Musicians: H: Vocals, Songs, Piano David Gregory (XTC): Guitars Aziz Ibrahim (Stone Roses, Ian Brown): Guitars Richard Barbieri (Japan, Porcupine Tree): Keyboards Stephanie Sobey-Jones: Cello Dalbir: Singh: Tabla Jingles: Bass Guitar Andy Gangadeen (Massive Attack, The Bays): Drums
Released: 2002 Label: Poison Apple Records but you can buy it via http://www.racketrecords.com Total playing time: 74’42 + 77’06	Website: http://www.stevehogarth.com/
Progressive Rock
Tracklist: Disc 1 : The Evening Shadows 5’59 - Better Dreams 7’37 - Cage 8’44 - The Deep Water 9’58 - Life Is A Long Song (Jethro Tull) 3’56 - Song To The Siren (Tim Buckley) 4’30 - Man of the world (Fleetwood Mac) 3’24 - Old Wild men (10CC) 4’41 - New Amsterdam (Elvis Costello) 3’58 - Xen and Now (Aziz ibrahim) 11’51 - Nothing To declare 9’59 Disc 2 : Dream Brother (Jeff Buckley) 7’06 - I don’t remember (Peter Gabriel) 5’25 - Really like 7’05 - The Loving (XTC) 4’22 - Life On Mars? (David Bowie) 4’18 - Maybe I’m Amazed (Paul McCartney) 4’31 - Until You fall 6’04 - The last thing 13’08 - See Emily Play (Pink Floyd) 3’25 - You Dinosaur Thing 6’17 - Estonia (Marillion) 9’48 - This is the 21st century (Marillion) 5’31

Releasing a double live album when you have released only one single studio album, has never been done before, I suppose. And yet it proves to be something special. The title and the concept are very original. “Live Body : Live Spirit” was recorded at Dingwalls on 8^th and 9^th August 2001. The first night concentrated on spiritual, intimate music and the second night was more “balls-out”. (to quote H in his liner notes of the CD)

There are a lot of covers of very well known songs. I was a bit sceptical when I saw the titles of such great songs on the track list. Some songs are very difficult to cover, as the public knows the originals so well, they can’t accept another version. But on this double album, almost every cover is a brilliant adaptation of the original. There are a few exceptions, in my humble opinion. “Life Is A Long Song” by Jethro Tull and “I Don’t Remember” by Peter Gabriel are two songs in which I don’t like H’s performance. All the other covers are done brilliantly, which shows the quality of Steve’s vocals.

The complete “Ice Cream Genius” is played live. The songs are played with a totally different band.

“The Evening Shadows” starts with only a piano and a cello and Steve’s voice. A very special version of this song from “Ice Cream Genius”. The special line up of the band makes the songs from his solo album sound different. “Different” as in better. “I’ve got an animal inside me” he sings in the first song. And the animal stays inside until the second disc of this live set.

The first disc is meant to sit back, relax and enjoy 74 minutes of wonderful, intimate music.

“Better Dreams” is even more intimate. “The Cage” is a song with a lot of strange rhythmic synthesiser sounds in duel with the percussion section, showing the qualities of the famous Richard Barbieri (Japan, Porcupine Tree).
Even “The Deep Water” gets a face-lift. I didn’t really like it before, it’s still not my favourite, but with the new approach, it stands a chance amongst the other songs.
Following this set of Hogarth songs, we get a bunch of covers, starting with the Jethro Tull song “Life Is A Long Song”. Played by Dave Gregory (XTC) on guitar, in a Martin Barre style and sung by Steve of course. I prefer the original, as this song can only be sung by Ian.
The rest of the covers on disc 1 are all very well played. A brilliant version of “Song To The Siren”(Tim Buckley). It even matches the version of This Mortal Coil. I can’t compare to the new R. Plant version as I didn’t hear it yet.
The other covers of disc1 (see track list above) are all good versions, but not better then the original. “Xen And Now” is an instrumental by Aziz Ibrahim, in which you can hear his geographical and musical influences, but in which there isn’t happening a lot. The first disc ends with “Nothing To Declare” from Steve himself. Maybe the Hogarth song that comes closest to Marillion.

Disc 2 is the Body part, the songs that make you jump around. I won’t review every cover, you know most of the songs. Again they are all very well played and sung. . “Life On Mars?” is sung in a splendid way. Only “I Don’t Remember” doesn’t fit H’s voice.

Of course, the Marillion songs are very Marillion. What would you expect? No one can sing Marillion songs as Steve can.

Let’s take a look at the H songs of Disc2. “Really Like” is a very up tempo song which make people move around, with marvellous play by Richard. (The Stone Roses influences are present in the guitar play)
”Until You Fall” is a good song that rocks all the way, with some brass (synth) interventions. It contains a good funky guitar-bass duet. Even “The Last Thing” that wasn’t on the European release of ICG is on this live album.

The single “You Dinosaur Thing” is very poppy song to sing along and which is well received by the audience.

If this band had recorded “Ice Cream Genius”, it would have been a completely different album. You don’t need to be a Marillion fan to buy and enjoy this. I normally don’t buy any live albums, but this one is something different. With the different versions of the Hogarth songs and the brilliant covers, you’ve got a CD that doesn’t repeat the studio albums that you already own.

Reviewed by Danny 'Camil' Focke

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