Mother Mallard's newest record is a historical document reissuing the band's 1974 debut LP, but there's no need to avoid it, because it sounds contemporary, fresh, exciting and possibly easier to understand than when it was recorded. Composer David Borden started out as Bob Moogs's "chief idiot" in perfecting the first commercial synthesizers. When he finally figured out how to adapt his classical training to the modular Moog, Borden formed the first all-synthesizer band and produced sophisticated, evocative and upbeat work that demonstrated the full possibilities of the new instruments to a legion of artists to come. "Cloudscape" and "Train" present vivid portraits of their subjects. "Music" begins with a tape of "All I Need Is Music," skipping on "music" and gradually uplifting it with a 13 minute romp of textures and pulses. "Easter" layers lively contrapuntal pulses with jazzy touches, sounding so hip and energetic it's still unusual for synthesizer-based music. Listening to Mother Mallard's music now, it references many electronic music movements that developed later: Philip Glass minimalism; the art rock of Emerson, Lake and Palmer; Wendy Carlos; ambient; techno; and "Krautrock" pioneers Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream, as well as their recent analog-obsessed progeny. For history's sake, this album may help Borden take his rightful place alongside Reich, Riley, and Glass. But the best part for listeners is that Mother Mallard's complex music is simply delightful.
Appearing Saturday with Keith Emerson in the National Museum of American History's Carmichael Auditorium.
* To hear a free Sound Bite from Mother Mallard, call Post-Haste at 202/334-9000 and press 8102. (Prince William residents, call 690-4110.)
