Matching Mole
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | October 1971 |
| Founder | Robert Wyatt |
| Defunct | September 1972 |
| Headquarters | England |
| Products | Progressive rock music |
Matching Mole was an English progressive rock group associated with the Canterbury scene.[1] Established by Robert Wyatt in October 1971 following his departure from Soft Machine and the release of his solo work The End of an Ear (1970), Wyatt took on vocals and drums. The original members featured David Sinclair from Caravan handling organ and piano, Dave MacRae on electric piano, guitarist Phil Miller of Delivery, and bassist Bill MacCormick from Quiet Sun.[1] The band's name is a play on the French term Machine Molle, which translates to Wyatt's former band Soft Machine.[1]
Career
Their first album, titled Matching Mole, was released in April 1972. Most tracks were written by Wyatt, except "O Caroline" (composed by Sinclair with lyrics by Wyatt) and "Part of the Dance" by Phil Miller.[1] Shortly after, Sinclair departed and was succeeded by New Zealand-born keyboardist and composer Dave MacRae, who had also contributed to the debut album.[1] The follow-up record, Matching Mole's Little Red Record, produced by Robert Fripp of King Crimson, came out in November 1972,[1] showcasing a more collective songwriting approach with Wyatt concentrating on vocal delivery and lyrics.
In September 1972, Matching Mole dissolved following a European tour where they supported Soft Machine. Sinclair and Miller went on to establish the more commercially oriented band Hatfield and the North.[1] Plans for a third album in 1973 involving a revamped lineup—Wyatt, MacCormick, former Curved Air keyboardist Francis Monkman, and jazz saxophonist Gary Windo—were abandoned after Wyatt suffered paralysis due to a fall in June 1973, which ended his ability to play drums.[2]
Personnel
- Bill MacCormick – bass (1971–1972, 1973)
- Robert Wyatt – drums, vocals, Mellotron (1971–1972, 1973)
- Phil Miller – guitar (1971–1972; died 2017)
- Dave Sinclair – piano, organ (1971–1972)
- Dave MacRae – piano, organ, electric piano, synthesiser (1972)
- Francis Monkman – keyboards (1973; died 2023)
- Gary Windo – saxophone (1973; died 1992)
Studio albums
| Date | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| April 1972 | Matching Mole | – |
| November 1972 | Matching Mole's Little Red Record | Dave Sinclair replaced by Dave MacRae on keyboards |
Live albums and compilations
| Date | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert | Mini live album |
| 2001 | Smoke Signals | Live album |
| 2002 | March | Live album |
| 2006 | On the Radio | |
| 2013 | Live at the BBC 1972 | Japan-only vinyl LP |
Singles
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1972 | "O Caroline" |
Filmography
- 2015: Romantic Warriors III: Canterbury Tales (DVD)