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- February 2007
- Ratings:
- Green: 6/10
- Live Herald: 10/10
- Open: 8/10
- For To Next-And Not Or: 6/10
Re-mastered and re-issued with bonus tracks, former Gong guitarist Steve Hillagegets a dust-down 21st century style, three decades after the original releases.
This quadruple simultaneous release follows sharply on the January batch ofre-issues Fish Rising, L, Motivation Radio, Rainbow Dome Musick. WithProg-Rock becoming more popular than ever amongst new bands and retro visitorsto the genre that brought Led Zeppelin, Yes, Pink Floyd and Genesis, Hillageis a must have addition to everyones collection.
Not always accessible, Prog Rock, sometimes seen as pompous, self-indulgentand over-blown particularly by musicians such as the Sex Pistols in themid-70s (Punk was a knee jerk reaction to it), it allowed musicians toexplore beyond the 3 minute songs of the time.
It created a whole new world of music, which, in some ways emulated theclassical composers. In effect there were no limits, and sometimes no clearlydefined rules, with some songs lasting up to, in this case on Live Heraldzooming up to 15 minutes long. Such was its beauty. On Echoes, Pink Floydmanaged an entire side of one album with one composition.Prog was seen as music for the acid generation. In many ways it was theheight of musical creativity, yet to be matched.
In 1978 Steve Hillage was exploring many soundscapes that includedsynthesisers and rock guitar, best found on Ether Ships (Green 1978).Music Of The Trees is a gorgeous acoustic lead beauty with splashes ofsynth-guitar and bluesy guitar solos, and Palm Trees is possibly hismost beautiful song ever; again synth effects drench this wonderful piece.
Its sharp contrast, Unidentified turns out be a funk laden thump, heavybasslines with swirling synths, whereas The Glorious OM Riff is acacophonous blast, with masses of ear-splitting solos. The seeds of hisfuture direction were sown here.
Live Herald (1979) is a complete live album, which in many ways reinforcesHillages credentials as a masterful psychedelic musician, plenty ofspiralling solos and synth effects (in a Pink Floyd way), all done with theburgeoning Punk scene in the background. According to Mark Powells CDline notes, Hillage confessed, “By the summer of 1978 I felt Miquette(Giraudy) and I were almost approaching burn out”, he recalls. “Wedrecorded a number of shows on a mobile recording unit over the previouscouple of tours and I thought it was the right time to go through therecordings to produce a live album. Live Herald was kind of statement abouthow we sounded on stage.”
As it turns out, they were magnificent: the crowd reaction sums it all up,especially the reaction to Clouds In The Sky/ Hurdy Gurdy Man. Missinghere, is the original studio side of Live Herald. Best track here is thestirring sing-along Its All Too Much / The Golden Vibe, broken by amonster soaring solo.
Open was Hillages penultimate chart entry, and third of 1979 (No.71)Songs follow the usual spacey guitar-synth template reminiscent of Pink Floydexcursions of the time highlighting Hillages continuing freewheeling spiritand cavalier approach.
Track 3, New Age Synthesis, draws on a heavy rolling funk riff. Titletrack Open gets a grand opening with cymbal blast with another funky riffand synth supported by synthesised vocals. Dance-driven Definite Activityis way ahead of its time: if it was picked up by a visionary DJ it wouldgrace any club dancefloor.
The Beatles Getting Better is a peculiar inclusion, but an interestingre-working.
Hillages virtual metamorphosis into rhythm funk outfit is best heard onDay After Day, as the rhythm section has a blast, while Hillage addssome clever solo breaks with Getting In Tune a fast and furious follow-on.Closing on a bonus track Four Ever Rainbow is a return to his spaceyambience.
For To Next was the last chart entry Hillage had, in 1983. Theres nodoubt that ’80s pop synth exponents were permeating Hillages repertoire,taking on a more commercial edge. Hed also been working as producer onSimple Minds Sisters Feelings Call. By then, his earlier albums bareno resemblance to this.
Opener These Uncharted Lands is Depeche Mode Gary Numan in disguise:a plodding heavy synth sojourn. By Anthems For The Blind, youll findyourself foot-tapping to the electronic beats. There are occasional hints ofhis past particularly on Before The Storm. Finally, Still Goldenis a unique mix of ambient rock.
In the liner note he says, “The album was made without using a band oreven a drummer, as I used a Linn Drum. It was a conscious decision to tryand make something different”
In true Prog Rock fashion, Hillage was totally unpredictable; this is whyhes still revered to this day.
Weblinks:emicatalogue.com
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.