Amon Düül II - Live In London (1973/2007 Revisited Rec. Remastered Deluxe Edition)
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Artist: Amon Düül II
Album: Live In London
Released: 1973/2007
Revisited Rec./SPV (SPV 305362)
Genre: Krautrock
AMG Review: A curious release in the Amon Düül II catalog -- originally it appeared only in Britain, and then as an astonishingly cheap budget release -- Live in London is, unsurprisingly, exactly what it says it is. Recorded near the end of 1972, it features the full-band lineup performing songs mostly from Yeti and Tanz der Lemminge for a quite enthusiastic crowd (if prog rock bands performed for a bunch of stoned hippies, one would never know that from the cheers throughout). The group pours on the energy in turn; while they aren't simply playing at full blast throughout, the song selection and inspired performances are the mark of a bandable to cut it just as well live as in the studio. Whether it was a conscious decision on the band's part to focus mostly on the rockers as opposed to the drifters is up for grabs, but it works; even the spacier numbers, like the aptly titled "Improvisations," consisting mostly of buried feedback and burbling keyboard intrusions, still have a good power to them. The heavy groove of "Eye Shaking King" is one standout to note; it's such a great take that swaying and gentle headbanging seem like the only natural things to do, while Karrer's fiery mid-song guitar solo is one of his best performances. Two lengthy Tanz tracks, "Syntelman's" and "Restless Skylight," appear in abbreviated forms, gaining in a more direct performance what they lose in length, while Knaup and Meid share vocals throughout to further reshape the songs for the live venue, a nice and successful change from the album cuts. Closing on a fine medley of "Riding on a Cloud" and "Paralyzed Paradise," with some more excellent mind-f*ck guitar on the latter (only a couple of minutes' worth, but just enough), Live in London is worth scrounging around for.
Progarchives Review: I absolutely love live in london it starts with archangels thunderbird which is better than the version on yeti and absolutely brilliant version,and then eye shaking king is a better version as the middle guitar bit is so addictive and played loud sounds excellent you just must hear both of these tracks,then soap shop rock is next which is shortened to 7.36 mins is good to but should of been the same length as the yeti version as its to short but this is all live and sounds good anyway,all the other tracks on the album are a good listen and a must hear in my opinion,i got the mystic records version of live in london which makes me which i got the remastered version,the version ive got has 2 bonus tracks one which is bavarian soap rock rock[17.44 mins]is i cant help but to say what or whoever made the extra bit in this song the extra sound in the song has messed it up as it sounds like the original of yeti with just extra sound in it which is a waste of time[ i could of made a better job on it and i cant play guitar or bass that well],and then improvisation on gulp a sonata at 2.54 isnt to bad but i think if you want to buy live in london buy the reamasted version in stead as i think that is what i will do,till then i,ll play this till the end of paralized paradise and stop after that,this is worth having as its a good live album but i dont think its a whole altogether live album as it would of been nice to hear the talkitive bits between the songs like when they say what songs next this way it would of been better than cutting it,i give it 4 stars.
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