40TH ANNIVERSARY SHOWS

Although I don't have the 10th anniversary show in my collection, I do have the 20th (on which I was thanked, which was very much appreciated) and the 30th, and now here we have the 40th. It was recorded live at the Greystones in Sheffield on Saturday 23rd June 2018 and Talking Heads in Southampton on Sunday 24th June. Most of the songs on the CD come from the Southampton show, while the Sheffield show was filmed for the DVD release. The line-up was Danny McMahon (drums), Paul McMahon (guitars & vocals), Chris McMahon (bass & keyboards), Ceri Ashton (flute & whistle) while Catrin Ashton only played at the Sheffield show so contributes fiddle, flute & mandolin to five of the songs on this double CD.

Unlike the 30th Anniversary show, where there had not been a new release since the 20th, here they had a 'new' album to promote in the excellent 'The Last Battle' so it is no surprise that we get quite a few songs from that album, as well as the old classics. It never ceases to amaze me how Chris manages to provide keyboards and bass at the same time, switching instruments and pedals with ease, while the addition of Ceri and Catrin certainly provides way more colour. "Over The River" has some delicious piano and there is plenty of space for Paul to shine vocally, and then everyone kicks in together and the symphonic Neo is back for all to hear.

"Balder and the Mistletoe" shows the newer side of the band with a folkier influence and lovely flute, while "Wilderness of Eden" takes on new life with the additional instrumentation. Mind you, we also get an interesting take on the old "Dig Them Mushrooms" which here also includes a section of "Cinema Show". But where would we be without "The Vice"? It may be have been first recorded in 1983, but in 2018 it was still as vibrant and powerful as ever with a great guitar introduction, layered keyboards and drums going around the kit and then we are off. Of course, this 40th anniversary set is now six years old, and the band have just released a new album, so I guess we ought to be gearing up to the 50th Anniversary shows soon. They may have been celebrating four decades those nights in 2018, but there have been two new albums since then and there is no sign at all of slowing down.