Matching Mole on Rockenstock (7-1-1972)

Matching Mole performing "Gloria Gloom"(Bill MacCormick) and "Part of the Dance"(Phil Miller), live on the French TV program "Rockenstock" in 1972
Matching Mole was:
Robert Wyatt - Drums, Vocals
Phil Miller - Guitar
Bill MacCormick - Bass
Dave MacRae - Keyboards

[@docdave1994]

What is the most striking isn't even the music, but the fact that this stuff was on a TV show. Totally impossible today

[@lo0ksik]

and that is so bad for culture.. today is the worst times of culture and arts ever.

[@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491]

this was french tv Baaby

[@BassLudeman]

There is some silver lining I think. I agree the decline of televised music journalism is sad, but this is moved over to the Internet in a pretty great way. studios themselves are streaming/uploading sessions like Audiotree etc, even though few of them are as artsy and gritty as Rockenstock, Pop Deux or Forum Musiques etc. There's lower fidelity stuff like Powered by Wind, whose channel has all sorts of great underground music on it

[@BassLudeman]

I personally love the television format and I can only hope that as viewership on the whole declines, maybe the barrier to entry will weaken, clearing the way for more passionate people to enter that space. But idk. I wanted to say I have a new channel where I shoot live music on SVHS (film is too expensive for now), I have a playlist called Auravision where I feature those videos, and it's all stuff I like so anyone like me who is obsessed with this stuff might find it worthwhile

[@benijager1372]

The french loved Wyatt

[@gunproofgrandad4381]

Fucking hell I love Robert's drumming... His accident was so tragic, but he created such an amazing body of work afterwards. He's just a wonderful musician in general.

[@7karlheinz]

+GunproofGrandad Whenever I play any recording that features Wyatt's drumming on my radio show, I always find myself lamenting what a great loss to drumming due to his fall.

[@Gnomaxx]

+Joe Ray You're right. But he's just a MUSICIAN. An exceptionnal one :)

[@dzre2087]

there's a new art-rock duo out of Montreal called LAZOR BLADE -- just overdriven casio and maybe the best drummer around! the guy is sloppy / messy, but more creative than most of the great drummers. LOVE Wyatt, but Lazor Blade's drummer is far better imo.

[@davno10]

Robert's drumming, why no statues to this mans magnificence

[@crimsonwolf9099]

The only drummer, of that era, that I could stand to listen to a drum solo by. They were obligatory in those years and every clown bored us to death with extended drum solos. Once sat through the pain of Led Zep's Bonham doing a 45 minute wank off. Aargh. Wyatt was always brilliantly melodic, sometimes humorous and always daring and fresh. He is an all round brilliant musician and lyricist with one of the most beautiful and distinctive voices. Had the pleasure of giving him a reefer after a Soft Machine club gig in Houston TX. He was a gentleman and a great nutter.

[@danielwhite1923]

My all-time favourite drummer, legend.

[@igorrodrigues97.]

This version of Gloria Gloom scared me a lot. I listen this on 2a.m, no lights in my room, damn what a strange feeling. But the bass is so good

[@garymillstein3677]

This is pure holy grail video. I've been waiting to see a proper video of MM for years, and this captures them in all of their rawness. You can see how this band is running on pure drive, zero cash and most likely, alcohol or other substances, which does not detract from the music, but gives a glimpse into their collective psyche at the time.

[@martinsaunders7925]

Most bands of the time ran on performances fueled by free beer, Osleys product, petrol donations and loose women.

[@mach1853]

Timeless - this just stands alone as a unique piece of creative genius that will be just as astonishing and relevant in 100 years

[@bobgreen623]

Once again Phil Miller singlehandedly maintains the tradition of performing live in knitwear.

[@JoséAntonioRodríguez-y3z]

Uff estamos ante músicos kejamas nadie podrá igualar su ingenio histórico escena canterbury ufff alucinante una bendición de dios matching mole national health soft machine hatfiel and the north Caravan esa gente fueron los pioneros una pasada y Robert wyatt yano pertenece a este mundo..un 10 insuperable

[@garymillstein3677]

Everything about this video is totally unique. It captures one of the greatest and rarest bands in an unusually intimate live in studio setting. Surrounded by a scant few lucky Euro-hipsters smoking and helping out with falling microphones. Robert Wyatt in a ski mask, possibly to keep his wild hair in control. You get Bill MacCormick's groovy pants, Phil Miller's unique facial expressions and marvelous playing, Dave MacRae's nearly impossible standing organ posture. For gear hounds, I have no idea what kind of road-case mini-organ he's playing or what's on top of it. Packs of smokes everywhere. Other Rockenstock clips show a much larger space than this one, everything is close-miked but you can't see them.

