9:15 LIVE

Pendragon has only released one studio album and here they go for a live one. For having seen them live in 2006, I have to say that they are a rather good live band. Their melodic and melancholic mood is very well rendered on stage as well.

It was maybe to allow Clive to get more into the band that they decided to release this live effort. It was recorded at the mythical "Marquee Club" in London (July 1986).

There will be one unrealeased song at the time of the original release : "Red Shoes" which will be published on their first compilation "The R(B)est Of" as well as a single.

If we except "Victims Of Life" which will be much shorter than the original number and which serves more as an warm-up track, the remaining songs are pretty much similar to the originals. A bit harder maybe (like "Leviathan" for example).

Lots of people on this site critized Pendragon an awful lot. I just want to say that the music Pendragon plays is beautiful yet simple. If you are looking for complexity, you won't find it here. I like intricate music but from time to time, I really feel great to get other moods. More accessible and very pleasant. And this is exactly what Pendragon is all about. Nice melodies, emotional guitar breaks and very good keys (hold by Clive from this album onwards).

I guess there is nothing wrong with this. On top of that I appreciate Nick's vocals as well as his inspired guitar play. It is always a pleasure for my ears to listen to such beautiful tracks as "Alaska". It always provide me a lot of emotion. I can't help. "The Black Knight" is a great track as well.

Of course, since they only have produced one album, it might seem a bit irrelevant to have recorded a live album so early in their career. Actually there are just over forty minutes of live music here.

Three studio bonus tracks will be featured of which "Please" which is a nice instrumental track featuring a great guitar solo from Nick. Just as beautiful as Pendragon can be.

"Dark Summer's Day" and "Excalibur" were already released on their first EP "Fly High Fall Far". Actually I find quite strange that this track (a very poppy and catchy one) is not featured on this live album.

This is of course not an essential album. Still, it will the only live effort to feature "Alaska" and "The Black Knight". Three stars.