Hatfield and the North/UK 1974 & 1975

First of all, Disc: 1 includes a live performance at Birmingham Town Hall on April 30th from the 1974 UK tour on a soundboard for less than an hour. Although it is a board sound source, there are some parts where the sound cuts out, and due to the state of preservation of the master and deterioration over time, it is not as good as recent stereo lines, etc., but the noise etc. is reduced compared to the leaked source, and above all, due to the timing can be said to be the best in both performance and content, and the difference in tension is clear when compared to performances from the following year. The show suddenly started with “Your Majesty Is Like a Cream Donut,” the main song from “The Rotter’s Club,” which has not yet been released at this point. Afterwards, the performance continued with songs from their debut album, most of which unfolded in the form of a medley, like a suite, and showed a sophisticated performance centered on Canterbury’s jazz improvisation. And R. Sinclair’s lyrical vocals that appear in between are also wonderful, and the album’s songs, which are composed of small pieces, are rearranged and played in complex arrangements. Also, be sure to listen to the fast-paced arrangement centered on the interplay between P. Miller and D. Stewart at the end of the song, “Rifferama.” And Disc: 2 includes the band’s last performance in London on April 28, 1975, in a reasonable audience recording at the time. This is the second main set that was just released, and although some of the opening parts are cut out and there are some sound cuts in the middle, it also includes the alphabet song, and has a composition close to the album. Then, in the second half, each member’s improvisation entered and the song became a drone, followed by an organ solo, vocals, and electric piano solo before fading out. Then, it fades in with “The Yes No Interlude”, and halfway through it becomes the rhythm of “Tenemos Roads”, and after that it plays a medley without any breaks. The sound quality is a bit monaural, with weak bass and some feedback noise, but the ever-changing rhythm section, distorted organ, and delicate guitar work together to create a development that can truly be called Canterbury. These are two performances that are just under 40 minutes in total, but are a must-listen for Canterbury/jazz/prog rock fans.