Hugh Lloyd Langton

@ The Marr's Bar, Worcester, 6/4/03

A shortened set from Huw Lloyd Langton and his band was the result of a poor turn out at The Marr's Bar tonight. Probably a mis-match of the choice of evening (normally an acoustic night) and the brash psychedelia of the band. Nonetheless, eventually they started their set and instantly ones senses were aroused by the barrage of drums, bass, keyboards and guitar. Quite typical of the early Hawkwind material but with contemporary undertones, the set was brilliant. Loud, brash and uncompromising with effects laden guitar at the fore supported cleverly by the often jazzy feeling keyboard. A rhythm section that did just what they're supposed to do; provide the driving force without ever overriding the main instruments. Nuances of many styles were thrown into the mix - even some reggae rhythms - what's all that about then?

The numbers were long and interesting with, again in typical early Hawkwind tradition, occasional vocal interjections. Some of the post-rockers around would do well to experience Huw's style; the use of reverb, delay and sustain to create breathtaking dynamics was pretty inspiring. Yes, the set was loud, very loud, fearsome, the sort of decibels that you could pick up and take home with you by the pocketful!! Maybe not everybody's cup of tea but if you were out tonight looking for a mind-trip then this was the place to be. The overall feel was earthy, eerie and spacey (eh, earthy and spacey at the same time?), a mind-fuck of gigantic proportions. Certainly, with this sort of sound you don't need chemicals or booze to get high - music is the drug!!

The use of the contemporary undercurrent with the total psychedelia of the lead guitar was stunning; witness an updated version of 'Hurry On Sundown' - a superb reworking of a brilliant track some thirty years or so on!! A great, if somewhat short, set!!

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