HEMISPHERES

A rare Hux label release that is not from a BBC tapes sources, Hemispheres combines two excellent quality recordings from 70 and 71 throughout Europe, but unfortunately it doesn't state from which gigs or date they actually are from. Nevertheless this disc is an excellent companion to the first two studio releases and the BBC Pretty Redhead release and predates the excellent Live In Bremen album from Cuneiform, since Chris Spedding had left for that date and is present here.

As with most jazz-rock groups, live recordings are often worthy of acquiring because of different versions, but Hemisphere delivers slightly more than that. It has two never studio recorded tracks (the opening Cosa Nostra and the title track) but it also contains a rare cover track: indeed Twisted Track is a piece that was an original Battered Ornaments tracks (young guitarist Spedding's former band having the famous Beat poet Pete Brown as a singer). For a Nucleus enthusiast, this would be enough to justify the price of acquisition, but for the casual fan, it might be a bit different, depending on what album you already own.

As for the differing versions, much to one's surprise, most of them are a bit quieter/calmer than their original versions (especially in my fave We'll Talk About It Later where Jenkins' organ is absent, since they didn't use one on tour), which does not make them any less worthy. Two noteworthy exceptions are the start of 1916 and its closing section Persephone Jives. Another good reason to get this album is the improvs of the group as some of these tracks just segue into their successor without repeating the former theme, because the improvs had simply taken the music there.

As I said above, whether this album will be essential to you depends on what you already own, but for an unconditional fan, Hemispheres belongs on your shelves.