Redshift Last CD / 6 Tracks / 65.43 mins Please go to the Store to buy this item.

This is a recording of their performance at Hampshire Jam 5. The band this time were Mark Shreeve, Ian Boddy and Julian Shreeve. Dark symphonic pads sounding almost like a swarm of bees get the opener 'Tormentor' underway. Very deep slow pulses rumble forth as a wonderful slow sequence forms underneath. It's the sort of sequence that is thick, powerful and above all moody. The sounds created through Mark's big Moog really aren't producible by any other instrument and when this instrument is wielded by such an expert the results, as here, are simply devastating. Things subside slightly only to rebuild wonderfully and as with many of the tracks here things continue to build, reach the most devastating of climaxes but just when you think that is the peak there is yet another surge which takes us to even greater heights of ecstasy. The sequence is never just left to run, it morphs this way and that, rising and falling all the time and just when I thought we were gently winding down for a finish it surges once more to the most incredible explosion of power. 'Nightshift' on the other hand is rather short but still ominous and moody bringing up images of being alone in an underground station at night, faint metallic sounds in the distance and a chill wind blowing down the tunnels. It reminded me a little of some of the more atmospheric tracks from 'Sorcerer'. A tinkling melodic sequence materialises for the title track. The pulsations gradually become more intense then another heavy sequence falls into formation with the first, complimenting it wonderfully as things become increasingly exciting. A virtual guitar type lead lets rip and I am in Heaven! Again there is an ebb and flow to proceedings, the intensity only being reigning back to make the next surge even more devastating. We get the second and last interlude with 'Long Way Out'. All rather relaxing in a haunting sort of way. 'Damage' initially continues through in a similar mood before the pulsations and locomotive type rhythms start on their devastating journey of build, morph, intensify, spit venom, intensify once more than go ape. Each crest and trough brings fresh waves of excitement as we journey from one to the other on the most awesome organic sea of sound. In the seventh minute all descends to the subtlest of sonic colouring. Just a touch here, little motif there. This is very different to anything else on the album so far, subtlety taking over from raw power. By the eleventh minute moody stabs of raw energy are ripping apart the peaceful atmos as gradually things become more aggressive. We are back in full flight as another sequence is cranked up, gaining extra bite by the second as we return to the rise and fall of awesome walls of blistering pulsations. Incredible stuff! The audience demand more and are rewarded with the encore 'Torn'. Little melodic note droplets juxtaposition with an almost bestial backing. All structure momentarily departs then the biggest mother of a sequence it can surely be possible to create literally tears through the air, vaporising atoms as it goes. The lead lines are pretty damned devastating and uncompromising as well. What a track! What an album! (DL)

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