IF YOU LIVE

Affinity

Eclectic Prog

2.98 | 18 ratings

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Eetu Pellonpaa
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator

What I like here most is the late 1960's aesthetics, quite romantic approach, and of course the enchanting vocals of Linda Hoyle. It's certainly more entertaiment than "artistic" music.

The CD starts with a single presentation, A-side "Eli's Coming" ("sweats") is a nice brass backed-up brisky tune with multitracked vocals, I guess this could be a Laura Gemser movie soundtrack, heh. B-side song "United States of Mind" is a folky acoustic piece resembling the psychedelic-era Beatles songs (covered later on the disc). The comes the "prog songs" of the album, which can be spotted even from the name, "Yes Man". This longer piece starts with a groovy smashing, which transforms toward more opressing stoned wandering in the forests of dark keyboards and bass guitar layers. The vocals and main riffs reminds little heavier side of Jefferson Airplane, and there are strong medleys between main part reprislas and instrumental solos. The title song "If You Live" is a bluesy groover, quite nice but not mind blowing or anything. Following Lennon/McCartney classic "I Am the Walrus" is quite direct replication of the original song, and thus not brining much extra value for it. But I admit, that Linda whips it out very nicely though, and I preferred listening her than the guys on the original. "You Met Your Match" is a faster song resembling little brassless version of the sound of Mogul Thrash due its powerful fronted bassline and groove. "Long Voyage" is mellow, romantic and pretty ballad, with some orchestral wallpaper and raw sounds. Though not maybe an exceptional in it's merits, I still liked this song very much, a good track to be played when passing out or such event. Final tune "Little Lonely Man" has quite poor sound quality, but it is nice cathy funky strut with good vocals and a nice keyboard solo.

So, I would recommended this for fans of late 60's British bluesy jazz rock sound with strong keyboard presence, and those liking nice lady singers. But for those searching only art rock content from their music this is not probably very rewarding album. If you liked the original Affinity album much, then this certainly is not a misinvestement either.

Eetu Pellonpaa | 3/5 | 2009-8-7

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