[@johnvalencia9927]

It's a hammond B3 with a Hohner Pianet stacked on top of it.

[@YassassinDe]

Matching Mole = machine molle = Soft Machine

[@akaboyfilm]

Haha, sure ! Bien vu

[@burgersoft777]

Did you know that Pye Hastings owns a company called Mole Machines ?

[@karlmarx5202]

fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Machine_molle

[@holydiver73]

In any language that is genius. To name your band after almost a perfect French translation of the band that fired you.

[@unfolk]

Definitely one of the essential videos of the 70's: absolutely brilliant stuff: Robert's vocal improvisations at the beginning are stunning and the band's performance is awesome throughout: Wyatt/Mac Cormick/Miller/Mac Rae were pre-R.I.O. wonders... this is only a "little red gig" after all...!

[@allenwagley6956]

Holy shit Robert is awesome

[@SitarRay]

Absolutly!!!!

[@LULLYxoxo]

Al Wagley He’s limitless

[@bobgreen623]

They all are!

[@omniaveritas2427]

he's a pure genius

[@avefiggy2128]

robert Wyatt is insanely good this whole sequence is amazing

[@richardthomas216]

I've never seen my ears glow in such a magical light - thanks for providing the music to match tout ça!

[@bobatkinson3114]

Prog Rock superstars Wyatt and friends are so under appreciated

[@whiskeyriver4322]

Brilliant! It never seems to get old.

[@massimomarchesin8708]

Come mai Robert Wyatt si presentò così incappucciato praticamente mascherato a questa esibizione dei Matching Mole ? i brani presentati in questa esibizione erano molto interessanti tratti dall'album Matching Mole il loro primo lp Peccato che il gruppo non poté andare avanti causa il grave incidente capitato a Robert Wyatt che lo costrinse sulla sedia a rotelle causa paralisi delle gambe Situazione che purtroppo per lui ancora oggi sta vivendo all' età credo di 75 anni I Matching Mole sono stati un gruppo veramente d avanguardia musicale infatti non so come catalogarli se nel Progressive rock quello più classico del termine oppure nell'avanguardia più estrema detta RIO Ad ogni modo Band FANTASTICA !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@brokkenstar]

The drummer leads the band, the beat, the beat, the lovely beat. . . .

[@dzre2087]

there's a new art-rock duo out of Montreal called LAZOR BLADE -- just overdriven casio and maybe the best drummer around! the guy is sloppy / messy, but more creative than most of the great drummers. LOVE Wyatt, but Lazor Blade's drummer is far better imo.

[@maick95]

Empire Goodness, you start talking about a band out of the blue, and then you compare him to Robert Wyatt, who was not even able to get to his 30's while playing drums.

[@continuousminer]

@@dzre2087 one of the most daft and asinine comments on drumming I've come across lately. 3 years later you should still be ashamed.

[@eiliannoyes5212]

​@@continuousminerPerhaps you could point, pieces with tempo changes?

[@Gnomaxx]

Wyatt forever ! His last records are just exactly so inspired. Thx Rockenstock and thx BassLuderman

[@garygomesvedicastrology]

I love MacCormick's bass work and that sound!

[@robinh633]

I was lucky enough to see them live as they were - bizarrely - booked for Weymouth grammer school end of term dance!! I enjoyed it but some of the other kids were looking slightly confused and bewildered!

[@7karlheinz]

+Robin H Those women in the background looked a little confused and bewildered themselves!

[@Columba_Kos]

The blonde haired woman is Wyatt's wife, Alfreda Benge.

[@gommecourt]

Actually no. She wasn't there.

[@joserodriguezaneiros-wp7xh]

Impresionante video historico los mejores los maxsimos creadores del canterbury mejor grupo fel mundo.

[@bobgreen623]

I love this! One of my favourite bands - Robert is (was) a phenomenal drummer, but Phil Bill and Dave are all brilliant too. No wonder Phil Miller can play those tricksy guitar runs, d'ya see the size of his hands?

[@bobgreen623]

They were around for such a short time, too, less than a year I think. Fortunately they came along at a time when I was so ready for something like it that they have always been with me. There was due to be a third album with a different lineup (including Francis Monkman from Curved Air) but sadly Robert had his accident which put paid to that. Robert has now retired from recording and performing but what an amazing collection of music he has made in his life! A beautiful soul, I'm sure.

[@bobgreen623]

+virgorouge No, he's been wheelchair-bound since his accident.

