Customer Reviews

Modern Alchemist

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

 

 

Mick Abrahms left Jthro Tull in 1968 to devote himself to a more blues/jazz based sound. And boy,did he succeed. Blodwyn Pig was the result, a great jazzy quartet with the multi-talented Jack Lancaster on sax. This is a cd of live recordings made from BBC transcription discs and hence the sound is OK at best. Many times I'm sure the applause has been dubbed onto BBC studio tracks. Nonetheless, there's some killer music here: their minor hit See My Way, Modern Alchemist (a great jam), It's Only Love (featuring Lancaster playing 2 saxes at once), and a great version of Cat's Squirrel that unfortunately fades before the end. If you know this band's sound, it's must to have. Otherwise, start with Ahead rings Out, their only good studion piece.

I strongley disagree with the reviewer who rated this CD a one star based largely on the sound quality. Maybe because I'm older and I'm use to recordings with less then perfect digital sound. How many classic jazz and blues albums are out there with less then desirable sound quality? Think Coltrane, Dolphy, Son House, Robert Johnson, etc. I also disagree with him about how bad the sound quality is. This CD is more then listenable. But put the sound quality behind you, the performances on this CD are excellant. I've been a fan of Blodwyn Pig and Mick Abrahams for awhile. I don't love everything they/he does, but I do enjoy most of their work. This CD really captures their energy. Some great live performances. The version of the Modern Alchemist on this set is fantastic. Great solos my Jack Lancaster and Mick. There is not one dull moment on this recording. If you like Mick Abrahams and Blodwyn Pig, and music that is just the right blend of rock, blues, and jazz, then you'll be more then please with this CD. Forget about the sound quality, I've heard much worse, but the performance the band turns in on this CD is stellar.

I am a huge fan of the first two Blodwyn Pig albums -- the driving, blues-jazz-rock fusion of this early Jethro Tull offshoot should have made them a huge hit in the late 1960s. I've never heard guitar and saxophone work so well together in a rock music format. Thus I had high hopes for this live recording. But for me it is destroyed by the terrible sound quality. Sounds like it was recorded with a hand-held recorder from the back of the hall. For hard-core fans only. All others should try Ahead Rings Out, or Getting to This, each of which I'd give 4 or 5 stars to if I was taking the time to review them.

Oh, the sound's not THAT bad -- no one would call it GREAT sound but it's certainly servicable enough. You can hear the band clearly and that's good enough! Pig was a dynamite live band and it's miraculous to have that finally documented, what 25 years after their demise?

What nobody's mentioned so far is the major screw-up in the running order. Contrary to the cover (booklet + tray) the correct running order is:
1. It's Only Love (3:43)
2. The Modern Alchemist (10:42)
3. The Change Song (3:43)
4. Summer Day (4:21)
5. Dear Jill (5:00)
6. See My Way (6:50)
7. Drive Me (3:44)
8. Slow Down (6:06) -- otherwise unreleased
9. Ain't Ya Coming Home Babe? (4:23)
10. Up and Coming (3:53)
11. Cat's Squirrel (7:48)

This was one smokin' performance from one of the best blues bands ever to come out of England.