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UTRECHT ...THE FINAL FRONTIER

Pendragon

Neo-Prog


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Pendragon Utrecht ...The Final Frontier  album cover
3.61 | 56 ratings | 5 reviews | 16% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Live, released in 1995

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Kowtow (10:02)
2. Breaking The Spell (8:37)
3. The Mask (3:43)
4. The Last Man On Earth (15:06)
5. Am I Really Losing You? (5:04)
6. The Voyager (12:11)
7. Nostradamus (3:41)

Total Time: 58:24

Line-up / Musicians

- Nick Barrett / guitars and vocals
- Fudge Smith / drums
- Peter Gee / bass
- Clive Nolan / keyboards

Releases information

CD Released in 1995 Toff Records MOB3CD

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
and to H.NOT for the last updates
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PENDRAGON Utrecht ...The Final Frontier ratings distribution


3.61
(56 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(16%)
16%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(45%)
45%
Good, but non-essential (32%)
32%
Collectors/fans only (7%)
7%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

PENDRAGON Utrecht ...The Final Frontier reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Greger
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars PENDRAGON are one of the better-known neo-progressive bands from UK. They have a big and impressive back catalogue, and this is their third and probably best live album. PENDRAGON have often been compared to MARILLION, and I think it's the best description of PENDRAGON's music. It's a combination between GENESIS, MARILLION and RUSH. Many of the tracks on the albums are over ten minutes long. This live album were recorded on their "The Widow Of Life Tour" during April and May 1994. The gig you can hear on this CD took place at the Vredenburg Muziekcentrum in Utrecht Holland. Tracks from "The Window of Life" together with "older" classics such as one of my favourite PENDRAGON tracks "The Voyager". The recording quality is very good and have improved since "The very very bootleg - Live in Lille". For every PENDRAGON fan or member to "The Mob", this is a really great moment and a good landmark in PENDRAGON's live history.
Review by ZowieZiggy
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars The Netherlands are really a country in which lots of "neo-prog" bands will be very much welcome and popular: Marillion, Arena, Fish, Pendragon... (although another love story will soon start for this band). The audience sounds very enthusisatic to the short song introductions of their charismatic leader : Nick Barrett. We'll even get some words in Dutch (very limited, I admit).

Not less than four songs come out their last album "The Window of Life". The central piece of a wonderful Pendragon trilogy. I guess more were played during this live set like "The Walls of Babylon" and its very controvertial intro (which I like very much BTW). But unfortunately, I won't get it here.

But "Breaking The Spell" as well as the great "The Last Man on Earth" will satify the lovers of their long and marvelous melodious songs. Nick brings so much passion, while being singing or when playing guitar ... just beautiful musical instants. "Am I Reading Losing You ?" will only confirm this. Just listen to the final guitar solo, and close your eyes.

I regret even more the abscence of "The Walls", when I listen to "Nostradamus" which was IMO, the weakest track of the studio work. One of the encores of the night preceeded by a very much football oriented mood from the Pendragon supporters !

This live album will feature two songs from "Kowtow". Their worst album. Fortunately, the title track which was the best and the longest one will be featured. But, "The Mask" really do not belong to the best of their discography. A rhythmy and poppish song. Maybe funny for an encore medley...

My favourite song from "The World" is featured as well : "Voyager". Another Pendragon jewel.

Like some of other great "neo-prog" bands (although I rank it in the symph category) like Arena or IQ, Pendragon does not sound very different on stage than in the studio but it is always pleasant to hear and see Nick's very emotional play. A wonderful souvenir.

The very short format of this live set (but I assume it was only part of it) and the appearance of two very average songs (out of seven) on this effort can not allow me to go higher than three stars. There will be better Pendagon live albums, don't worry.

Review by progrules
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars I waited a long time for the review of this one even though I have this CD for a long time now. The reason is that I can't make up my mind for the rating. I have this problem more often but this is an exact doubtcase (50-50) for 3 or 4 stars. And actually I still can't decide. The dilemma is caused by two elements: the sound and the choise of songs.

The sound is very good for a live album in contrast with The very very bootleg from 1992. So that's already an important plus for the album. The choise of songs is making it pretty hard for me, because I'm a huge fan of Breaking the spell and Last man on earth. I'm ok with Kowtow and The Voyager but the other three are absolutely no favourite songs of mine. So that doesn't make things easy. does it ?

But all in all it's a big plus versus a 50-50 aspect which makes things positive where the balance is concerned. I let the atmosphere in the hall do the final verdict and I can say the atmosphere was terrific there in Utrecht. So that makes things very enjoyable when playing the album. And the performance on Breaking the spell is another decider. Absolutely impeccable. So I think this release deserves the 4 stars in the end. But it's actually 3,5.

Review by Warthur
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars This live album from the Window of Life tour is a step above The Very Very Bootleg both in terms of sound quality and song selection. Drawing heavily from The Window and with a single some from The World slipped in (The Voyager), the album is skewed towards the best material in the Pendragon repertoire at that point, though at the same time I could have done without the two selections from Kowtow - whilst they do provide an interesting change of pace from the more recent material, setting them against these songs only underscores just how far that album fell short of the standards we know Pendragon acn achieve. In addition, the production on the album is of average quality at best - still miles about The Very Very Bootleg, but the mix is a little off, with Clive Nolan's synths being just a touch too quiet. It may be worth a listen if you are really fond of The Window of Life, though I personally prefer the crystal-clear studio quality versions of the songs.

Latest members reviews

4 stars This live CD contains material from Kowtow (Kowtow, The Mask), The World (The Voyager), and the rest from the The Window of Life. First track sounds better then on studio album, very nice to hear it live. The second (Breaking The Spell) is in my opinion the best song of this album. Played real ... (read more)

Report this review (#77999) | Posted by Roman W. | Saturday, May 13, 2006 | Review Permanlink

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