[@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491]

and three Master keyboardists each Tops. Dave McRae goes open Terry Riley...

[@p.diddley6500]

Not recording anymore?

[@christopherthomas7253]

What remarkable footage. Thanks for putting it up, whoever you are!

[@garygomesvedicastrology]

McCrae did play organ on Matching Mole's Little Red Record, along with piano and electric piano (and VCS 3 keyboard). As a matter of fact, you can hear it if you listen carefully on Gloria Gloom and Nan True's Hole. And Wyatt was an amazing drummer. His post-accident material is terrific, but I love his work and playing before his accident to that after his accident. He was amazing!

[@xyling]

This is amazing. Surely Brian Chippendale of Lightning Bolt saw this performance. The conceptual similarities are uncanny.

[@Rahnotrob]

+xyling I was thinking the same thing! Very, very similar!

[@_ratherBursadboi]

I watched this video to my friend, and he showed me lighting bolt

[@SuperPanther34]

Everything about Robert’s music makes so much sense to me. Always has. Not just him & his melodies on drums or other instruments, but what the others are doing too & their fills & constant attention to complement each other. When I first found Soft Machine is was Bundles & I went backwards to Seven & then did one through everything so when I found Robert Wyatt soft machine & matching mole, I was so deeply satisfied to have this musical void of mine filled with his & his bands contributions. I could hear the a lot of the fills or ideas when first getting exposed to the albums while listening to them especially during the jam sections or during live performances live this & to then hear the vast majority of those things come out as which ever song continued was simply amazing & mind blowing to me & gave me more hope as a dummer for creating music of my own or for wanting to learn bass or relearn trumpet. My old band used to cover facelift live. I would have loved to do this & things like Frob or Magma too.

[@boogiemeister9581]

Robert Wyats french accent is the best thing ever.

[@martinramosbarragan8980]

Amo la voz de Robert Wyatt cuando improvisa.....un genio de la experientacion.

[@smaggejan]

I've seen them twice in Holland, both times wonderful, one of them with Lol Coxhill on soprano sax. We will miss him

[@thereisnoproblem]

... I have no words to say ... one of da most important bands there were > ROBERT! ... just only for ROBERT! ... thx (wid a huge smile on me face) for ul diz gem! thank you so so so ... ya!

[@fishtolizard3930]

Absolutely Outstanding. Thanks for Uploading!

[@РусланНариманов-с7в]

Потрясающе , завидую тем , кто мог слышать и видеть это в живую .

[@АлексейПончев]

Никогда о них не слышал, хотя" меломаню" уже 30 лет .На Софт Машин очень похожи .Есть же еще люди которые понимают такой музон! Хотя нас уже и не много ,к сожалению.

[@stopenvald]

@@АлексейПончев Сегодня у Боба-барабанщика день рождения. Семьдесят восьмой... А Софт Машин это его предыдущая группа. )

[@jguillaumegagnon9213]

Wow merci d'avoir partager cette prestation ! !.Je suis un fan de ce groupe fantastique et imaginatif .Wyatt est toute un drummer ! !.

[@tommytippee5900]

Nice n crazy just the way i like things. Robert is a Gift to this World.

[@alexruiz1320]

mucho mole que feliz estoy oyendo esta cosa

[@kevnote]

I wouldn't be surprised. I love both their work, each totally unique, actually.

[@ricardoleon6142]

The Best side of KZbin.

[@63kevinoneill]

Great stuff. I love the Frenchies sitting around and looking like they're thinking 'What the fuck is this?'

[@davel.9467]

Just got done reading about this gig in Bill MacCormick’s book.

[@DrGonzoOBoogie]

great video, allways loved the bass well and everything else about this song

[@markgardner1020]

After years playing shirtless, Mr. Wyatt puts a t-shirt on and a sock over his head. To do that he must have been half mad, or absolutely shattered by some upset in his life. But Christ couldn't he play the drums. Best I've ever seen, the creativity is just overwhelming. And Matching Mole strikes me now as less self-indulgent here than it did all those years ago.

[@iainmclean7020]

I saw Matching Mole at The Queen Elizabeth Hall (in 72) before Robert Wyatt’s accident. God Song was the highlight!

[@MrTFH1]

Awesome. Many thanks for this. I have the vinyl but no player so, good to hear.

[@sidthesparkie]

Gloria Gloom is scary, perhaps a bit disturbed. Robert Wyatt is a pioneer in both drumming and vocal techniques. Superb performance from Matching Mole. Probably not for Abba fans though.

