STRAWBS LIVE IN TOKYO '75 / GRAVE NEW WORLD THE MOVIE

In the Seventies The STRAWBS were an interesting progressive band. Their music was a blend of folk, rock and symphonic (in the vein of THE MOODY BLUES and BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST), topped by the distinctive vocals from Dave Cousins. Rick WAKEMAN was in the early line-up but he had a minor role. After he left to join YES the band, how ironically, blossemed and made some captivating progrock albums. The driving force behind the band was (and is, recently they re-united and even made a live-DVD) singer/guitarist Dave Cousins, a kind of progrock answer to DONOVAN or Bob DYLAN. This DVD showcases their unique progrock in their artistic and commercial heyday (the albums "Hero and Heroine" and "Ghosts" sold well). The first part of this DVD is a concert in Tokyo from 1975 (running time 40 minutes). It shows an inspired band that plays songs like "Lemon Pie", "You and I, when we were young", "New World", "Hero and Heroine", "Just Love" (straight rock with fiery guitarwork from Dave Lambert) and the highlight "Down By The Sea" (compelling twanging electric and majestic choir-Mellotron waves). The bass player was Chas Cronk, later he joined The STEVE HACKETT BAND.

The second part includes the movie "Grave New World" (from 1972, almost 30 minutes), featuring the songs from that album, all visually embellished by a 'video-clip'. The result ranges from impressive (the gospel-like "Benedictus" and the bombastic "Tomorrow") to funny ("The Flower And The Young Man" and "Ah Me, Ah My"). I my opinion this movie has an undertone of typical British humor, not everybody's cup of tea! The last part is a special bonus (10 minutes): Rick WAKEMAN's television debut in the song "Til The Sun Comes Shining Through" (he already shows his sparkling piano-play), an interview with Dave Cousins on a lifeboat and a preview from the album "Wakeman and Cousins" with the song "The Young Pretender" (wonderful violinplay).

A good and comprehensive DVD that shows The STRAWBS at their best.