LIVE IN LAMBERTLAND

Svart Records has really continued it's cultural work releasing this double live, because there are so little released live material from Pressas sixties/seventies times! I believe without Svart Records these live recordings would have stayed forgotten in the vaults. In last review I told YLE started live broadcastings from Liisankatu Studio. Luckily they broadcasted bands gigs also from other places like Esplanadinkappeli restaurant, Kulttuuritalo (the main concert place of Helsinki that time) and Natsa Club (one of the few clubs in Helsinki that time where popular musicians had gigs and jams that time). I think 1972 was the peak year of Tasavallan Presidentti in their career. They went then their first tour in the UK and also recorded and released their best album 'Lambertland'. This album documents really well, how they sounded live that year.

First album was recorded wholly from Esplanadikappeli. They start with medley from 'Celebration Of the Saved Nine' and 'The Bargain'. Both are played quite the same way as in studio album, but Aaltonen is playing much complex rhythm. I like more the straightforward playing of the studio version. Next comes version from 'Lounge' that is the only version in this album. It's also really same as the studio, but in the middle there is different slower part. That changes quite fascinating when P'yry starts to play organ and the whole band plays quiter. First version of 'Lambertland' is as great as the studioversion, only in the middle there is some different improvisation part and they play the end heavier than in studio version. 'Dance' has really fast tempo, also it sounds as they really get into playing mood in this last piece from this gig! It has quite long intro with Raittinen and P'yry making really pirimitive voices, also there are imrovisational pieces that are not in the studio version.

Second album starts with another longer version from 'the Bargain'. At first only Tolonen is playing guitar, then P'yry joins and soon after that the whole band. 'Ramblin' is a piece from Tolonen's first solo album. I can't compare those versions, because haven't heard the original, but anyway this piece is the least interesting to me. Good playing, but not enough substance. These two pieces are recorded from the Eastern Pop Concert, Kulttuuritalo. There were also playing Omega from Hungary and Blue Effect from Czechoslovakia. Last three tracks are recorded from Natsa. It's the latest performance and you can hear how their playing had become tighter.'Lambertland' is almost same kind of version as in first album. It's amazing, how Raittinen sings this as great as in studio (really would have wanted to hear this in their 50th celebration concert). 'Dance' is shorter and not have as long intro, but primitive vocals are there too. 'Celebration Of the Saved Nine' is longer and has quite interesting improvisational period in the end.

This album is culturally really important, but when reviewing it as an album, I think it is a bit too long. The versions of the same tracks haven't got enough variety to keep my interest it's over 90 lenght. I would have taken only 'Lounge' from the Esplanadinkappeli-concert and add it with the rest of material. But of course there would have been those, who had said 'Why there isn't the whole Kappeli-gig', so I think that's the reason Svart decided to put this all to same record. Anyway I would have given four starts to more compact version, now I will give only three.