Level 42 Digest for Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Chris L. writes: “I'll even go as far as to say that Gary Husband is a technically more proficient drummer than Phil was- not to mention a more powerful one,” and “And honestly, if I didn't know any better I would never have guessed that Phil was involved with FOREVER NOW because his presence really wasn't felt.”

Since I’m not a drummer myself I won’t comment on whose the more technically proficient drummer. I will say that more powerful is not necessarily better, and I think this is particularly true of Level 42. I find Husband’s drumming to be intrusive to a good grove in part because he sounds *to me* more like a rock drummer and less like a jazz drummer in his touch and feel. Give me a PG, Bill Bruford or Bill Stewart any day over a Gary Husband, Rod Morgenstein, etc. if jazz-funk is what you want. For other genres Husband, Morgenstein work fine and may even be better suited. The bottom line is that a player like Phil or the other drummers are very proficient at providing space that allows the music to breathe – which is absolutely necessarily when you have a percusive bassist like MK filling up most of the available spots. This is also why I think Boon fit so well as he was mainly content to play rhythm guitar and didn’t need his “guitar time”.

To try and substantiate this point compare a typical “groovy” song from the Husband era with Forever Now. Whatever you pick you have a heavier, rock sound: Heaven in My Hands, Overtime, Guaranteed, even Dive into the Sun. Now compare this against “The Bends”, “Sunbed Song” etc. and there is a massive difference. Sure some of this has to do with composition and production, but consider that the composition (and perhaps production) process on Forever Now involved Phil, not to mention that Phil’s drumming is more understated/less obtrusive (pick your adjective here).

Honestly, I’m not near as happy with any of the present output of any of the L42 members as I was with Forever Now, though I wouldn’t say any of it is bad, or even mediocre. It’s just a different direction for each artist; I just miss the days were instrumental experimentation and instrumental grooves were more of the emphasis over pop song writing.

Jonathan

1. True Level 42 spirit
From:	dean.osborn <dean.osborn @ bt.com>
Date:	Mon, 26 Feb 2007 11:37:05 -0000	[top]
Yesterday, Paul Hammond wrote…... >>Just a thought, but by your reckoning above, surely Mike and Phil going to suffer from Mark’s absence in the same way you think Mark suffers from not having the others’ contributions? You would surely think that would be the case , My point was merely that by listening to Phil/Mike's new stuff you could tell what Retroglide lacked. Of course Level 42 were more than the sum of their parts and Mark's bass was as much a part of that as anything certainly. Yet the weird thing is I can listen to Phil's solo stuff, and even more to Mike's solo stuff I can hear that Level 42 sound (at least to my ears) more than I can by listening to Mark's new stuff. You'd have to put all 4 members and Wally back together to get it 100% - but I guess what I'm really saying by default is that I don't miss Mark's bass as much as I do miss Mike's beautiful voice and piano coupled with Phil's restrained groove style drumming and ideas. It's like I've always said……if you replaced John/Paul/George and Ringo in their heyday with very good session musicians and still called them the Beatles would it be the same sound and end product ?? - it's impossible. That is why I don't want to criticise Mark too much as he has made a half decent album with very good musicians - but I do have a problem with calling it Level 42 - I guess I'll just have to learn to get over it. Gary is a great great drummer and a very talented musician, but for Level 42 I always preferred Phil - just my personal taste - no knock against Gary at all. *Dean Osborn NCF415* *CB IMC GOC Managed Services (BT Germany)* BT Wholesale. (UK - 0800 917 0405 ( Option 3 & 1) 4 International - 00800 456 22506 (Option 3 & 1) + p.p.TKS/S82/01 Trunk Exchange, Long Rd, Cambridge CB2 2HG * dean.osborn @ bt.com BT's Values: Trustworthy: **we do what we say. Helpful: we work as one team.** Straightforward: we make things clear. Inspiring: we create new possibilities. Heart: we believe in what we do. British Telecommunication plc Registered office: 81 Newgate Street London EC1A 7AJ Registered in England no. 1800000. This electronic message contains information from British Telecommunications plc which may be privileged and confidential. The information is intended to be for the use of the individual(s) or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this information is prohibited. If you have received this electronic message in error, please notify us by telephone or e-mail (to the number or address above) immediately. Activity and use of the British Telecommunications plc E-mail system is monitored to secure its effective operation and for other lawful business purposes. Communications using this system will also be monitored and may be recorded to secure effective operation and for other lawful business purposes.

2. If
From:	alex.friesen @ sickkids.ca <alex.friesen @ sickkids.ca>
Date:	Mon, 26 Feb 2007 09:18:50 -0500	[top]
>> From: Chris Lawless <chrisjlawless @ yahoo.com> I'll even go as far as to say that Gary Husband is a technically more proficient drummer than Phil was- not to mention a more powerful one. Yeah, that's right- I said "better". << Um, last I checked, "better" is spelled "better." If there was an early "better" before your final "better," it's well hidden. If you think Gary is somehow better than Phil, don't be a pantywaist, we can take it. Dare To Make A Direct Statement! >> I would never have guessed that Phil was involved with FOREVER NOW because his presence really wasn't felt. << Are we talking about the album called Forever Now by Level 42? The one with the killer drum grooves all over it? Those ones that reek of Phil Gould? And sound nothing at all like Gary? Or is there some other mysterious Forever Now I have yet to hear? Sorry, it's Monday morning. ...Alex...

3. In Defense of PG
From:	Jonathan & Laura <jlekevans @ sbcglobal.net>
Date:	Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:02:55 -0500	[top]
Chris L. writes: “I'll even go as far as to say that Gary Husband is a technically more proficient drummer than Phil was- not to mention a more powerful one,” and “And honestly, if I didn't know any better I would never have guessed that Phil was involved with FOREVER NOW because his presence really wasn't felt.” Since I’m not a drummer myself I won’t comment on whose the more technically proficient drummer. I will say that more powerful is not necessarily better, and I think this is particularly true of Level 42. I find Husband’s drumming to be intrusive to a good grove in part because he sounds *to me* more like a rock drummer and less like a jazz drummer in his touch and feel. Give me a PG, Bill Bruford or Bill Stewart any day over a Gary Husband, Rod Morgenstein, etc. if jazz-funk is what you want. For other genres Husband, Morgenstein work fine and may even be better suited. The bottom line is that a player like Phil or the other drummers are very proficient at providing space that allows the music to breathe – which is absolutely necessarily when you have a percusive bassist like MK filling up most of the available spots. This is also why I think Boon fit so well as he was mainly content to play rhythm guitar and didn’t need his “guitar time”. To try and substantiate this point compare a typical “groovy” song from the Husband era with Forever Now. Whatever you pick you have a heavier, rock sound: Heaven in My Hands, Overtime, Guaranteed, even Dive into the Sun. Now compare this against “The Bends”, “Sunbed Song” etc. and there is a massive difference. Sure some of this has to do with composition and production, but consider that the composition (and perhaps production) process on Forever Now involved Phil, not to mention that Phil’s drumming is more understated/less obtrusive (pick your adjective here). Honestly, I’m not near as happy with any of the present output of any of the L42 members as I was with Forever Now, though I wouldn’t say any of it is bad, or even mediocre. It’s just a different direction for each artist; I just miss the days were instrumental experimentation and instrumental grooves were more of the emphasis over pop song writing. Jonathan

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