Record Reviews
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  | STEVE HILLAGE ~ FISH RISING (EXPANDED EDITION)
VIRGIN 373415 (Barcode: 094637341520) ~ UK ~ Canterbury Scene
Recorded: 1974 - 1975 Released: 2007
1st album recorded while Steve HillageFind albums by this artist was still a member of GongFind albums by this artist. After recording with Gong the entire “Radio Gnome Invisible” trilogy, Hillage decided it was time to start a solo career, where his music would be featured more prominently, with this album being the first step in that direction. In Gong Hillage met his life-long partner Miquette GiraudyFind albums by this artist, who would become his musical collaborator and they both composed all the music and the entire concept of this album. Most of his Gong cohorts participate, but Hillage added the great Dave StewartFind albums by this artist on keyboards and Lindsay CooperFind albums by this artist (from Henry CowFind albums by this artist) on bassoon, to create a much more sophisticated sound and instrumentation. The material consists mostly of 3 long (2 over 14 minutes) suites and a few shorter pieces. The overall sound and style of the album is still very much Gong related / influenced and can be considered as another Gong off-shot project (which many Gong fans do), but Hillage’s individuality is certainly already present and it will come to full fruition starting with the next album. In retrospect this album manages to keep at its extraordinary qualities well and is still fresh and exciting, adding another Canterbury classic album to the list.
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  | STEVE HILLAGE ~ L (EXPANDED EDITION)
VIRGIN 373419 (Barcode: 094637341926) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1976 Released: 2007
2nd album by Steve HillageFind albums by this artist and his most (commercially) successful release ever. In contrast to the debut album, which was recorded while Hillage and his partner Miquette GiraudyFind albums by this artist were still members of GongFind albums by this artist and included strong similarities to Gong material, this album was quite a different affair. Hillage used his record label’s connections to establish contact with US musician / producer Todd RundgrenFind albums by this artist, who agreed to produce this album. Hillage and Giraudy left for the US, where this album was recorded and produced by Rundgren, with members of Rundgren’s band UtopiaFind albums by this artist serving as the backing band. The material includes both original material by Hillage / Giraudy and a few covers of what Hillage describes as “his favorite songs at the time” (including a great version of DonovanFind albums by this artist’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man”). The album stands the test of time fabulously and is a great example of both Hillage’s strength as a composer and a guitarist. One more point of interest is the participation of the great jazz trumpet player Don CherryFind albums by this artist, who adds an interesting coloring to the album’s atmosphere. A classic by all means!
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  | STEVE HILLAGE ~ LIVE HERALD (EXPANDED EDITION)
VIRGIN 373440 (Barcode: 094637344026) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1977 - 1978 Released: 2007
5th album by the legendary guitarist Steve HillageFind albums by this artist and the only live document of his music during the early period of his solo career. Recorded during a period of 18 months when Hillage and his band (three different band lineups are featured) performed frantically all over the world in support of his excellent solo albums, this material was initially released as a double LP. The first 3 sides of the album included live material and the fourth side included new studio material. For the CD reissue the 3 live sides were combined into a single CD (now with bonus live material previously unreleased) and the studio material was moved as bonus tracks of the next album (OpenFind albums with this title), where it rightfully belongs. Hillage composed almost all the music on the album with his life-long musical companion and synthesizer pioneer Miquette GiraudyFind albums by this artist, whom Hillage befriended during his GongFind albums by this artist days. The sound of the band is often quite similar to Gong’s familiar mixture of psychedelic Space-Rock and early ambient influences (which would later develop as Hillage’s main interest) are also quite evident. In retrospect this is quite visionary music, foretelling by almost 20 years the ambient explosion of the late 1990’s. There is a lot happening (musically) here, which means this stuff requires attentive listening to truly comprehend its complexity. This is an important historical document, which sheds a lot of light on the music scene of the late 1970’s, which existed in parallel to the punk dominated mainstream.
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  | STEVE HILLAGE ~ MOTIVATION RADIO (EXPANDED EDITION)
VIRGIN 373425 (Barcode: 094637342527) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1977 Released: 2007
3rd album by Steve HillageFind albums by this artist also recorded (same as its predecessor) in the US. Hillage was trying to expand the scope of his music beyond the Prog and Canterbury genres he was associated with and to include other elements, especially Funk, which he found interesting at the time. He approached the legendary producer Malcolm CecilFind albums by this artist (producer of FunkadelicFind albums by this artist) who agreed to produce the album. The resulting music is much lighter and funkier that the previous albums, bearing less Psychedelic elements. Steve is the main soloist and his guitar playing on this album is definitely some of his finest ever. Miquette GiraudyFind albums by this artist adds some tasty spacey keyboards and the rhythm section provides a strong steady basis for Hillage’s extended guitar outings. Steve’s compositions are also particularly strong here and the album stands the test of time fabulously. Definitely a classic and a must for all Hillage fans.
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  | STEVE HILLAGE ~ OPEN (EXPANDED EDITION)
VIRGIN 373459 (Barcode: 094637345924) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1979 Released: 2007
7th album by Steve HillageFind albums by this artist in less than 5 years and the third one originally released in 1979 – a very busy year for him. As already mentioned (see Live HeraldFind albums with this title) the album opens with four studio tracks originally included as side 4 of the Live Herald album and then continues with the tracks recorded a few months later as the original OpenFind albums with this title album. As usual most of the music was written by Hillage and his partner Miquette GiraudyFind albums by this artist, with just one cover of a BeatlesFind albums by this artist song and a most surprising instrumental track based on a song by the legendary Egyptian singer Oum KalsoumFind albums by this artist. This proves that Hillage was looking everywhere for inspiration and his openness to music outside the strict rock circles was always obvious. Just two months after the album was released the Steve Hillage band would play a couple of farewell concerts and disband and it would be three years until the next Hillage album would be released. The album stands the test of time beautifully and the remaster upgrades the sound considerably, so this is another must for SH fans.
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  | STEVE HILLAGE ~ RAINBOW DOME MUSICK (EXPANDED EDITION)
VIRGIN 373458 (Barcode: 094637345825) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1979 Released: 2007
6th album by Steve HillageFind albums by this artist, which was really an off-shot project from his “normal” sequence of solo albums, as it was recorded to serve as background music for a special event staged in London in April of 1979 – the “Mind And Body Festival”. As part of the festival’s preparations a special dome was erected, called the Rainbow Dome, as it presented the visitor / spectator with special light effects. The festival’s organizers contacted Hillage with their plans and he immediately agreed to write the music, which would be played continuously in the Rainbow Dome. Hillage and his partner Miquette GiraudyFind albums by this artist quickly assembled an ambient soundtrack for the project and the music was released to coincide with the festival’s opening. The music is a beautiful example of early ambient composition, executed with deep sensibility and grace. It was to be an extremely influential piece of music, which would be often cited by members of the young generation of composers of ambient music some two decades later as one of their main influences. Hillage and Giraudy themselves changed their main musical activity to ambient and electronic music in the later days of their career, still being active today as System 7Find albums by this artist. A classic!
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