Customer Reviews

L

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Produced by Todd Rundgren, "L" represents Hillage moving away musically from his days in Gong, and developing a style of his own. This was his second solo album, (his first, Fish Rising, was far more in the style of Gong, especially their third radio gnome album, "You"), and contains the beginnings of Steve Hillage's own very distinctive style.

If all of that stuff above about Gong, etc. means nothing to you, don't worry. All you need to know about this album is that it contains some great mid-seventies hippie oriented guitar rock. The earlier Gong stuff was quite psychedelic and a bit avant garde jazzy, but Hillage is first and foremost a guitar and synth player, and so his solo albums reflected this, although definitely keeping the other-worldly feeling of his days in Gong.

This album, and Hillage himself, benefited greatly from Todd Rundgren's production. Rundgren was, at the time, one of the most sought after producers in rock, and it was certainly a coup for Hillage to get him. The resulting album had a heavier rock feel to it, but also had a distinctive Todd Rundgren sound to it (I suppose it helped that Rundgren used his band, Utopia, as the musicians on the album, apart from Hillage and his partner, Miquette Giraudy!).

Hillage started to sing about things that interested him really for the first time on this album, mainly consisting of how wonderful the world will be in the forthcoming electric age. Hurdy Gurdy Man, is about a wandering minstrel, singing songs of love as he goes about (perhaps Hillage saw himself as the subject of the song?). The song gets quite fast, and by the end is a blistering guitar solo that'll leave your hair standing on end. Hurdy Gurdy Glissando is basically a slower and more acoustic version, but still nice. Electric Gypsies is probably the seminal track, providing ideas for future work, especially on Motivation Radio, his next album. The song is about a vision of the world becoming a network of happy and fulfilled people, taking full advantage of all the benefits of the electric age, travelling around a good and happy earth. As you can guess, this song and the picture it paints is the epitome of hippiedom! Sadly, not to be.

The next three songs (side 2 in the good old days of vinyl) are less forward looking, being closer to Hillage's Gong material, but good nonetheless. Om Nama Shivaya is an Indian tinged gentle song, with a nice sliding guitar solo, while Lunar Musick Suite is a quite long rock opus, which develops slowly through several movements (including a trumpet solo!) into an intricate feast of guitar, synth and drums. It's All Too Much is a good cover of a George Harrison number, with reedy synths and compressed drums, which certainly stands comparison to the original, although it is quite different.

As a record of the very best in mid-seventies hippie rock, you can do no better than this album. Hillage's later albums were better, in my view, but this one for some reason seems to really stand out as something really special. It's all about love, and gypsies, and wandering minstrels, but has plenty of good solid guitar and depth of sound to it, thanks to Rundgren. (this album even got a mention on The Young Ones, a very influential anarchic comedy programme on the BBC in the early/mid eighties, when Neil, the hippie character, was playing it at a party, when the police broke it during a raid. "Oh, no! That was Steve Hillage" says Neil.)

Overall, this is a fab album, well worth whatever it is you have to pay for it.

After steve hillage's magnificent debut, much less his incredible work with gong which practically defined the role of space rock guitar, the sophmore 'L' is a somewhat more staight ahead performance. This album still participates in the joyous cosmology but also introduces more basic songcraft('electrick gypsy' 'it's all too much') where his personality becomes more clearly defined. Though not as spectacular as 'fish rising', this album literally has astounding psychedelic guitar work all over it with the excellant support of utopia(particularly the bass). 'lunar music suite' meanders a tad, and some of the songs toward the end are weaker than the others, but the guitar work is beyond superb.

Originally released in 1976,as this was his second solo effort as well as the follow-up to the 'Fish Rising' lp(see my review)and about as good.Much of this CD shows up on his 'BBC Radio One Live' disc(see my review).A good progressive art rock title by the cosmic guitar guru himself to check out when you're in the mood.Liked hearing the studio versions of "Hurdy Gurdy Glissando","Electric Gypsies" and "Lunar Music Suite".Also,his cover of George Harrison's(R.I.P.)"It's All Too Much" isn't bad.A should-have.

This was the first time that Steve Hilage looked for a personal music path of his own, quite far away from the style of Gong ... unlike his best album "Fish rising", very avantgarde and Canterbury oriented, in the vein of early Gong, this album is less connected to such style, being enriched with his own 70's guitar excursions. This Todd Rundgren's production is strong and finally points out the definitive guitar style by Hilage. The track "Electric gypsies" sets the standard for the style of his forthcoming works; instead the last 3 tracks remain quite linked to the Canterbury style of Gong. The best track probably is "Hurdy Gurdy Man", which tells the story of a strange minstrel, who reminds us of some feelings of Hilage, searching for love (according to the 70's hippie tradition)... in fact this minstrel sings love songs, then the rhythm grows and finally it leads to a aggressive guitar solo !!

Well it's not the best canteburian work, but naturally is recommended if you like Gong and other 70's stuff ...

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various recordings from the 60's and 70's.

Steve Hillage is known to many fans of progressive/psychedelic music for his brilliant guitar work on Gong's three records "Flying Teapot", "Angel's Egg", and "You." Those encompassed what are referred to as the "Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy."

When Hillage stepped out on his own the newly found freedom and ability to feature his incredible strengths of soloing and improvisation turned a plethora of heads in the progressive and psychedelic communities.

His admiration and love of the sixties sound clearly shines on the "L" album. Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man" opens the recording with a tasty and intelligent rendition. "Electrick Gypsies" and the "Lunar Musick Suite" are Hillage originals and pull out all stops to take you through a musical odyssey. Before the ride on the Hillage express comes to an end there is the ultimate experience. His cover version of the Beatles (George Harrison's) "It's All Too Much" is one of the finest interpretations of a Beatle recording anywhere!

To further solidify the foundation of this effort it is not always hand in hand that both those looking for an initial CD of an artist and those that have been fans for years can come to the same conclusion. The newbie and the old-timer can get the same satisfaction.

This release is the gift that keeps on giving. Please make sure the version you purchase has the bonus tracks including one more terrific 1960's cover the Byrds "Eight Miles High."

Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various recordings from the 60's and 70's.

Steve Hillage is known to many fans of progressive/psychedelic music for his brilliant guitar work on Gong's three records "Flying Teapot", "Angel's Egg", and "You." Those encompassed what are referred to as the "Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy."

When Hillage stepped out on his own the newly found freedom and ability to feature his incredible strengths of soloing and improvisation turned a plethora of heads in the progressive and psychedelic communities.

His admiration and love of the sixties sound clearly shines on the "L" album. Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man" opens the recording with a tasty and intelligent rendition. "Electrick Gypsies" and the "Lunar Musick Suite" are Hillage originals and pull out all stops to take you through a musical odyssey. Before the ride on the Hillage express comes to an end there is the ultimate experience. His cover version of the Beatles (George Harrison's) "It's All Too Much" is one of the finest interpretations of a Beatle recording anywhere!

To further solidify the foundation of this effort it is not always hand in hand that both those looking for an initial CD of an artist and those that have been fans for years can come to the same conclusion. The newbie and the old-timer can get the same satisfaction.

This release is the gift that keeps on giving. Please make sure the version you purchase has the bonus tracks including one more terrific 1960's cover the Byrds "Eight Miles High."

Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"