Paul Nagle The Live Element

This CD contains Paul's full set from Jodrell Bank (28/6/97) and 3 tracks from his earlier appearance at the Flowerpot, Derby. The album is simply packaged in a plastic sleeve alá Sequences, however it does have a colour sleeve and a promotional booklet. Paul's JB set was received with great enthusiasm so those who attended will not need me to tell them that this album is worth picking up. Paul and his guest musicians John Kickey, Tony Bateman and Dave Robinson wove an entertaining mix of melody, sequences and atmospherics produced using both electronic and natural devices. The opening trio of track are 'Under the Telescope Parts 1-3' and they set the scene well with the aforementioned mixture of styles. Once the strangely titled 'Eaten By Pigs' arrives Paul is well into his stride with driving sequences and catchy motifs. The title comes from some hilarious dialogue between Uri Geller and a lady who claims to have had a close encounter. Uri's growing enthusiasm for the conversation, as she describes how her mother claims she was actually taken into the spaceship, is cut short when she suddenly goes off on a tangent... "Do you remember that story about those women who were eaten by pigs?". It's a gem of a moment! 'Antics in F Minor' presents some fine sequences and rich themes which Dave Gurr, who reviewed the concert for the programme, described as a cross between TD's 'Monolight' and Vangelis's 'Pulstar'. The final of the 7 Jodrell Bank pieces is the excellent 16 minute encore 'Going Grey' which opens with ethnic rhythms and a beautiful theme which is developed throughout the piece in infectious style. Of the final trio the sequential 'Squash and Go' impresses most, though 'Carmaggedon' would run it close except for the persistent thrashing of an empty baked bean tin. However, the JB tracks alone make this a worthy purchase - with many heralding it as his best set to date. (GG)

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