Deko 2024
International crew of intrepid space-rock explorers venture off beyond a concept to meet their down-to-earth followers.
Live At Kozfest
Ostensibly a studio-bound outfit, this ensemble’s ranks might include many a guest, most remarkably members of HAWKWIND and BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, yet the band’s leader Don Falcone wouldn’t be intimidated by the restrictions imposed on this project by its very nature and, back in 2017, led his flock to the stage for several concerts. One of those was recorded for posterity to provide the collective with their first-ever front-of-audience album that holds quite a few surprises, and not only in terms of some prog veterans present to help propel the momentum – not even in terms of material chosen for the performance, plucked mostly from the cosmic combo’s 1999 debut “New Worlds By Design” and 2006’s “Alien Injection” – but also in terms of unexpected vibrancy and vitality of old pieces brought to life. What could sound shallow or hollow, given the limited number of players, turned out to take on colorful resonance – as captured here for all to hear without thinking of overarching context.
Except for a couple of bonus cuts – one sourced from rehearsals and the other rehashed from a now-obscure platter – that bolster this festival report and emphasize its energy, the document’s flow of interstellar mantras is staggeringly riveting, from the epic “Spirit Suite” – which starts the show in a rather bold manner – onwards, to the finale of “Stand And Deliver” which seems triumphantly punky. As Bridget Wishart’s haunting voice and electronic wind blend with her host’s hypnotic ivories and Richard Chadwick’s cymbals enhance the melodic menace before his drums lock into Colin Kafka’s bass to create an ever-shifting mighty groove Steve Bemand’s six strings paint on, the sense of adventure and feeling of sci-fi bliss enfold those who signed up for the ride into space – and how can one resist the searing licks of flamenco-tinctured “Snakebite Serum” anyway? Still, while the rhythm-and-blues passages behind “By Design” demonstrate a different class of the group’s nuanced, if intense, instrumental exchanges, the heavy, riff-driven “The Unknown” and “The Hawk” – where Don’s vocals come to the fore to steer the sonic onslaught – simply accentuate the rock ‘n’ roll thrills underlying the ensemble’s vigorous delivery and eliciting the crowd’s rapturous response.
Yes, there’s histrionic aloofness in “Alien Injection” which finds Kev Ellis at the microphone, yet the cover of "Images" compensates for the little lapse in passion by moving the hysterical rave to the dancefloor, and the throbbing “Live Forever” adds a lysergic swirl to the life-affirming party on offer. It’s a series of spaced-out shenanigans everybody will be happy to get involved in – so here’s a chance to do so.
*****
