Clear good quality audience tape...some chattering from a buffoon who oddly yells "bring on the big rock stars" or something similar at some point.
Back from Iceland via USA/Canada and before a quick jaunt around Austria/Germany for four dates this formed the opening gig of the spring summer tour which presaged the release of Perverted By Language. There would be no new material officially released until July and the only clues of new stuff were in the Peel Session in March.
Here is the band shifting effortlessly into the post-Riley pre-Brix era. The drums and bass dominate the sound in this period. Riley's signature keyboard and second guitar sound replaced by the splintering tinny shards of Scanlon rhythm and the occassional keyboard noise from Craig, Paul or the meister.
The best adjective is "muscular". The gig is dominated by long readings of repetitive riff driven numbers with Smith spitting and snarling and shhhshing over violent percussion. The best example of this is an intense "Ludd Gang" which smash-smash-smashes its way into your conciousness.
Highlight for me is a fantastic version of "Wings" which features an amazingly laconic narration from Mark as the band simply hammers away in the background. This is followed by an almost perfect version of "The Classical" - a tune often beset with problems live - the band hit it just right on this evening with some exemplary rhythm guitar from Scanlon.
A huge cheer greets a lengthy "Hex/Knot" - somewhat ruined by some chatter around the taper - this is a long one and requires some stamina. Scanlon on the Casio VL Tone mini keyboard spiky percussion introduces an incredibly fast "Man whose head expanded". "Fiiter" comes and goes as it usually does to be followed by an excellent "Hard Life". Scanlon is magnificent playing superbly - exorcising his Bill Harkleroad demons - as Smith narrates in monotone and then whoops and yelps. Excellent reading of this classic from "Room to Live".
Nice to hear "Pilsner Trail" - its delivered in the form of a two part structure. Incredibly funky rhythm and some tight playing. On my CDR the gig concluded with an excellent reading of "Garden". The Cooke gigography suggests two other numbers were played - however I do not have access to these.
An excellent gig - highly recommend.
Back from Iceland via USA/Canada and before a quick jaunt around Austria/Germany for four dates this formed the opening gig of the spring summer tour which presaged the release of Perverted By Language. There would be no new material officially released until July and the only clues of new stuff were in the Peel Session in March.
Here is the band shifting effortlessly into the post-Riley pre-Brix era. The drums and bass dominate the sound in this period. Riley's signature keyboard and second guitar sound replaced by the splintering tinny shards of Scanlon rhythm and the occassional keyboard noise from Craig, Paul or the meister.
The best adjective is "muscular". The gig is dominated by long readings of repetitive riff driven numbers with Smith spitting and snarling and shhhshing over violent percussion. The best example of this is an intense "Ludd Gang" which smash-smash-smashes its way into your conciousness.
Highlight for me is a fantastic version of "Wings" which features an amazingly laconic narration from Mark as the band simply hammers away in the background. This is followed by an almost perfect version of "The Classical" - a tune often beset with problems live - the band hit it just right on this evening with some exemplary rhythm guitar from Scanlon.
A huge cheer greets a lengthy "Hex/Knot" - somewhat ruined by some chatter around the taper - this is a long one and requires some stamina. Scanlon on the Casio VL Tone mini keyboard spiky percussion introduces an incredibly fast "Man whose head expanded". "Fiiter" comes and goes as it usually does to be followed by an excellent "Hard Life". Scanlon is magnificent playing superbly - exorcising his Bill Harkleroad demons - as Smith narrates in monotone and then whoops and yelps. Excellent reading of this classic from "Room to Live".
Nice to hear "Pilsner Trail" - its delivered in the form of a two part structure. Incredibly funky rhythm and some tight playing. On my CDR the gig concluded with an excellent reading of "Garden". The Cooke gigography suggests two other numbers were played - however I do not have access to these.
An excellent gig - highly recommend.