[art rock, prog-rock] (2020) Ars Nova - Fields Of People-The Recordings (1968-1969) [FLAC] [DarkAngie]

(2020) Ars Nova - Fields Of People:The Recordings (1968-1969)

Review:
Esoteric Recordings release a new re-mastered 2 CD anthology featuring all of the recordings by the American Psychedelic / Progressive band Ars Nova released by Elektra & Atlantic records in 1968 and 1969. Formed in New York City in 1967 by two former students from the Mannes College musical conservatory, Wyatt Day (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Jon Pierson (trombone, vocals) and Maury Baker (drums). The line-up was expanded by the addition of Jonathan Raskin (bass, backing vocals, guitar) and Giovanni Papalia (lead guitar). After spending some time rehearsing in rural Vermont, the band added Bill Folwell to their ranks on double bass and trumpet. Coming to the attention of manager Arthur Gorson (who also managed Phil Ochs and Judy Collins) the band secured an audition for Jac Holzman’s Elektra label and secured a contract soon after. The band’s self-titled debut album was recorded at Sunset Sound studios in Los Angeles and was produced by Paul Rothchild (noted for his work with The Doors, Love et al). The ARS NOVA album was certainly ground-breaking for its use of unconventional instrumentation and for taking influences from the worlds of rock, ethnic and classical music. One fan of the album was ROY WOOD of British band THE MOVE (who would record a cover of Ars Nova’s Fields of People on their 1970 album Shazam!) ARS NOVA was issued in 1968 to much critical acclaim, but the band’s line-up made it difficult for the music to translate well on the concert stage. Appearances opening for The Doors failed to boost the band’s fortunes and the initial line-up of the band broke up soon afterwards. With Jonathan Raskin joining the band Rhinoceros, Day and Pierson gathered together a new line-up featuring Sam Brown (lead guitar), Joe Hunt (drums and percussion), Art Koening (bass), Jimmy Owens (trumpet) and Warren Bernhardt (keyboards). This revamped version of Ars Nova would record their final album, the equally imaginative SUNSHINE & SHADOWS, for Atlantic Records in late 1968 in New York City.

Tracklist:

1. Pavan for My Lady (2:46)
2. General Clover Ends a War (2:44)
3. And How Am I to Know (5:07)
4. Album In Your Mind (3:03)
5. Zarathustra (3:30)
6. Fields of People (3:38)
7. Automatic Love (4:53)
8. I Wrapped Her In Ribbons (2:37)
9. Song to the City (3:05)
10. March of the Mad Duke’s Circus (3:20)
11. Sunshine and Shadows (3:11)
12. I Was Once (2:59)
13. Temporary Serenade (3:03)
14. She Promises Everything (3:21)
15. Well, Well, Well (2:59)
16. You Had Better Listen (4:07)
17. Round Once Again (3:21)
18. Walk On the Sand (6:25)
19. Rubbish (3:32)
20. Please Don’t Go Now (5:52)


Media Report:
Genre: art rock, prog-rock
Source: CD
Format: FLAC
Format/Info: Free Lossless Audio Codec, 16-bit PCM
Bit rate mode: Variable
Channel(s): 2 channels
Sampling rate: 44.1 KHz
Bit depth: 16 bits