[@bobgreen623]

I dunno, I like Abba (although I LOVE the Mole!)

[@frankrusk6172]

or the archies fans..lol

[@Wyngardian]

I'm a fan of all three bands (not that the Archies were an actual band, of course)

[@brianhammer5107]

in his singing approach, yes - drumming, no - Wyatt was a very good drummer, but he never pioneered anything on the drums - after the Fifties and Sixties Jazz drummers (who he loved) such as Max Roach, Tony Williams, Art Blakey, Elvin Jones had done it all, everyone else simply used what they had done. Even the avante guardists that drummed for Sun Ra and Cecil Taylor were just taking certain aspects of their drumming, and making a 'style' out of it. Billy Cobham was incredible, but Tony Williams had already done it.

[@TheVeryBlondeOne]

sidthesparkle - I love ABBA and Matching Mole (and Henry Cow) and I find your comment unfair. Perhaps you should say that it is not for fans of Pat Boone or the Osmonds. ;-)

[@thomaschisholm6348]

Fucking amazing! I never tire of watching this.

[@franciscodiezpena6708]

Si no es el mejor video que he visto, le falta poco...

[@traildoggy]

This makes me happy.

[@andrewarthurmatthews6685]

Robert making sure he is the centre of attention, as usual!

[@Gnomaxx]

Et en plus ce jeu de mot pour francophone. Robert

[@FKKramer]

La Machine Molle de Robert Wyatt!

[@josedias1387]

Very good!

[@alexandreapostoly4870]

That's one of the reasons that makes me love youtube :)

[@dzre2087]

I know! If they were wiser, they'd have named it "SUPERTELEVISION", b/c that's what it is. (I avoided it for years, b/c their "Concept" -- you can watch all sorts of teens who can play your favorite songs badly! or you can watch your aunt's baby shower (!!) --- was NOT an interesting idea. It's the idea that I can see ANYTHING i want. Zappa on Steve Allen? Done!)

[@patpao6933]

stupendo grazie

[@croiners4166]

Incredible!

[@MrMrh1958]

I bet FZ would’ve loved this!

[@cesarindf1]

Muy buen video, muy en el estilo de Soft Machine, muy en el estilo de Robert Wyatt!!

[@louisgreen3915]

For me I feel that Robert Wyatt is the best drummer (ever) to come out of the U.K. He peaks like the great jazz fusion drummers of the 1970s. Check out his drumming on sugar cane harris's (Liz Pineapple wonderful) and you will know what I mean.

[@p165711]

and Ringo lol

[@MrMHughes68]

Funnily enough, Robert has a lot of time for Ringo's drumming.

[@SharingSoundz]

Do you idiots seriously think ginger and ringo could play this shit? Maybe with more practice but otherwise HELL no

[@brianhammer5107]

GINGER BAKER?? Are you SERIOUS, mate?!? Did you ever see Cream???? Baker was an awesome technician. He did stuff like this all the time. He did Jazz records when Robert Wyatt was a kid.

[@louisgreen3915]

@@TheFreemanuk My ears are always open for new drummers, but very few have the things I look for in a drummer. Most drummers today are technically brilliant but they don't groove properly for my money. Not just in the UK but America also. For instance I would choose Herlin Riley over Dennis Chambers any day of the week. Both have technic but Herlin realy gets me moving physically.

[@gasparddaout3770]

gooood it's so good!

[@pietervdoorn4898]

awesome!

[@Wyngardian]

Next to Daevid Allen and Pye Hastings, Wyatt is the third musician I've seen (either live or in footage) perform vocals by "bibbling" themselves. It must have been a secret dictum of the Canterbury scene that each frontman had to do that at some point, alongside the rule that all bands had to use Lowrey organs rather than Hammonds.

[@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491]

you mean Richard Sinclair -- not Pye : )

[@Wyngardian]

@@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491 I've seen them both do it!!

[@bradleystone2623]

It is NOT a Lowry organ!

[@growskull]

it fits the cantenbury and moreso rock in opposition feel very well

[@TheRockerxx69]

Saw them live twice: Reading Festival 1972. Queen Elizabeth Hall September 1972.

[@bobgreen623]

I saw them at Reading too, although for various reasons I remember very little of the whole festival.

[@LaTortuePGM]

L'intro en français ! C'est cool ! x)

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

still love it!

[@garygomesvedicastrology]

McCrae did play organ on certain Matching Mole songs, although it was mostly as an addition to his electric piano work. . You can hear it on Nan True's Hole, Gloria Gloom, and Starting in the Middle of the Day We Can Drink Our Politics Away.

