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Originally
recorded as a live album containing most of their "hits," Eyewitness
was in fact conceived … in the studio! In fact, the band recorded
the entire album with a live feel, but … without an audience! All of
the tracks were recorded in the famous Wisseloord studios in
Holland. Later, 200 members of the band’s fanclub were dragged in so
their applause could be recorded. The fake audience has not been
included on this CD-transfer so what you get here is the "real"
sound of the band, how they sounded live without the polished studio
treatment.
“Ruthless
Queen” remains one of the many highlights in the band’s remarkable
career. There’s the funkiness of “Want You To Be Mine” (although I
remember having seen Kayak live when I was young (gasp), and hearing
that track more in a Uriah Heep fashion) and the driven force of
“Chance For A Lifetime” including some superb Moog interventions!
There’s an almost disco-feel with “Who’s Fooling Who” before
Scherpenzeel can musically show his love for his wife in the
instrumental “Irene,” which sounds very much like Camel what with
Johan Slager throwing in some cool Latimer chords!
One of the
all-time Kayak live favourites, “Starlight Dancer," is also included
here, although it sort of misses what made the studio version so
special. Hard and driving is “No Man’s Land” with a versatile
Scherpenzeel banging the ivories whilst Slager joins in with some
stunning guitar licks. Two interesting bonus tracks have been added
here. “Car Enchanter” is a specially recorded version from the
Merlin album, recorded for Keystone products. “Ivory Dance ‘94” is a
re-recorded instrumental with a nice minimal build-up.
If you’re
fed up with greatest hits packages and still want to own a
cross-section of a band’s material then this one’s for you. By means
of the various moods, it clearly depicts the great potential which
was always available within Kayak, one of the biggest names
in "acceptable progpop from Holland!" |
