REUNION - LIVE IN TOKYO

I was surprised when I stumbled upon this live album some months ago (on Spotify I think it was that I first saw it) as I didn't even know that UK had reformed and were touring again (since 2009 apparently, I had no idea!). My initial thought was that it must be fake, because if it was real then surely I would have heard about it on Prog Archives, the most comprehensive progressive Rock resource on the web. But no, apparently Reunion - Live In Tokyo is one that slipped through the cracks, and I wasn't the only who missed it since it wasn't even added to UK's discography here (I just added it now).

Released last year, this live album features a line-up consisting of two of the original members of UK in John Wetton (bass and vocals) and Eddie Jobson (keyboards and violin) plus two new guys in Alex Machacek (guitars) and Marco Minnemann (drums). (At least this is the line-up according to my information.) They are performing a set of songs that originally appeared on UK's two studio albums from 1978 and 1979 respectively as well as a couple of King Crimson songs in Starless and One More Red Nightmare.

The show opens with the complete In The Dead Of Night/By The Light Of Day/Presto Vivace And Reprise suite that also opened UK's self-titled debut. I think it sounds as great here as it does on the studio disc, but I'm sure that many fans will complain about the absence of Bill Bruford and Allan Holdsworth. Machacek and Minnemann are doing a good job recreating the original sound of the band. Other songs from the debut album that are also present here are Thirty Years, Alaska, Time To Kill, and Nevermore, which means that only one song from that album is not here (Mental Medication). From Danger Money comes the title track, Rendez-Vous 6:02, The Only Thing She Needs, Caesar's Palace Blues, and Carrying No Cross, which again means that only one song is left out (Nothing To Lose).

All these songs are very good and everything is very well performed. The King Crimson songs, both from Red, fit in very well. If you are a fan of UK you shouldn't miss this strong live disc.