Description

Material – Temporary Music 1979-1981 – Compact Disc

Temporary Music 1979-1981 is a compilation album by Material, an influential band and project initiated by bassist Bill Laswell. The album compiles tracks from the early phase of Material’s career, showcasing their experimental and avant-garde approach to music. During this period, Material was known for their blend of funk, jazz, and punk with electronic and ambient influences, creating a sound that was both ahead of its time and deeply rooted in the New York City music scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Material was formed in 1979 by Bill Laswell, along with drummer Fred Maher and keyboardist Michael Beinhorn. The band was part of the broader movement that merged the energy of punk with the sophistication of jazz and funk, often incorporating elements of world music and electronic sounds. Material was not just a band but a collaborative project that featured a rotating lineup of musicians, including notable artists like Whitney Houston in her first recorded appearance, Nona Hendryx, and Archie Shepp.

One of the most high-profile projects of the endlessly prolific bassist and producer Bill Laswell, Material pioneered a groundbreaking fusion of jazz, funk, and punk that also incorporated elements of hip-hop and world music well before either’s entrance into the mass cultural consciousness.

Formed in 1979, the first Material lineup consisted of Laswell, multi-instrumentalist Michael Beinhorn, and drummer Fred Maher, all three staples of the downtown New York City underground music scene. The group, plus Kramer and a few others backed Gong’s Daevid Allen during his New York visit, resulting in the album About Time by New York Gong. After Material’s debut LP under their own name, Temporary Music, the group’s ranks swelled to include figures ranging from Sonny Sharrock to Henry Threadgill to Fred Frith, additions which yielded 1981’s superb Memory Serves.

A guest list running the gamut from Nile Rodgers to a then-unknown Whitney Houston distinguished the avant funk of 1982’s One Down, the final Material LP before a nearly decade-long hiatus; Laswell finally reassembled the troops in 1989 to record the atmospheric Seven Souls, which spotlighted the spoken word performances of the legendary William S. Burroughs. 1991’s The Third Power brought the group back to its soulful roots, with guests including Herbie Hancock, Sly & Robbie, Maceo Parker, and the Jungle Brothers; after 1994’s Hallucination Engine, another four-year hiatus preceded the release of the remix collection The Road to the Western Lands. Intonarumori followed in 1999.

Temporary Music 1979-1981 includes tracks from Material’s early EPs and singles, capturing the raw energy and innovative spirit of their initial recordings. The tracks are characterized by complex rhythms, experimental soundscapes, and an eclectic mix of instruments and electronic effects. This period in Material’s history was marked by a willingness to push musical boundaries and explore new sonic territories.

Key Tracks

‘Ciquiri’ – A high-energy track featuring complex rhythms and a fusion of electronic and organic instruments.
‘Temporary Music’ – The title track(s) from their initial releases, showcasing their experimental approach to composition and production.
‘White Man’ – Reflects their punk influence with a faster pace and more aggressive tone.

Material’s early work, including the tracks on ‘Temporary Music 1979-1981,’ was critically acclaimed for its innovative approach, although it was more of a cult favorite than a commercial success at the time. The band’s willingness to experiment influenced many in the genres of funk, jazz fusion, and experimental rock.

The compilation not only serves as an archival treasure but also as an educational resource for those interested in the roots of experimental and fusion genres. It highlights a formative period in Bill Laswell’s career, a musician and producer who would go on to influence many areas of music, from funk and jazz to hip hop and ambient.
Availability

Celluloid Records

Track Listing
1. O.A.O.
2. White Man
3. On Sadism
4. Process/Motion
5. Discourse
6. Slow Murder
7. Secret Life
8. Reduction
9. Heritage
10. Dark Things
11. Detached
12. Ciquiri