LIVE BETWEEN THE EARTH & CLOUDS

Filmed and recorded at the De Boerderij in the Netherlands, Live Between the Earth & Clouds is the third official live release by UK dark rock band Antimatter, but the first that also contains a video recording of the show. The concert took place in 2016, following the release of the band's 6th LP The Judas Table, and features some of the musicians who had played on that album. Frontman Mick Moss takes care of rhythm guitar and vocals, while Dave Hall plays lead guitar and the rhythm section is comprised of Ste Hughes (bass) and Liam Edwards (drums). Keyboards and sound effects are delivered using prerecorded backtracks.

Surprisingly, it is not the material form The Judas Table that takes the lion's share of the album's tracklist. Instead, most songs (six in total) are taken off Antimatter's 5th LP Fear of a Unique Identity, with The Judas Table coming off second (with three songs), while only a smaller number of tracks are from Antimatter's earlier records (Saviour, Leaving Eden). It happens to be the case that Fear of a Unique Identity is my least favourite Antimatter's album to date, which inevitably colors my sentiment towards this live release. In truth, the live rendition of tracks like "Paranova" and "Wide Awake in the Concrete Asylum" exceeds their studio counterparts that are included in the original LP, confirming my suspicion that part of that album's issue lay in the sound production. Freed by the dull and grey production, these songs pack a groove that it was hard to envisage and enjoy on the album versions. Other issues, however, persist, like the tracks' excessive duration and the fact that they tend to feature melodies that are generally uninspired, especially when compared with Moss' other songs included here.

These are mostly concentrated in the second-half of the show, which is the part that I enjoy the most. The two fan-favourites from debut album Saviour, "Over Your Shoulder" and "The Last Laugh", are once again a show-stopper, with their mystifying hybrid between electronica and dark rock. "Leaving Eden" is also a great song, one of the best cuts from the crepuscular album it gives the name to. Here lead guitarist Dave Hall is called to the tall order of reproducing Danny Cavanagh's (Anathema) awesome solo that features on the song's studio version, and he delivers in spades. In fact, Dave Hall's performance is one of the album's highlights? his playing full of feeling and emotions, and not just sterile technicality. The rest of the band is very solid too, and the band's overall performance is excellent throughout the show. The sound production is also good, although Ste Hughes' bass may be a tad too prominent in the mix compared to the guitars.

In terms of visuals, there isn't much to note. The performance is absolutely gimmick-free: the most scenic feature of the whole show is probably Dave Hall's use of the e-bow, which says it all, really. The pro is that what you see is exactly what you hear: four guys playing their hearts out to some of their favourite tunes in a natural environment, no frills added. The cons is that the whole show is a bit static and gets a tad monotonous over time, which of course is a problem especially if one is watching this at home on their couch, rather than live in the venue.

Overall, Live Between the Earth & Clouds should appeal to all Antimatter's fans, especially those who appreciate the band's more alt-rock, electric-oriented period between Fear of a Unique Identity and The Judas Table. Personally, I lean more towards the band's acoustic singer-songwriter material (from Saviour, Leaving Eden, Planetary Confinement) or their proggier later output (Black Market Enlightment), and therefore this is not a release that I revisit often. But it is a solid release: good songs, good performances, good production. Simples!