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BIG BIG TRAIN: Gathering Speed CD
Can't say I've ever liked this lot - so I wasn't expecting too much out of this. The fact that in one sitting I listened to the lot, is probably pointing to the fact that they've pretty well got it spot on with this new studio album. Another concept based around some second world war fighter pilots, this nevertheless manages to sound both fresh and invigorating, while at the same time, cozy and familiar. With tracks between 6 and 10 minutes in length, it's a firmly song-based album that does allow the musicians room to breathe and the result is a set of well-produced and arranged, exotic prog-rock tracks with strength and feeling, clearly inspired by the subject matter, that feature great singing and playing with high-flying harmonies that put the icing on an already sumptuous cake. Occasionally it will stray into cliché, but the presence of mellotrons, synths, guitars, choirs, rhythm section and vocal all enmeshed in this strong-sounding world of genuinely vintage prog-rock, makes this an album that lovers of the seventies style of things who don't want absolutely epic pieces, will go weak at the knees on hearing. Done well, it won't win any prizes for originality (as any Genesis fan will no doubt point out), but in terms of its quality and long-lasting enjoyment, it's definitely a winner.
EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER: Masters From The Vaults DVD
Definitely A TV broadcast, definitely from 1970 (or could be '71) - what would I know - and definitely "of its time". Jeez, when I look back at this, I can see why I was attracted to this band all those years ago - you only have to see Emerson next to this organ and moog set-up, coaxing sounds out of an organ that were never really meant to happen, to be quite riveted and aware of just how much he was the figurehead for keyboard wizards that were spewing out of the works at the time. This DVD has its flaws - the footage that interrupts the flow of the concert visuals is annoying and not exactly interesting - some Belgian's idea of humour I guess - but it's not too overdone and you are allowed to see the trio in action. The presence of Palmer's drum solo I could have done without - OK, so he's a great drummer, but this was a yawn-fest of epic proportions - and Lake reveals how much of a driving force of a bassist he was - think you tend to forget what a pivotal bass role he played. But it's Emerson's show, the instrumental work is great for its time - although it's got whiskers on it now, and as a nostalgia blast, woks a treat. I wouldn't watch it again, but glad I've seen it once………….
EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER: Pictures At An Exhibition DVD
…………..which is more than you can say about this thing - what was the director of this video on at the time - must have been substance abuse on a massive scale. The flow of the visual of the band playing live is absolutely shattered with all these psychedelic computer graphics that swirl in front of them like an annoying swarm of bees. It doesn't take long for you to have the desire to kick in the TV or at least hang the director or, at best, just switch the thing off. Forget the music, this thing's rubbish as a video - to be avoided.
FOCUS: Live At The BBC CD
Recorded live in concert at the New Victoria Theatre, London in 1976, this is quite simply way better a performance than anything the band might have released as a studio album at the time, and it has to be said that the lack of Akkerman - substituted by guitarist Phillip Catherine - has not impaired the enjoyment of the album one bit. What you hear is essentially a feel for rock replaced by a feel for blues but in a prog-fusion setting. A lot of the compositions here swing rather than drive, and there's a laid-back feel to much of the playing, as the first three tracks will testify. The band are on great form and Catherine's guitar sounds fluid, sharp and clear, lending a wholly new element to the band's sound, arguably better for the material featured than if Akkerman had been there himself. The near 14 minute 'Maximum' features some blinding guitar work and a neat line in electric piano while the rhythm section exercises their dynamics and drive, building it all up and letting it down. For me, the acoustic mid-section of guitars and flutes that are the 'Sneezing Bull' and 'Sonata For Flute' tracks, do absolutely nothing, while 'House Of The King' features a stellar solo from Catherine once the main flute refrain has ended. Catherine also shines brightly on the five minute 'Angel Wings' while the 8 minute, mostly instrumental, 'Little Sister/What You See' is pretty good. Ending on a rather subdued version of 'Hocus Pocus' you almost wish they'd left the classic tracks at home and just concentrated on what this line-up did best - some wickedly laid-back, almost bluesy, atmospheric playing.
GLASS HAMMER: Lex Live DVD
As a band they are fantastic - the New Route to prog heaven starts here - but as a VISUAL band, well…………..
It actually held my attention for half the running time before I got distracted but at least kept it on and had one eye and two ears on it. Musically, they are every bit as good live as they are in the studio, with asset, the quality of which, in every respect, is just astounding, and as a live CD in its own right, should be bought by anyone who liked the last three. Visually, they manage to hold your attention with a band that includes a keyboards player who looks more like a refugee from the WWE or has spent far too long in "Burger King", a drummer with an immense kit who really gives it rice, a frontline duo of guitarist and bassist who really can command your curiosity as the playing unfolds. The seriously odd part is the trio of female backing singers. They sit down on chairs, stage left, looking for all the world like a set of glamorous secretaries who just happen to have microphones stuck in front of them. They can sing for sure - but who the hell mixed this thing - half the time you just can't hear them, unless the intention is to make the harmony vocals to be more a textural affair to the four-part solo and harmony male vocals. It's not so bad when one of the ladies does a solo vocal, but way weird when they're all together. That gripe apart, this is a stunning DVD that any fan of great prog audio and visual treats will enjoy immensely.
