Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Ultravox
Label: Chrysalis Records
Released: 2010
Rating: 5/5
Ever since their classic lineup (vocalist/guitarist Midge Ure, keyboardist/violinist Billy Currie, bassist Chris Chross and drummer Warren Cann) got back together in 2008, the legendary new wave heroes Ultravox have kept up their victorious return from the dead in grand style. »Return to Eden – Live at the Roundhouse« is a double live document marking their ‘resurrection’. As the title already suggests, it’s dominated by cuts from the cult album »Rage In Eden« (1981), but they don’t forget to roll out plenty of evergreens from their unforgettable studio masterpieces like »Vienna« (1980), Quartet (1982) and »Lament« (1984), in other words the classic albums of the Ure era, when Ultravox were at the peak of their artistic and commercial powers.
Ure’s vocal form is phenomenal across the whole recording, as if he hadn’t aged a day, while Currie reigns supreme with an untamed layering of synth textures, which Ultravox use to build their trademark symphonic, epic, melodramatic sound from the days when synthpop ruled the top of the radio charts. The renditions of the individual evergreens stay as faithful to the studio originals as they can, with a solo improvisation or two at most. The first disc opens with the instrumental »Vienna« classic »Astradyne«, where Currie’s aforementioned talent for building grand, synth-spiced atmospheres comes through best, while the energetic hit »Passing Strangers«, under Ure’s charismatic vocal command and a punchy guitar riff, lifts the mood up another notch.
The legendary Scottish singer and guitarist, who pitches in on synth duties when Currie needs a hand, shines even more vocally on the dark art pop rock gem »We Stand Alone«, where you can also really feel the massive layering of Cann’s drum fills. Currie’s synth wizardry again and again breaks through into the role of the main rhythm line here too. The mysterious, gloomy instrumental »Mr. X« (with the odd bit of creeping narration), dominated by a vast synth kingdom and not a modern digital gadget in sight, builds up through dramatic ambient escalation into yet another victorious trip back in time to the eighties. While Ure briefly takes over on the synths, Currie treats himself to a lip-smacking violin solo.
Just as ambiently gripping and dramatic, and just as faithful to the studio originals, are the unforgettable evergreens »Visions in Blue« and »The Thin Wall«. On the latter, amid the epic flow of synth layers, Ultravox’s rock side shines too, as Ure gives his fingers a decent workout on the electric guitar a few times. From second to second, this excellent live document proves that Ultravox are still masters at conjuring grand, epic atmospheres stamped with the spirit of a long-gone era. The gloomy new wave stifler »I Remember (Death In the Afternoon)«, ruled by ice-cold synth textures backed by jagged guitar phrases and perfectly timed drum fills, is another highlight of this live release. The next classics of the night, the dystopian »Rage In Eden« and the majestic, epic »Lament«, are just as impressively true to their melodramatic originals, and as such are a real balm for the ears.
The second disc holds their biggest hits, which they carefully save for the last part of the show, when the elated crowd is already starting to seriously drool over the fact that the most ‘notorious’ stuff hasn’t even come up yet. Ure, always in the mood for a good joke, talks in between about how the band members were most afraid, six months earlier when the decision to tour was made, that nobody would show up. Ultravox start teasing the big-hit lovers with an excellent version of the »Lament« evergreen »One Small Day«, which will whisk all the nostalgics back to the eighties in an instant, followed by two more »Rage In Eden« classics, the ultra-dramatic ‘cybernetic’ treat »All Stood Still« and the existentialist lament »Your Name (Has Slipped My Mind)«.
From here on, an elite selection of their most beloved classics follows. The unforgettable hits »Vienna«, »Reap The Wild Wind« and »Dancing With Tears In My Eyes«, with the crowd going completely nuts, haven’t sounded this good in ages since the studio originals came out. The atmosphere is no less heated during the phenomenal versions of the legendary »Quartet« epic »Hymn«, where the audience joins in on the chorus, and the »Vienna« hit »Sleepwalk«. Ultravox then wrap it all up with the unforgettable new wave/neo prog rock hybrid »The Voice«, which still thrills all fans of new wave and neo prog rock bands like Fish-era Marillion, IQ, Pallas and Twelfth Night under one roof.
»Return to Eden« is a triumphant return of one of the finest new wave bands of the eighties, in their classic lineup, and through the performances of their beloved classics they sound like they haven’t aged a bit in thirty years. This excellent live recording, marked by perfectionist production too, is clear proof of why Ultravox, soon after their comeback and despite stubborn denials that they’d be making fresh material, found enough interest and drive for a new studio album called »Brilliant« (2012), their first studio effort with Ure since 1986.
Lineup
Midge Ure – vocals, guitar, synthesizer
Billy Currie – keyboards, violin
Chris Cross – bass guitar, synthesizer
Warren Cann – drums
Production
Ultravox
Tracklist
CD1
1. Astradyne
2. Passing Strangers
3. We Stand Alone
4. Mr. X
5. Visions in Blue
6. The Thin Wall
7. I Remember (Death in the Afternoon)
8. Rage in Eden
9. Lament
CD2
1. One Small Day
2. All Stood Still
3. Your Name (Has Slipped My Mind)
4. Vienna
5. Reap The Wild Wind
6. Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
7. Hymn
8. Sleepwalk
9. The Voice
