Hp Lovecraft - Live May 11, 1968 (1968)

Σαφώς και είναι ένα αξιολογότατο Lp. Καταρχήν θα συμφωνείτε ότι μας έχουν δοθεί ελάχιστες ευκαιρίες για να ακούσουμε συγκροτημένο live από εκείνη την εποχή. Δεν εννοώ κάτι αποσπασματικό μέσα από ένα Woodstock κ.λ.π. Εννοώ σαν επίσημο live Lp μιας μπάντας. Επίσης δεν πρέπει να παραγνωρίζουμε τα πενιχρά (σε σύγκριση με σήμερα) τεχνικά μέσα της εποχής τόσο στην ηχογράφηση όσο και στην παραγωγή του ήχου. Για τα δικά μου γούστα το live αυτό ανταποκρίνεται απόλυτα στα στάνταρτς που έθεσαν οι Hp Lovecraft στο πρώτο του Lp. Είναι εξίσου δυνατό μουσικά. Ποιος μπορεί να διαφωνήσει ότι η εκτέλεση του The Bag I’m In είναι ανώτερη από το Lp?
Blessed with one of the best live recording qualities one can hear from '60s efforts -- especially considering that H।P। Lovecraft was never a major success -- Live May 11, 1968 provides a reasonable alternate way for the curious to find out what the shouting was all about। Split almost evenly between first and second album material, and featuring then-new bassist Jeff Boyan (brought in to replace Jerry McGeorge), this release shows that the quintet certainly had something। If there are plenty of moments where the addictive blend of garage jamming and mindblown psychedelia seems on the verge of collapsing into noodling or bad Doors imitations, there's enough of H.P. Lovecraft's own particular approach to justify a listen by anyone into exploratory late-'60s rock. Certainly once or twice the band ends up sounding remarkably prescient -- the opening of "Wayfaring Stranger" calls to mind the blend of propulsion and trance Can would shortly make its own in Germany, with Tegza's tight beats leading the way. Plenty of other examples can be noted, with the transferred tape itself further suggesting the European group's approach -- check the midsection of "The Drifter," where only Michaels' keyboards steer away from the driving rhythm. Edwards and Michaels' lead vocals work great together live -- their training and earlier studio experience showing well -- and the whole band tackles the spirit of the times to a T. Two standout performances are the one-two punch of "The White Ship" and "At the Mountain of Madness," both of which also make for the perfect tribute to the original Lovecraft himself.
Tracks
1. Wayfaring Stranger (10:23)
2. The Drifter (8:24)
3. It's About Time (4:54)
4. TheWhite Ship (7:01)
5. At the Mountains of Madness (4:33)
6. TheThat's the Bag I'm In (3:35)
7. I've Been Wrong Before (2:54)
8. Country Boy and Bleeker Street (3:46)http://rapidshare.com/files/92636476/H.P._Lovecraft_-_The_live__1968.rar.html