David Thomas, More Places Forever (side A)

On 1985's More Places Forever, Thomas collaborated with two members of Henry Cow, Lindsay Cooper and Chris Cutler, and also his long-time Pere Ubu associate Tony Maimone.  The strongest voice here, which everyone follows, is Lindsay Cooper.  Her abstract double-reed melodies create the compositional foundation for the pieces.  Thomas's lyrics develop narratives that interweave with the melodic structure.  While the songs use repetition, there are not obvious verses or choruses in the structure or lyrics.  Maimone's bass playing impressively gives a rock feel to their timing and groove, while following the complicated melodic structure of the compositions.  While Cutler accentuates the compositions rhythmically, he and Maimone do not operate as a conventional rock rhythm section — Cutler dances around the beat implied by Cooper's reeds, as Maimone locks into the same implied pulse.  The sound of the album is modern and slightly sterile — it subtly references then-contemporary new wave hits, or perhaps then-commercial jazz recordings, more than any work these artists have done before.  And the completely absurd front cover painting and design, with their pastel hues, bear no relationship to the music, or even Thomas's lyrics.