Leg End

The first album by pioneering avant-rock ensemble Henry Cow is a great place to start. The band was founded by guitarist/violinist Fred Frith and saxophonist Tim Hodgkinson, but also featured drummer Chris Cutler among others; these three would continue to make music together in varying combinations after Henry Cow disbanded. On its debut, the band is both finding its way and expressing well-developed ideas; composed passages bump up against skronky improvisation, and slippery melody lines fall apart and coalesce again. Legend is both very much of its time and a completely unique musical document.