[.ca] Live Herald

Live 70's prog at its very best:
LIVE HERALD by Steve HIllage may very well rank in the top ten in many different categories. One: this is an exceptionally recorded Live Album. The mix is incredible, with a truly heavy sound that plays great at low volume as well as high. Two: prog lovers unite! The 70's never had such an inventive musician as Hillage. He surrounds himself with amazing musicians (Todd Rundgren's Utopia) that adeptly perform HIllage's intricate (and quite heavy) tunes masterfully. Three: Guitar!! Steve, at the time, was perhaps the most underrated guitarist. His lead work is superior to many of his constituents, and will leave any guitar lover smiling at his chops, wondering how he pulls them off so cleanly and adeptly--remember, this was recorded in 1977!! Well, what about the songs? We open up with the Salmon Song, that quietly crescendos into a wonderfully simplistic yet enjoyable riff. The song rocks its way into a four minute structured jam that will simply delight the listener. Next, we have an excerpt to the Solar Music Suite that fades in then segues into Hurdy Gurdy Man with a little interlude, Castle In The Clouds, from HIllage's Gong days. Light In The Sky is next, a rocker about UFO's that ends with a nice little nod to Close Encounters Of The Third Kind. Searching for the Spark is next, which gives the listener a taste of the type of techno music Hillage had in mind for the future. The songs are awesome, Electrick Gypsies, and then the Lunar Music Suite followed by a ten minute guitar solo that mimics Brian May a bit with overlaying echoes. Lastly, we have a cover of the Beatles tune It's All Too Much. All in all, a wonderful live recording for guitar, prog, and hard rock enthusiasts alike. Enjoy.

• Salmon Song
• Dervish Riff
• Castle in the Clouds/Hurdy Gurdy Man
• Light in the Sky
• Searching for the Spark
• Electrick Gypsies
• Radiom/Lunar Musick Suite/Meditation of the Dragon
• It's All Too Much/The Golden Vibe