SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE LONDON ROUNDHOUSE

This album was recorded during a concert at The London Roundhouse on Noverber 25th, 1973. It was first released in 1974 and this version almost covers the whole concert because at least "Oop's - Unindentified Flying Abstract" and "Mundetango"won't be featured.

This album starts with two great tracks. "King Of Twilight" and "Desolation Valley". They belong to my favorite of the bands (with several of their their debut one "Journey to the Centre of the Eye" from which no songs are featured here). These songs are played very well and are the highlights of course. It's always a magical moment to hear these two songs.

This live album is rather complete since "Remember The Future" is almost fully represented (only "Part II" will be seriously shortened). The original studio version did not impress me but this live one sounds far much better to my ears. Fully rocking. It is a great rendition and this song takes its full power while played live. "Part II" is a little weaker (but a lot shorter as well than originally).

A fave of their live "sessions" was "A Day In The Life...". Almost present on each of their live albums, it will be the occasion for a very long improvisation. Not always interesting. Again, this version is a good and hard-rocking one. But you have to be able to digest this almost twenty minutes song. And it's not always easy.

"Odyssey" is a true jam session with a very good drum solo. Not essential, but in those days it was an integrant part of rock concerts. It was a favourite of their live concerts (it is also featured in more or less the same format on "Sounds Like This". But I prefer this version : shorter by three minutes, it's sounds fresher (maybe due to the sound restoration on this remastered version).

When he introduces "1,2,3,4" Roye tells the audience that "It's time to get and move". This song is seriously hard-rock and fully jam oriented. Like "Purple" could do in 1970/1971. It is not my favourite moment of this live album but it rocks savagely.

The album closes on "Woman", a boogie in the style of "Canned Heat". Another rocking moments like there will be many here. But this how "Nektar" sounded like. In terms of live album, I prefer this one to "Sounds Like This or "Unidentified Flying Abstract".

If ever you have to decide to get one "Nektar" live album; I would recommend either this one or the remastered "Live In New-york" (two CD set). It gives a pretty good idea of how the band sounded live. Three stars.