SPELLBINDER LIVE

Did we really sound that good?

Recorded live in Cologne, Germany in 1994 during the tour to promote the "Sea of light" album, "Spellbinder" finds the now longest running Uriah Heep line up with a renewed confidence and sense of purpose. They appear comfortable with the band's proud history, even if the majority of this line up were not actually in the band during the time when their best know music was made.

With a deal for a new studio album not yet concluded, this release was in reality a stopgap. Given the many other live albums already available, "Spellbinder" is somewhat superfluous, regardless of the quality of the music. The story goes that the gig, which was intended for a radio broadcast, was a disaster since much of the equipment malfunctioned including the stage monitors. Mick Box had however secured ownership of the tape of the gig, and when the band played it back a few weeks later, they were astonished to find that it "sounded great". The recording has therefore not been dubbed in any way.

The set consists of a good cross section of new and old. Some of the older tracks, such as "Devil's daughter" and "Rainbow demon" had not been performed live for many years. Other old favourites, such as "Circle of hands", "The wizard", and "Look at yourself" are included, all still sounding remarkably fresh. The fact that Bernie Shaw's vocal style bears a passing resemblance to David Byron's means that there is a warmly familiar feel to the performances of the Heep classics. Only a couple of tracks originally recorded by the current line up appear. While these are adequate they are greeted with polite rather than ecstatic appreciation.

The album is rounded off by a studio track "Sail the rivers", which was recorded during the sessions for the "Sea of light" album, but not included on it. This Trevor Boulder composition is rather prosaic, being neither an upbeat rocker or a ballad, but the lukewarm water in between.

A decent, well rounded live album, but far from essential.

Nice Wizard image artwork on the sleeve.

Another Heep live album. It is true that they were a good damned live band. This line- up was responsible for a very good one in 1998, namely "Live In Moscow". What was remarkable is that some very old numbers were performed superbly which is of course always pleasant for old nostalgic freaks as I am ...

I must say that it is again the case here. Although we can again not escape from "Stealin" which I still do not like (and I will never do, I'm afraid) some very old numbers make their reappearence in the set list.

Not all of them were great ones. "Devil's Daughter", "Rainbow Demon" and "Lady In Black" could have been easily replaced by "Sunrise", "Sweet Lorraine", "Sweet Freedom", "Tears In My Eyes", "Love Machine" or even ""Something Or Nothing". But some more of their anthems will be released in later live efforts and actually I have recreated my "best of live" of this line-up regrouping my fave ones of the band.

"Gypsy" was already featured as a bonus track on their previous "Live In Moscow". The guitar solo is a bit too much Blackmore oriented ("Made In Japan" era). Box trying to simulate the famous call and response of "Strange Kind Of Woman". On "Made In Japan" the response was done by Gillan. Here, Mick tries to do it with the audience. The result is somewhat mixed to say the least.

Still some great live moments again with "Circle Of Hands"(what a great track), "Look At Yourself" and "Easy Livin" of course. Like for "Live In Moscow" we'll get a new song which, to my knowledge, will never be featured on a studio album : "Words In A Distance". Not bad but nothing memorable either. A hard-rock song like this line-up has produced a lot.

Only one song of the studio work from this line-up ("Bad Bad Man") shows sufficiently that they did not have full confidence with their repertoire.

To complete this short concert and to lenghten it a bit, a song from the "Sea Of Light" sessions has been added. I must say that it should have deserved to have been included on the album. It sounds much better than some album tracks ("Words in the Distance" and "Fires of Hell"). At least, with its inclusion here, this track has not been forgotten.

I have rated almost all Heep live album with three stars and above but this one is a bit sub-par to justify this. Only two stars, I'm afraid.