LIVE IN L.A.

Lets get down.....down under, that is!! Sebastian Hardie....those wonderfully talented boys from australia...led by the exellent Guitarist/occational vocalist Mario Millo...here caught live at the Los Angeles progfest 1994. And its absolutely great.....9 songs ( 7 from their " Four moments" album + one from the "Windchase" album)..plus one new (unknown to me at least): track # 9 "Millo´s bizzare Bizet solo". Ive always loved Sebastian hardie...their clean sober sound...their beautiful songs....beautifully played and arranged. If you never had the pleasure of hearing them....please correct that!! Soundwise they sometimes remind me (instrumental) of Camel...with hints of Finch..... those great layers of keyboards and guitar solo´s hovering on top.Actually there traces of Focus as well ....but overall the music is fresh innovative and the themes very beautiful..... some might hate the fact that this live recording is perfect...both in sound and expression. But thats the way of Sebastian hardie....studio or live : Perfect !!! Mario Millo and Toivo Pilt (keys) are the main attractions..but the guys working (down under, if you´ll pardon the pun) Alex Plavsic (Drums) and Peter Plavsic (bass) do carry their weight!! In all....great progmusic from these guys....check out their studiowork " Four moments" and " Windchase" if you like it (and you will )go to this gem........lovely !!!!!!!!

Nostalgic if meagerly-recorded performance by this veteran prog outfit, it yields some good things and is a warm throwback to the heady yesterday of symphonic rock, represented boldly years later by this warhorse. I've got a friend, an old-school progster, who loves this group. He also loved Camel and Genesis, which makes perfect sense as this band's music does resemble those symphonic rock heroes. But Sebastian Hardie, once Australia's only real prog claim to fame, also has enough personality to hold their own and remain a distinctive classic-sounding prog band. I like these guys, and their music, and though this set is not a prime display of their abilities or sound, it does provide a very pleasing taste of their past and of a symphonic rock rarely still heard. And the 1994 ProgFest crowd loved it.

Taking the best of the mellotron washes of early Crimson, the arranging flair of Camel, churchly qualities of ELP and organ swells of Genesis, Sebastian Hardie weaved a pastoral but powerful blanket of rich harmonies and tasteful vocals. Brimming with walls of chords and much feeling, SH puts on a good show with thoughtful and subtle execution. 'Glories Shall Be Released' is melodic and large, and 'Dawn of Our Sun' reminds of the tranquil passages on 'Selling England By the Pound'. 'Journey Through Our Dreams' and 'Everything is Real' continue the central theme in this period of their music and 'Rosanna' is a heartfelt ballad with nice guitar-keyboard harmonies and tight playing from all. 'Windchase' rocks, Mario Millo shows off his Santana-like chops, and we finish with the conclusion to 'Openings' and a nod to Bizet's Carmen... hey, a prog band that still plays their epics in tact! Hats off to them.

A great live effort signed Australia's finest output in the symphonic rock genre. By spanning material from both the studio recordings, "Four Moments" and "Windchase" makes this album a close essential piece in any SEBASTIAN HARDIE-fan's collection. In the sleeve, Mario Millo stated that it's not a perfect recording, but the magic was there. Obviously it's easy to take that as a partial statement, but after been giving this piece a few listens I tend to believe that the comment is justified. The arrangements are spectacularly executed and so are the melodies. Even though it's not easy to find a new disc to a reasonable price, It's highly recommended to pick up this album if you get the chance.

I believe there have been several bands who have played at those Progfests in L.A. in the nineties who have used the recordings from those sets and released them as live albums. Why not, they were all professionally recorded and up until his untimely death Kevin Gilbert was in charge of that. The crowd obviously loved the performance that SEBASTIAN HARDIE put on. It's too bad that there were some sound problems with feedback but it shouldn't stop anyone from checking this out, especially if your a fan. As you might imagine we get boat loads of mellotron with those lush soundscapes and Gilmour-like guitar. CAMEL did come to mind several times as well.This doesn't measure up in my opinion to their debut "Four Moments" which they play here in it's entirety by the way.The set seems to get better as it plays out but it's too late for me by then to offer up 4 stars. I'd much rather listen to their debut album than put this on.This was from Progfest 94 and ANGLAGARD and ANEKDOTEN also played at this event.

"Introduction" is just that.The band is introduced as they play in the background and when he's finished announcing them they kick in with "Glories Shall Be Revealed". It picks up after 2 minutes and we get some nice bass too. It settles then the vocals arrive 4 minutes in. Some annoying feedback before 6 minutes. "Dawn Of Our Sun" is mellow with guitar. Organ and vocals 2 1/2 minutes in and we hear more of that feedback unfortunately. It kicks in fuller around 4 minutes. "Journey Through Our Dreams" sounds amazing before 2 minutes when it gets fuller. More screeching feedback comes in though.Tasteful guitar 3 1/2 minutes in that goes on and on. Synths come in and the song blends into "Everything Is Real" where vocals come in right away. It's cool how themes are repeated during this set. "Rosanna" opens with the band commenting on the feedback and thanking the audience for hanging in there. Spacey synths take over as drums and guitar join in. A good instrumental.

"Windchase-Conclusion" is a short section from a track which was on their second record. It's a little heavier but it does lighten back up.The last three tracks blend into one another.This is the best part of the concert for me. No sound issues either. "Openings" has some incredible sounding guitar, organ and mellotron. Beautiful stuff. "Millo's Bizarre Bizet Solo" is great too. Amazing ! "Openings- Conclusion" picks up with the guitar leading.

3.5 stars and worth checking out if your a fan of this band.