MICHEL BOURRE CHRONICLE MAGAZINE ROCK & FOLK N ° 118 November 1976 Page 123/125 2 albums 33 RPM 1976 Ref: 940532 Virgin To all who follow Steve Hillage long time, this disc is a blessing. Those clinging to sétaient solos "Angels Egg", those who were going to see alcoholic and foggy concerts of Kevin Ayers Decadence just for the guitarist, who had dived in "Fish Risin 'to discover the buried treasure, all ceux- there now have their bible, an album that presents Steve Hillage on top of its current capabilities, enhanced as never before. A big thank you to Todd Rungren for its "luxury mixing job"; for the first time, the music of Steve traveled dune clear, sharp, and far dy lose it and take its true dimensions. Hillage is one of my three favorite guitarists, but in addition to being an exciting instrumentalist, he is one of the few still dare to draw its sources in the so-called psychedelic music of 67-70 years. Yet he did nothing "retro", but simply it revives the musical journey as quon limaginait at that time and such that it was almost completely abandoned later by its pioneers (Pink Flyod, Grateful Dead, Quicksilver, Soft Machine). When all these people have made their comeback to standard and reason, we have not won much. But what we had lost, we drive now makes, while enjoying all the sound and acquired technologies of today. There is a little more than a year, Hillage quoted in "Sounds" his favorite musicians: Syd Barrett, Jimi Hendrix, Weather Report. Like them, he joined the circle of dunivers creators crazy fireworks. In this perspective, it is not surprising that twice that appear here are two hymns at Flower Power, from the gaudy mirages that made the streets of San Francisco celebrates the dune places of Sound and Light. Cétait before everyone freaks, before relaxing music becomes sad. "L" is thus a happy record, and both the "Hurdy Gurdy Man" by Donovan that the "Its All Too Much" Beatles receive a spirit very close to original treatment even sils are a pretext for a blaze of many sounds gushing more than in previous versions. One notices immediately the efficiency and professionalism of the guides, that is to say lhabituel group of Todd Rundgren, Utopia; welded, accurate and able to adapt to both long progressions "the Gong" that take us straight "You", than to believe that Ringo Starr plays in "It's All Too Much". But it comes before all of a guitarist disk, built by the guitar which ensures an almost symphonic role here, as in some dHendrix albums. "L" is filled with vibrant notes, and lyrical solos interwoven denvolées amid flying fish. Hillage play themes, not just riffs, but he plays so that they introduce a kind of undulating dancing in a whirlwind of dazzling colors, multiple, dune reflections whitewater hurtling at full speed the bed of a torrent. I havent no desire to detail here the pieces, both lattrait each two seems obvious to anyone who takes the trouble Decouter and if possible Decouter strong. Note nevertheless the surprising presence of Don Cherry, a free jazz musicians (?) More interesting and more open. It is found throughout the album, sometimes with Tibetan bells, sometimes the tambura, trumpet in "It's All Too Much" and especially "Lunar Music Suite", as beautiful and illuminated its title may naively suggest. Quil suffice you to know one thing; whichever way the quon take, this disc seems most exciting and most encouraging that came out a long time. This is music as I dream, if given to Steve Hillage time and the means to pursue its course, this is he who will be on the orchestra foot of stars, the crazy project that slept in dusty boxes dHendrix the only which we can compare, one he saffirme by his approach, by his panache and despite all the differences in style, as a worthy successor.
