ALIVE AND KICKING

Well, I guess the presence of legendary drummer Chester Thompson explains away the title, as it immediately shines light on that Simple Minds tune, whose powerhouse drumming from Mel Gaynor really made a huge difference in forging that band's sound. Combine the equally heralded Don Schiff's tremulous stick and you wind up with a rhythm section for the gods , propelling a sprawling cavalcade of progressive epics. With members from around the globe , this incredible 2 CD album comes with a Blu-ray DVD , the ideal tool to enjoy a live experience, whereby the listener is visually stimulated as well, in the comfort of their own home. Recorded at the Boerderij in Zoetermeer in the Netherlands on September 12, 2023. By watching this event, you can almost say you were there!

Their latest studio album ,2023's "Seven Chambers" was a hugely successful release, universally anointed as a 'chef oeuvre' for the genre, espousing all the attributes that make progressive rock so compelling: passion, atmosphere and melodies galore. Shepherded by a cast of stellar instrumentalists that form the Unitopian core , namely surgical guitarist Dr. John Greenwood, Sean Timms on the keyboards as well as Steve Unruh's soaring violin sorties , Mark Trueack's impressive vocal delivery seals the deal. Five songs were played from that 'heartstoppingly' gorgeous album, as well as pieces from their past discography, namely the epics "Mania" and the sprawling "the Uncertain" on the first CD . On the second one, "Tesla" (the scientist not the car) is a highlight , as well as the magnificent masterpiece "The Garden ", that takes you into a dense 24-minute botanical voyage into celestial realms, a definite highlight of this concert. And what better title that "the Great Reward" to close off the concert in classy style. This writer usually chooses to elaborate on each track specifically, in order to diver into the creative specifics but as a rule, live albums should be written about in terms that highlight the event and not qualities that were surely dissected in the original studio creation.

What makes Unitopia so special is their lovingly crafted talent in combining solid progressive rock foundational elements that we all know and love ,with sprinklings of jazz-fusion (namely that wicked Jean-Luc Ponty-esque violin from Unruh) , world music tinges and some of the finest vocals anywhere on the globe, sung with unabashed power and passion. Lyrics have always been a strong addition to their music, covering that perennial labyrinth of insanity known as the human condition, with a current critique of our opinion-fueled 'modern reality' that still espouses harmony and hope for a better future.

In closing , no mincing of words or pussyfooting (as Fripp and Eno once clamored), "Alive and Kicking" is hands down one of the finest live albums ever foisted on the prog community. A mantle worthy addition to any collection, do yourself a favor and get a copy ! 5 simple minds

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to tszirmay
• Report this review (#3179006)
• Buy UNITOPIA music online with PA partners
• Show all UNITOPIA MP3/Stream
• Go to UNITOPIA page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Alive and Kicking page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for UNITOPIA related discussions