STEVE HACKETT: Horizons DVD
From the "Bedrock" TV performance in 1990 (I think), this is a rather neat item, with the 5-piece band turning in some cracking performances of vintage tracks, mostly seventies compositions, and looking as though they're enjoying it too. The stage lightshow is grand and visual, while the band, although not exactly full of movement, are well represented by the multi-camera work and Hackett looks more like the "Robert Palmer of the guitar world". With songs and instrumentals, mostly the latter, as an hour of visual and audio, it's something you would watch again, if you like Hackett of course.
INQUIRE: Das Auge Ist Der Erste Kreis CD
In my review of their amazing previous studio album, 'Neck Pillow' , I mentioned that they could be likened in part to some of the best that Grobschnitt had to offer. Now they've come up with an excellent sound recording of a live album, and if you thought that the might and delight of the sensational Grobschnitt track 'Solar Music' could never be rivalled, then think again, because on this album the group deliver a twenty-minute version of the epic track 'Circles' that really does carry many of the same stylings as that epic track, and comes over every bit a an out-of-this-world prog-rock masterpiece. Virtually free of vocals, it's an instrumental tour-de-force with the band playing a storm from passages of roaring classic prog-rock with lead guitars and synths flying through to more dynamic moments where it all dies down, only to build up once more and send the adrenaline flowing. Full to the brim of incendiary playing from the quartet, this is one of those track that you will never hear too often - superb. Following this comes the soaring prog-rock instrumental 'Hunky Dory' where the guitars, synths bass and drums really deliver a storming performance. Then the ten minute 'Swidwin', opening with swirling, scything lashings of synths and guitars as the slow but solid rhythm section drive the piece forward, the few vocals largely buried in the mix as the band come shining through to reveal a slowly building absolute blinder of a prog-rock performance. The next track is an acoustic "unplugged" track featuring just piano, guitars and bongos and the distant sound of birds as it was recorded live in a zoo - honest, no word of a lie. It's quite lovely too and works a treat, being much busier and faster paced than you might have thought. The near four minutes of 'Dietmar's Klagelied' is a typically Grobschnitt-esque slice of the bizarre with intoned dramatic German vocals over keyboards, bass and synth, all most strange.The final, bonus track is an even stranger two minute slice of weirdness to bring the album to a close. Like the two 'History' Grobschnitt albums before it, this ranges from the blindingly brilliant to the quirky, but comes highly recommended.
MOSTLY AUTUMN: The Story So Far DVD
More a film than just a concert it features live and in-studio performances from the band as well as brief comments interspersed throughout. Musically, after a bit of a shaky start (there's no way that the vocals are in the right key at the beginning of track one, is there?), the band get their act together and deliver a workmanlike performance of the songs, although you don't get the same spark that came on later offerings. Visually, they are OK to watch - move about a bit, the professional camera work having much on which to focus with the members of the band and their multi-instrumental, multi-vocal talents - but I'm not all that sure if I'd watch it that much. Maybe later DVD's will tell a better tale - we move on……
PAATOS: Kallocain LTD CD+DVD
Brand new studio album, produced by none other than Porcupine Tree's Steve Wilson, and it shows. The band eschew the obvious seventies leanings of the previous album for a more contemporary prog-rock sound. The mood and feel of many of the tracks are not dissimilar to that of modern Porcupine Tree, with arrangements echoing that, as things start slowly, build, rise to a tornado-like peak, then subside, only to build once more or travel a new path. The band does not sound like Porcupine Tree but you can spot the influences. That said, what we are dealing with, right from the start is a band of synths/keys/guitars/bass/drums with a lead female vocalist who, unusually for prog, has a very wispy, high-register voice that is both strong and fragile at the same time, the serene voice flying high above even the densest of backings, and when the whole band, armed with the expansive production, really take off and the voice carries with it, the effect is spellbinding. The quality of the songs is top notch, nothing with any particular hook to it, but songs for which the whole effect is more important than the individual parts. Expertly written, the tracks have a tungsten-like strength to them throughout, yet the superb production brings out every facet of the multi-layered soundscapes that emerge to the airwaves. To liken the band to anyone else is not easy - to say they are like Porcupine Tree is close but not correct - to say that their quality and consistency of playing, composing and singing on this album is going to win them a whole new legion of fans is probably spot on. It's class stuff and if you like this whole sort of huge-sounding song-writing and arranging that transcends the term "prog-rock", then you owe it to yourself to get this album.
SONIQ THEATER: Third Eye CDR
All the work of one guy, Alfred Mueller, and anyone who's into the sort of thing done by Elegant Simplicity, only here way more full-sounding, more synths/keys-based and in much more easily digestible bites, would do well to have a listen to this. Nearly all instrumental, it features a powerful set of tracks, with excellent production and arrangement, not to mention equally fine composing and playing. The attention to detail is top notch as tracks full of layers, melodies, dynamics, and rhythmic strength, climb higher, one after the other, the multi-synth and keyboard layers striding forward over some searing rhythmic backdrops. You'll also hear mellotrons, searing electric guitars, wailing moog-like solos, storming bass work and more, as the album just gets stronger and stronger as it goes. You have to hand it to the guy - this has to be one of the best sounding, best played and most cohesive solo prog-rock efforts around right now on a "home-made" basis. With tracks from 3 to nearly 11 minutes long, you're ensured a treat to the ears if you like melodic and powerful instrumental prog.
