Words of Expectation
Ludd Gang
Middle Mass
Tempo House
Kicker Conspiracy
I feel voxish
Hip Priest
Pilsner Trail
Garden
Mere Pseud Mag Ed
Lie Dream of a Casino Soul
NOTES
61 minutes
Soundboard recording
After two quick gigs in Yorkshire the band, now Riley-less, embarked on a ten date tour of Switzerland and the low countries.
This is a very clear recording, which sounds like a soundboard, which is dominated by Mark’s vocals and Craig’s 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 “Middle Mass” 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 murmur in the back ground as the guitar splays all over the soundscape. Craig’s 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 lyrics 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.