Septober Energy

Much like the arthropod it’s named after, Centipede featured dozens of musicians, including then-members of Soft Machine, Nucleus, King Crimson, Blossom Toes and students of the London School of Music. Put together by music director, pianist and composer Keith Tippett, the group first performed a series of concerts in London and Bordeaux in November 1970, and again in June 1971 for the Rotterdam Arts Council. That month, they gathered at Wessex Studios in London with Robert Fripp in the producer’s chair. Septober Energy takes its name from Tippett’s composition, with his wife Julie Driscoll contributing the lyrics. Side one kicks off slowly, a gently rising cacophony of strings, horns, guitars, etc. that finds a theme around the ten-minute mark. From there, over the course of three more album-sides, the album shifts from modern classical, British jazz fusion, (more or less) horn rock, more cacophony, and some soloing from some of Britain’s best, including Elton Dean, Mark Charig, et al. At its best, it is reminiscent of King Crimson’s Islands album, as on the third side’s third track, featuring the complete orchestra (plus quintet). Vocalists include Driscoll, Zoot Money, Mike Patto, Boz Burrell and Maggie Nicole, who make their voices heard throughout, but shine halfway through the fourth side’s “Unite for Every Nation.” Of course, it’s a big band with a big jazz-rock sound; probably the English equivalent of early Magma. As a band leader and session man, Tippett was one of Britain’s foremost pianists, and his career would intertwine with many progressive artists. With a reduced cast, Centipede performed a couple more concerts in late 1971, first at the Royal Albert Hall in October and then at the Rainbow Theatre in December. The double-album saw release in the UK on the Neon label in October, and-incredibly-again in 1974, on the RCA label in the US. Wah-Hay, indeed!