NIGHT AFTER NIGHT

I knew this album at the first time when I had a recorded cassette of Bruford Tapes where the leftover space of C-60 cassette was filled with "Alaska" - "Time To Kill" of this album. Yes, "Alaska" really blew me away at first spin especially in creating curiosity "what's next after this (segment)" during the keyboard-drone music by Eddie Jobson. When I was in Bandung during my study I once saw a multi purpose car with sizeable (I can see it from 20 meter distance) sticker of this album cover posted at rear body. Wow man! What a rocking car! It stimulated my adrenalin to race rapidly because the car looked really awesome with that sticker. I talked to myself how this guy got this beautiful and rocking sticker? Well, it's not my business but the spirit was that I envy on him having that rare sticker posted in his car. Why? Because I knew that UK is a great band and I had listened to two tracks of this live set.

When the digital era arrived in our age, I saw the CD of this album displayed in Jakarta's CD stores but I did not buy it until such a long time because the price is not friendly at all. But finally, I purchased it because I have no choice man. And, I have no regret at all having this CD in my collection even though with high price. Value for money. Yes, the live set features UK Mark II as three-piece band: John Wetton (bass, vocals), Eddie Jobson (keyboards, electric violin) and Terry Bozzio (drums). It's basically the Danger Money line-up.

Opened with "Night after Night" (5:21) - a song that I have no idea where is it coming from because it was not part of any two albums the band recorded - the band puts their effort heating-up the show as the music here is quiet empty with a song style as a bit poppy one. But it's OK as I enjoy Wetton's voice. In fact this song reminds me to the music of Asia where Wetton joined later. "Rendez-vous 6:02" (5:17) is really a memorable track for me personally. This track was once a hit in Bandung circa eighties when Radio OZ frequently aired this song regularly. Mainly composed with inventive keyboard work combined with Wetton power vocal, this song characterized the late seventies / eighties music scene at that time. In "Nothing to Lose" (5:25) Eddie Jobson performs his electric violin solo wonderfully. I really love the violin solo part of this song.

"Alaska" - "Time to Kill" (4:17) is performed energetically with great keyboard / electric violin work combined with dynamic drum work by Terry Bozio and excellent vocal / bass of John Wetton. The show continues with the pperformance of two songs from debut album: "Presto Vivace" (1:12) - I like this track very much - and "In the Dead of Night" (6:22) which has become the band's legendary track. Wow man . It stirs my emotion when I listen to this hard-driving track with great violin and bass lines. The live set concludes with a song from Danger Money album: "Caesar's Palace Blues" (4:58).

Overall, it's an excellent live set with excellent live vibes - not through the crowd but through the energy that spark from the music the band plays. Really cool. If you love violin in rock music, this album is definitely for you. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW