CLASSIC ROCK LEGENDS

Sometimes known as "Live in Nottingham", this is something of an eclectic but nonetheless interesting presentation. Recorded some years after the life-span of the band, this 1990 recording is taken from a TV series called "Bedrock" which Central Television (UK) put together to showcase British rock. A number of the bands who appeared reformed just for the series, the Hatters being one. The line up includes Richard Sinclair, Pip Pyle, and Phil Miller. Dave Stewart is however notable by his absence, his keyboards stool being filled by Pyle's then girlfriend and jazz virtuoso Sophia Domancich.

This leads to a somewhat diverse set list, which includes "Share it", "Halfway between heaven and Earth", and "It didn't matter anyway" from "The Rotter's club". "Underdub" was also performed, but not broadcast (it can however be heard on the CD recording of the gig). The rest of the tracks are not H&TN songs. The excellent 13 minute "Shipwrecked" is a new composition by Pip Pyle, which includes lengthy keyboard and guitar improvisations.

"Cauliflower ears" is from Pyle's then current band Equip'Out (which also included Domancich in its line up), while "Blott" is a Domanacich composition, and essentially her solo spot. "Going for a song" is a Sinclair composition with lyrics by Pyle, and hence the most Caravan like of the pieces.

As such, crediting this set to H&TN is somewhat liberal with the reality of the contents. It is however a highly enjoyable experience, which ranges from the light, almost pop like vocals of Sinclair to the improvised jazz of Soft Machine. The sound is very much rooted in the Canterbury backgrounds of the (male) protagonists, Domanacich making a reasonable stab at recreating the keyboard sounds and styles associated with that genre.

With the cobbled together nature of both the set list and the line up, it is easy to find fault with this presentation. Doing so though is a futile pursuit, as taken for what it is, this is an enjoyable experience.

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