BILL BRUFORD'S EARTHWORKS - Earthworks (1987) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Drummer Bill Bruford made a name for himself in the '70s as a rock & roller of a progressive bent. In the '80s he formed the rather extraordinary jazz/fusion band that became Earthworks -- Bruford, saxophonist Iain Ballamy, keyboard and brass virtuoso Django Bates, and bassist Mick Hutton. This was their first album; an interesting one it was, though a later, live recording of the band presented some of the same material in a more highly developed state, rendering this original somewhat irrelevant. Bruford is a stiff-wristed player -- not a particularly subtle percussionist, though his compositional skills are apparently of a high quality (most of the tunes are co-written with other band members, so it's hard to know how much credit to give Bruford). The best thing about this band is its refreshing ingenuousness; they make intelligent, sophisticated instrumental pop music that doesn't pander in the least. This is their art, and a fine art it is. by Chris Kelsey
Tracklist :
1     Thud 4:10
Iain Ballamy
2     Making a Song and Dance 5:52
Iain Ballamy / Bill Bruford
3     Up North 5:19
Iain Ballamy / Django Bates / Bill Bruford
4     Pressure 7:25
Bill Bruford
5     My Heart Declares a Holiday 4:35
Iain Ballamy / Django Bates / Bill Bruford
6     Emotional Shirt 4:45
Django Bates
7     It Needn't End in Tears 5:04
Iain Ballamy
8     The Shepherd Is Eternal 1:50
Django Bates / Bill Bruford
9     Bridge of Inhibition 4:15
Iain Ballamy / Django Bates / Bill Bruford
Credits :
Double Bass [Acoustic Bass] – Mick Hutton
Drums, Percussion, Instruments [Whirled Instruments], Producer – Bill Bruford
Keyboards, Tenor Horn [E♭ Tenor], Trumpet – Django Bates
Producer, Keyboards [Additional], Keyboards [Bass], Sampler – Dave Stewart
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Iain Ballamy