Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Saga
Label: Inside Out Records
Release: 2007
Rating: 4.5/5
Over the last three decades, Saga have been known as one of the leading and most original bands in melodic prog rock/art rock, the kind with witty, refined arrangements, and they’ve managed to dodge clear genre labels pretty successfully the whole way. Even though they never reached the worldwide recognition and national-monument status of their Canadian travel companions Rush, they’ve remained one of the most sonically original bands around, and with albums like “Images At Twilight” (1979), “Silent Knight” (1980), “Worlds Apart” (1981) and “Heads Or Tales” (1983) they set quite a few milestones in the development of the neo-prog sound, as well as of all the more refined forms of rock music. These are all albums that haven’t lost any of their original magic and still thrill with their accessible mix of witty motifs, melody and complexity. And despite the many ups and downs that followed them through the ’90s, Saga are still an incredibly creative band today, and with their current album “Trust” (2006) they’ve once again made a record that’s fully on par with their golden era.
This double live album is a complete recording of their show in Pratteln, Switzerland, on December 8, 2005 (which is obvious from the fact that singer Michael Sadler wishes the crowd a merry Christmas several times between songs). Besides featuring performances of numerous tracks from across their whole career, mostly from their best years, it also offers a unique, complete performance of “Worlds Apart”, their landmark album that brought them their commercial breakthrough and wider recognition outside Canada and central Europe (especially Germany, where they’re still quite popular, though of course not by today’s standards of popularity). A performance like this brings something new and different once again, which makes it a must for every true fan of the band and lover of progressive melodies.
The first part of the recording opens with great takes on older classics like “The Pitchman” (Heads Or Tales), “Give’ Em The Money”, “Ice Nice” (both from Saga, 1978), “You’re Not Alone”, “See Them Smile” (both from Images Of Twilight), as well as the newer “The Runaway” (House Of Cards, 2001), a faithful continuation of their classic style and almost a sonic sibling of the older material. As you’d expect from a band with their reputation as a great live act, they upgrade every song with a mighty sound and an interpretation true to the original, without any improvising worth mentioning. Most of the songs are played noticeably faster than the originals, which is almost a given for a band that usually generates high-voltage energy and knows how to burn it down with heavier sounds when the moment calls for it. All the while they keep up strong contact with the crowd and an authentic concert atmosphere. Sadler once again proves his reputation as a true frontman, firing up the crowd whenever a classic chorus comes around. The main source of the recording’s uniqueness is of course the full performance of “Worlds Apart”, their last album up to “Full Circle” from 1998 to still feature their famous “chapters”, which made up a fascinating sci-fi story about Albert Einstein’s stolen brain (a story that finally came fully to life on the excellent double live album “Chapters Live”, 2005), and it’s found on the second disc. It’s hard to believe, but some of the songs come out even better than the original versions, because none of the band members show the slightest sign of fatigue or lack of energy. To close, they serve up a few more classics as well as newer pieces, the standouts being the superb ballad “Scratching The Surface” (Heads Or Tales), sung by keyboardist Jim Gilmour just like on the original, the big surprise “We’ve Been Here Before” (Wildest Dreams, 1987) from the period when they flirted with pop and disco rhythms, the witty “Humble Stance” (Saga), where Sadler, who usually spends most of his time at the mic or behind the keyboards, picks up the bass guitar, and the prog classic “Don’t Be Late” (Silent Knight), which brings back to life their cult story about cybernetic mares who, led by Einstein’s brain, wipe out nuclear weapons and cleanse the world of human delusions. The production is as excellent as ever, with an extremely lively sound as it should be, without any needless studio polishing, which is yet another trademark of this legendary band.
“Worlds Apart Revisited”, which also came out on DVD, is yet another superb live recording in the history of this splendid band and a faithful cross-section of some of the best moments in their history. At the same time, it manages to conjure the real magic of the classic album “Worlds Apart”, the one that put them on the world map of rock music. It’ll easily thrill all the band’s loyal fans. But it can also serve as a great starting point for anyone who’s only now decided to get up close with this always somewhat overlooked band, which currently finds itself at an important turning point in its career. Michael Sadler has completely out of the blue announced his departure from the band right after this year’s tour, which has saddened the vast majority of their fans, who simply can’t imagine Saga without him. The band’s future is hanging in the air for now, but it’s already clear that things will never be the same again. Even if “Worlds Apart Revisited” turns out to be one of their last official releases, they’ll be able to head off into a well-earned retirement with the fulfilling feeling that they’ve achieved everything there is to achieve in the world of melodic prog rock, and that their vast musical legacy will always live on in the hearts of all lovers of progressive melodies, so the saga will carry on for a long time yet, well into the 21st century.
Lineup
Michael Sadler – vocals
Ian Critchon – guitar
Jim Critchon – bass guitar
Jim Gilmour – keyboards, backing vocals
Brian Doerner – drums
Production
Jim Crichton
Track list
CD1:
1. The Pitchman (6:54)
2. Give ‘Em The Money (5:06)
3. You’re Not Alone (6:21)
4. See Them Smile (4:31)
5. The Runaway (5:39)
6. Ice Nice (6:28)
7. On The Loose (4:39)
8. Wind Him Up (6:00)
9. Amnesia (3:44)
10. Framed (5:35)
Running time: 54:57
CD2:
1. Times Up (4:52)
2. The Interview (3:47)
3. No Regrets (4:37)
4. Conversations (4:43)
5. No Stranger (5:51)
6. Scratching The Surface (3:57)
7. Keep It Reel (4:24)
8. We’ve Been Here Before (5:25)
9. Humble Stance (5:48)
10. Don’t Be Late (7:51)
11. How Long (3:47)
12. Careful Where You Step (5:21)
Running time: 60:27
