a very progressive album and people will undoubtedly still be listening to it in another 40 years. A 1969 Rolling Stone review started with “Captain Beefheart, the only true Dadaist in rock”…

Originally released: 1969