Imaginary Coque

Imaginary Coque were a little known but influential Anglo-French Progressive Rock band of the mid 1970's.

History
Formed in 1972 by the former members of chamber-folk combo Chicken Dancers, Imaginary Coque produced only one critically acclaimed self released album, The Journey of Johann Pittham. (1974) The band split soon after its release due to financial presures caused by its poor commercial performance in relation to the excessive amount of money the band had spent in its realisation.
Imaginary Coque consisted of Jimmy Jainsworth (drums, vocals), Polly Underwood (bass guitar, vocals), Willy Marshall (guitar, vocals) and Jacques Rounding (keyboards), who was eventually replaced by Adrienne Nixon (keyboards,vocals). Underwood, Jainsworth and Marshall had previously played in the Chicken Dancers, occasionally supplemented by Rounding.
The first line-up came quickly to the attention of producer Brendan Redwood, who recorded the group's first demo sessions and eventually their album, and was largely responsible for the sacking of Rounding, with whom Redwood could not develop a productive working relationship. Redwood also introduced the band to Roundings replacement, (and Redwoods then wife), Nixon.

The Journey of Johann Pittham (1974)

The bands one true defining artistic moment, this 1974 album also proved their downfall. Taking one year to record and falling prey to many of the orchestral excesses and pretensions of the era, The Journey... takes the form of two extended pieces covering the two sides of the album. Side one It's Late is generally considered the more successful of the two, with its layers of orchestral instruments, use of full choirs and it's ambitious symphonic structure. Side two, Home Again, Late Again is considered less successful, as after the first five minutes of full blown orchestral arrangement (as on side one), the instruments gradually vanish until only Nixon remains on keybaords at the albums close. Although this may be seen as an artistic statement, the truth is somewhat more prosaic; the other members all quit the band one by one during recording, allegedly due to the producers erratic behaviour in the studio, leaving only Redwood, who by then owned the band name, and his wife to finish the piece. None of the other members of the band pursued careers in music after this date, presumably too deeply in debt and jaded by the experience to continue.
The album was almost immediately deleted after release and remains much sought after by collectors to this day. No CD release has taken place to date.

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