[@meinholundermann]

excellent!

[@Rumtoad1]

Awesome!

[@owenmcgee8496]

in an alternative universe, louis balfour of jazz club is a real person and either djs or hosts this music live 24-7 for all eternity

[@brunovallesmunoz4757]

HAUNTING DISTURBING BRILLIANT!!

[@joserodriguezaneiros-wp7xh]

Roberto wyatt y gilmour son los dos mejores del mundo.

[@robertorossi5686]

documento magnifico

[@vtripaldi]

brilliant

[@mikesaunders4775]

Only the French could feign such cool indifference.

[@mikeydread62]

The host choofing away on a ciggie. Gold.

[@mutualmonster]

Did anyone else think of Lightning Bolt when they saw Robert at the drums wearing his mask?

[@KogaBrigaXTC]

Indeed, my first thought, even more as they had a gig 2 days ago (although didn't attend).

[@brianhammer5107]

no - 4th-5th generation rip-off artists hold no interest

[@alotofwank]

¿ kzbin.info/www/bejne/omKVf42ojqqJpNE ?

[@shrew972]

Wow!

[@Burt472]

Awesome Band

[@victorsantiago5470]

rim shots on 4 time and triplets on 3 time @ 10:42. . that"s why he's a good drummer.

[@peachteacast]

Poor cymbals! Both are cracked and hi hats look and sound good

[@ksjoyjespeace]

Softmachinebass190 Robert probably took a bite out of that one on purpose! ! Lol !!

[@bobgreen623]

What's brown, lives in the ground, and it's myopic? It's the Mole!

[@jackbach8968]

ÉNORME!! 🙏🙏

[@MrMrh1958]

Love the head gear!😂

[@Jhensy2012]

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS CRAP?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" -- My dad entering my room, circa 1974

[@normthebaker7305]

Priceless!!!!!

[@LULLYxoxo]

Jhensy2012 My mom says that to me all the time when I listen to Canterbury

[@bobgreen623]

Yup. Similar reaction here from my parents. They liked Henry Cow even less.

[@dmurd1]

lol....great comment and exactly what happened in a lot of households at the time.

[@p.diddley6500]

A German pal of mine who was into avant-garde music with me, had a very mechanical minded very disciplined dad. He came home one day and heard some chance music/noise jam and said angrily "Vat ees theese? Theese eeze Nott Nece-serry!!"

[@aleizquierdo4605]

Robert Wyatt 💙💙💙

[@Kastsiuchenka2Minsk]

какой энергетичный чувак!

[@patricezappa5399]

ENORME !!!!

[@antonioamendolaitaly]

40 anni dopo sono ancora avanti di altri 40

[@martinhaughey3175]

Robert wyatt you are a fucking rock star. All this surrealistic stuff. And rock bottom genius. Shipbuilding Say no more

[@CagliosthroAD]

broken crash, oughtta love him

[@cesarsantacruz602]

La máscara del baterista es muy idéntica a los "ukukos" de una antiquísima fiesta religiosa de mi ciudad Cusco - Perú.

[@kevnote]

@10:51, Phil quotes YES "Close to the Edge" (down by the river- in a van, with Matt Foley. Seasons WILL pass you by.....)

[@joserodriguezaneiros-wp7xh]

Con soft machine ❤❤❤❤❤

[@patzinzon697]

Et sur une chaîne française s'il vous plait! C'était le "bon temps" ! Parce qu'en france on a écouté ça lors de nos soirées bien enfumées à l'herbe sur des platine vinyle bien sur! Cool

[@orlando32000]

Musique pour descendre les escaliers de la cave mal éclairée !!!!

[@gimmehendrix]

Anyone remember the gigs at King Cross Cinema. The steak and Kidney pies at 3am were awesome.

[@ggck.sounds]

if you like this, check out the tony williams albums "Emergency" and "Turn It Over"... similar vibe but maybe even more intense IMO. Love both groups tho.

[@arturocker7900]

Mike patton' s Father, incredible

[@puddypuss]

I remember seeing them around this time,and being disappointed that robert wyatt had left soft machine, or " machine moule " as the french called them. I think the stuff is very good in the progressive absurdist mould and was a precursor to hatfield and the north in a way. maybe some commentators prefer more straightforward music, and cant understand structured improvisation that takes a bit of thought and concentration ?

[@edboytim2534]

i bet it got hot under that ol rottenhat

[@galdessa1]

Matching Mole (a pun, "machine molle" being French for 'Soft Machine'),

[@ianwilkinson4602]

I didn't know that,thanks, I have often wondered at the name.