After two quick gigs in Yorkshire the band, now Riley-less, embarked on a ten date tour of Switzerland and the low countries. The first was allegedly in Biel although conjecture and alternative thinking might have it at Kino Walches in Zurich.
This is a very clear recording, which sounds like a soundboard, which is dominated by Mark's vocals and Craigs guitar. The drums are very low in the mix in parts and Hanley's bass is twangy and tinny. Craig's playing is oddly off kilter tonight. It could be that the lack of drums reveals the odd dynamics of his playing but generally it feels very odd indeed.
A lengthy "Words of Expectation" has some additional lyrical density with a number of bands other than King Crimson getting a name check. A muscular "Ludd Gang" leads into a jaunty angular "Middlemass" wherein Brian is repeatedly invited into the back room. A tense Hanley S dominated "Tempo" is an unforgiving beast of a thing with some interesting guitar abuse.
An early version of "Kicker Conspiracy" has a long intro, some guitar fumbles, but very clear vocals. Slightly ill formed and still finding its feet i'd say. Ditto with the second (?) outing of "Voxish" which has slight variations on the final version and lots of scratchy guitar.
"Hip Priest" is just plain weird, the drums reduced to a murmer in the back ground as the guitar splays all over the soundscape. Craigs backing vocals are too high in the mix. Again excellent clarity of vox from MES - really in your face. A great version of "Pilsner Trail" is followed by an exemplary "Garden" where at last the mix of the instruments appears to have been balanced and where Mark's lyrical shine in all their glory. There is a lengthy gap between the end of "Garden" and the start "Mere Pseud" where guitars are fettled.
Unfortunately only 28 seconds of "Lie Dream" survives on the version I have.
An altogether strange listening experience - worth it for the very clear vocals.