LIVE AT THE RAINBOW

It's very strange that a band like "Focus" who was jam oriented would cut by half one of their best songs. Still, it is what happened with "Focus III" one of the very few good songs from their third album. The same treatment is applied to "Eruption". A twenty-three minutes epic reduced to eight. Although the original showed some weak moments, this is maybe a bit severe.

Anyway, it's not too bad. Almost inaudible for about two minutes (they should have chosen other parts from it), the listener will get a great and wild moment (but just over a minute) before being brought back into the most tranquil and peaceful mode which remains during the majority of this version. Here and there, you 'll be awaken by stronger part like this during this fabulous guitar break almost sounding like a Santana one (and I really mean it).

The same emotional guitar play is featured during "Focus II". It sounds as if Latimer was playing with "Focus" before founding "Camel". "Answers" was the other pleasant moments of "III" and remains so. The flute is really beautiful and since I am quite found of this instrument, I reallly enjoy it every second.

The sound recording is excellent and even if it hardly can be considered as a masterpiece this is a pleasant live album. I would have liked to get songs of the caliber of "Focus I" or "House Of The King". And even if I believe that there are no better version of "Hocus" than the studio one, this one is crazier, funnier.

Four stars.