TRACK LIST: 

1.  Transformed 2:59
2.  We Are What We Are 10:45
3.  Beyond Man and Time 6:38
4.  Unchain the Earth 7:12
5.  The Ugliest Man 9:02
6.  The Road of Creation 6:10
7.  Somewhere in Between 9:32

LINEUP:

Yogi Lang – vocals; keyboards
Marc Turiaux – drums 
Kalle Wallner – guitar 
Werner Taus – bass 
Markus Jehle – keyboards 

Analysis. I recall that when I listened to and wrote about the studio version of this album, I found it to be a good and worthwhile production but one that didn't really manage to conjure too many truly magical, breathtaking experiences. A pleasant album, one that would please the fans for sure, but perhaps lacking somewhat of a spark. The live version of this production is a more interesting experience however. Just about all the songs contain more nerve and tension in the live performance documented here. That the band had performed these songs live on a number of occasions prior to recording this live production is most likely a key ingredient as to why these compositions come across as more intriguing entities on this occasion, that the band is tight and secure in their performance also an element that can be subscribed to the material performed live on many previous occasions and which elevates the listener experience quite nicely. You do come across live albums where you can't quite understand why this concert was recorded and released as a commercial product, but this one isn't one of them. Instead I'd say that live albums such as this one document just why we need live recordings. Those not familiar with RPWL will find the band to be subtly challenging to come to grips with when listening through this first half of the concert I guess. From an initial atmospheric oriented opening piece, one that reminded me ever so slightly of the Quodia project from a few years back, to the following fairly frail, ballad oriented compositions with and without alternating harder edged sequences, with the vocals as a key element and with occasional mystical sounding Moog solo elements. A bit in the songs starts to change in nature, and a composition like Unchain the Earth does, at least to my ears, sound like a meeting of minds between late 80's Rush and U2. This first of two discs ebbs out with Somewhere in Between, and by now RPWL has taken a few more detours ending up with a fairly sophisticated creation as far as shifts in moods, atmosphere and arrangements go, featuring frail atmospheric sequences with more of a cinematic nature supplemented quite nicely with both ballad-oriented gentle parts, harder edged passages driven by Wallner's guitar exploits and more psychedelic oriented excursions with more or less careful effects dominating the proceedings. Those familiar with Pink Floyd and Eloy will encounter familiar sounds throughout, although at least to my ears these are more faint trace signals than truly distinct and up front similarities as such.

CD-2 (43:00)

TRACK LIST: 

1.  The Shadow 6:58
2.  The Wise in the Desert 6:09
3.  The Fisherman 17:34
4.  The Noon 4:36
5.  Roses 7:43

LINEUP:

Yogi Lang – vocals; keyboards
Kalle Wallner – guitars 
Marc Turiaux – drums 
Werner Taus – bass 
Markus Jehle – keyboards 
With:
Ray Wilson – vocals (5)

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Related Links:

Gentle Art of Music Records
RPWL

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