THORK: Weila CD
Well, it's new to me but is apparently their second album. It's prog-rock for sure yet it's ultra powerful, on the cusp of prog-metal but not..errrrrr……."metallic" enough for that. They're a French band, they sing in French, they've got this mighty sound to them with huge arrangements and plenty of dynamics. A sextet of drums, synths/keys, violin, bass/stick/voc, vocal, guitar/flute, they don't have whip up a heady brew of darkly symphonic prog that has an atmosphere and a flavour all its own. Sometimes it's a bit - and I mean, a bit - seventies, other times it's more "italo-prog", but it's certainly different and if you don't mind the French vocals - which are actually sung really strongly with some fantastic harmonies in there too - this is one hell of a strong album. With tracks from 1 to over 11 minutes long, the centrepiece of the album is a 21 minute epic, the likes of which you certainly won't have witnessed before - prog-rock never sounded like THIS!!! It moves through all manner of music and you do feel that only the French could have pulled this one off, as a legacy of musical adventure comes to mind. It's not an easy album, but it is melodic, strong-sounding and flows, not to mention some right powerful playing from all concerned. So, if you feel adventurous, this is the one for you.
V/A: International Classic Rock Festival DVD
Well, it's actually two festivals if you want to be accurate, although they call it "one festival across two continents". They also say "seven great bands" - to be more accurate, on this evidence, it should be "4 bunches of old codgers, one band approaching this situation and two who are, thankfully, nowhere near it. You get three tracks apiece from Uriah Heep, a fine example for those who say old men shouldn't rock (or at least not on stage), that are particularly turgid all round, and Asia who actually manage both to carry off a trio of classic tracks that don't make you miss Wetton one bit, but also look good with onstage enthusiasm and at least some movement that doesn't look like they've been plugged into the National Grid. Two tracks from Nektar still show me that, on video, the famed "light show" just doesn't come off, while the band can play for sure, look pretty average, don't do much and sing with all the conviction of someone who should know better. Caravan, against the odds, don't look too bad on the ravages of time, although they keyboard player's seen better days, while the music holds your attention wonderfully and the violinist is the star, two great tracks. Focus should just call it a day if this is anything to go by. Van Leer looks like Bob The Gardener and you half expect him to take a break from the keyboards, come out and tend to someone's herbaceous border any minute, while the run-through of 'Sylvia' has about as much "feeling" as a dead slug - worth it for the laugh and the wincing, I guess. This leaves the young upstarts to finish things off. Mostly Autumn get the short straw with two tracks, the first of which looks and sounds like a studio track's been put on top of the live visuals, and as a result, doesn't "come off" as a visual feast, although the song's great and the band look fine. The second track seems to redress the balance but is still under-produced compared to the rest of the tracks on the DVD - shame. Finally, the real stars of this DVD - Karnataka - they look great, ooze enthusiasm, dance about (well, the two girls do, anyway) and sound great - their two tracks showing how it should be done, and possibly pointing the way towards the nursing home for the rest of them.
RICK WAKEMAN: Journey To The Centre Of The Earth CD
Now I'm not a Wakeman fan - was once, for '6 Wives' but lost him completely when this CD came out - and I approached this with some degree of trepidation. But , to my surprise, it's really rather superb - on the same level as going to the theatre to see a musical, I guess - something that is really fascinating to see and very enjoyable but the sort of thing that, seen once, never quite has the same magic if you see it again. Complete with a whacking great orchestra, the band, with a glittery-caped Wakeman at the helm, surrounded by a veritable keyboard factory, take the 1975 timewarp into your living room and entertain you for a good hour and a half with the whole of the, now somewhat wince-inducing, 'Journey' album, as well as other highlights from the early solo repertoire. As an overblown meeting of music and visual, it's a bit like a good pantomime, and on that level works a treat. Well worth seeing - once.
YES: Special Edition EP DVD
Three tracks taken from German TV in the early '70's, and notable for what must be one of the worst performances of 'Yours Is No Disgrace' that you could want to hear. I don't know how long it was between composing and performance in this case, but that intro, which sounds so flowing in normal circumstances, sounds jittery, stilted and unconvincing, and you sit there convinced that you're going to see Howe get his fingers caught in the strings at any minute - and what the heck that weird device is that Anderson's coaxing some kind of drone out of at the front, is anyone's guess. The vocals are a tad quiet for the mix and overall, you are just left open-mouthed for all the wrong reasons - hell, even Bruford sounds unconvincing. As REM said, "a bad day". Elsewhere the renditions of the earlier tracks, 'No Opportunity' and ''All Good People' actually come off better and despite, the drawbacks, it is interesting to see the early line-up in action.