Gitarist Steve Hillage staat bekend om het gebruik van effecten om repetitieve patronen te creëren, die zijn vrouw Miquette Giraudy aanvult met de nodige vergelijkbare effecten uit synthesizers. Al naar gelang de verdere aankleding zijn er wisselend reminiscenties hoorbaar aan de kosmische synthesizermuziek van Tangerine Dream, spacey symfonische rock, drijvende jazzrock à la Brand X of progressieve artpop à la David Bowie of Roxy Music. Bij tijd en wijle wordt de muziek zo trippy dat het resultaat al vooruitblikt op de trance-techno die het echtpaar Hillage/Giraudy in de jaren negentig als System 7 zouden gaan maken. De rechtlijniger Beatles-bewerking "Getting Better" werkt daarbinnen als down-to-earth-interlude. De CD is een stuk langer dan de LP omdat ook de vier studio-tracks van de dubbel-LP "Live Herald" (ook uit 1979) zijn toegevoegd. Eigenlijk horen ze gewoon bij dit min of meer tegelijk ontstane materiaal. Deze 2007-remaster vult dat geheel aan met twee alternatieve versies.
"Those in tune with being transported through music will want to station themselves near the speakers for "Motivation Radio". Call it 'the light side of the moon', this album draws the listener into its own astral plane with a glossy and gauzy sound similar to Pink Floyd without the darkness, or Alan Parsons Project without the dorkiness. The new age/space ideology isn't far removed from Gong's original alternate reality, spelled out best during the album's true point of transmigration, "Saucer Surfing." Hillage's guitar work is typically transcendent, Giraudy's keyboards a vital component (note the Doctor Who-isms of "Searching for the Spark"), and Joe Blocker's drums a frequent breath of change. Hillage doesn't have the vocal presence to reach out to listeners; at best, he can meet them halfway. "Motivation Radio" is a remarkably smooth journey, more accessible than "L", if equally cosmic." (Dave Connolly, Allmusic; 4 uit 5 sterren) Deze 2007-editie bevat 3 bonustrack, waaronder een 'alternate mix'.
"On this 1978 release, the underground prog rock fan favorite issues more of his trademark thinking-man's music. Fans of mid-'70s Pink Floyd will want to check this out, since it possesses many of the same musical qualities, due to the fact that it was produced by Floyd drummer Nick Mason, along with Hillage. Although not as consistent as some of his other albums, it certainly has its moments. Hillage's recurring sci-fi influence is still felt in his music, especially on such tracks as "Sea Nature," "UFO Over Paris," and "Unidentified (Flying Being)." Hillage uses the same band that appeared on his "Motivation Radio" album, which helps make Hillage's twisted songs even better (like his other albums, the musicianship is top-notch). Besides comparisons to Floyd, the album's music is also similar to David Bowie's late-'70s experimental electronic phase (check out the track "Crystal City," with vocals almost identical to Bowie)." (Greg Prato, Allmusic; 3,5 uit 5 sterren) Deze 2007-editie bevat 3 bonus tracks.
"Recorded at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in 1998, this DVD features 13 live performances from the unique concert that brought together three of the most prominent figures from the Algerian rai scene, Khaled, Rachid Taha, and Faudel. Backed by an orchestra arranged by prog rock musician Steve Hillage, the 2000 release includes both solo and duet renditions of hits from Khaled ("Chebba," "Abdel Kader"), Taha ("Ya Rayah," "Ida"), and Faudel ("Eray," "Tellement N'Brick"), alongside the opening instrumental "Khalliouni Khalliouni" and a cover of Claude François' "Comme d'Habitude"." (John O'Brien, Allmusic; 4 uit 5 sterren)
Having made his name with Gong, Steve Hillage has been active for more than 40 years as a performer,composer and producer. We feature his 1977 performance on Rockpalast, majoring on highlights from his first two solo albums, "Fish Rising" and "L". The seven-piece band line-up also appeared on the acclaimed "Live Herald" set, and includes ex-Jethro Tull drummer Clive Bunker and the appropriately named Colin Bass (later of Camel). Highlights include "Solar Musick Suite" - still regarded by many as one of the finest examples of Hillage's solo work - and versions of George Harrison's "It's All Too Much" and Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man". By 1980 Steve Hillage withdrew from performing and recording, moving instead into production (Simple Minds, It Bites, the Charlatans, Tony Banks and others). (bron: Repertoire) In de jaren 90 maakte hij echter een come-back in de dance-wereld met System 7, dat hij samen met zijn wederhelft Miquette Giraudy vormde. Giraudy was tijdens dit 1977-concert reeds zijn creatieve partner.
"After a stint with Gong as their trippy, hippy, new agey guitar guru of cosmically and extremely raga-esque trance rock and improv heaven, Steve Hillage went solo. He branched out to carry his own version of the Gong gospel of personal freedom via his special blend of cosmic brotherhood, Eastern religion, new age, pyramids, ley lines, crystals, and some ferocious jazz fusion and progressive rock guitar blended with space rock synths. Hillage reinterprets some well-known tunes by other artists like Donovan and George Harrison here as well as penning some of his more memorable sonic treats. His awesome riffing and speedy solos on his Fender Strat rival those of Hendrix and Frank Marino but go further compositionally via exotic scales from other cultures. Add in Todd Rundgren's engineering and production genius, his Utopians guesting, and several others like Don Cherry on brass and Tibetan trumpet along with a 15th century Hurdy Gurdy and you have a wild romp into eclectic rock." (John W. Patterson, Allmusic)
Anno 1995 is-ie erg populair met System 7, maar de (voormalig) hippie draait al een kwart eeuw mee in de bizniz. Deze is uit 1975, mmv enkele Canterbury-progrockers. 1975, mmv enkele Canterbury-progrockers.
Uit 1979. Nu maakt de gitarist bubbelende space-techno (System 7), toen rockte hij psychedelisch, puttend uit symfo- en jazzrock, met veel wobbelende sounds uit gitaar en synths. Met Colin Bass (later: Camel) en Clive Bunker (ex-Jethro Tull).
Live-opnamen uit 1979. De uitgesponnen, sterk op sfeer-creatie gerichte psychedelische rock met Steve's typerende gitaarfratsen is eigenlijk net zo trance-verwekkend als z'n latere werk met techno-act System 7, maar dan anders.
"Too avant-garde to be classified as new age; too sleek sounding to fit into any progressive rock subgenres. The 20-plus minutes of both tracks harbor some intelligent and mature-sounding instrumentation thanks to a distinct array of sequencers and percussion. "Garden of Paradise" is a lush, intricately woven melange of guitar, piano, and synthesizer which are all pioneered by Hillage. Giving the track its feel and sustenance are the Tibetan bells and the powerful undertow of Miquette Girandy's double sequencer. The instruments gracefully converge to craft the non-existent paradise in which Hillage has musically created. "Four Ever Rainbow" contains much more rhythm and current thanks to the electric and glissando guitar and the subtle hovering of a harmoniser played by Rupert Atwill. The final result of the culmination of both tracks is a relaxing and pleasantly divergent journey through a sorted spectrum of instruments, making this album one of Steve Hillage's best solo pieces." (Mike DeGagne, Alllmusic)
Opname uit 1977. Sting zingt hier nog erg punky, zoals op "Fall Out", de eerste Police-single. De begeleiding heeft randvlakken met symfo, wat wil je ook met Steve Hillage (Nu System 7), Nik Turner (Hawkwind), Mike Howlett, Steve Broughton ea.
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