ON AIR - LIVE AT THE BBC

I was interested to hear this CD, as the BBC sessions usually have provided good "live in the studio" recordings from 1960's and 1970's rock groups. This wasn't the most satisfying version on this vast series of Brittish rock radio history, but it gives some fine official live recordings of the early version of this band, not being present on their other official discography releases and being many times better than the sterile studio constructions.

The first session from the April of 1970 is yet bit tame, but the tracks breathe more freely than in the studio recordings. The version of "Vivaldi" is quite good, but I don't personally like the straits it takes when evolving, though the dramatic opening is good. "Propositions" is performed well also, but if you like this tune, don't miss their filmed version of it done for the Belgian TV network, where the band extrudes a highly psychedelic sound wall for their singer to get lost. In this version, there's also a short lyrical passage in the end of the jam, which was not in the TV version. The set ends to the menacing "It Happened Today", with rock'n'roll piano and softer vocal empathy from Sonja.

The recordings from first of January 1971 seem as finest of these recording sessions. "Young Mother in Style" is the best recording of this song I have heard, and when comparing to the studio version, the lyrics are more audible, and there's no fade-out oppressions included. I also learned "Situations" being one of the most beautiful song done by this band. In addition of the song "Blind Man" there's also a second session done few weeks later, featuring "Thinking on The Floor" and "Stretch", which are decent performances, but not the most integral material of the band as compositions.

The last session time warps to year 1976, where the band backing up Sonja has been mostly changed, and also the musical style has ventured to a direction, which doesn't please me as much as their earlier material. The instrumental opening is still energetic little in the style of the early days, but the rest of the songs are mostly romantic downers to be heard in drunken whiskey bars.

This album is probably aimed to those who already know this band and are fans, but I believe it might also give a wide range introduction of their material for a new listener. As a bonus, there's a marvelous picture of the singer skyrocketing on the album cover, this subject possibly being a marvelous bonus for me in any context.