In the Hothouse [Clear Vinyl]

by The Sound

Overview

The Sound came across as being very desperate on record. Never the loudest or the most aggressive band on the planet, much of its studio work remains surprisingly capable of making you feel as if you've been grabbed by your collar, thrown against a wall, and forced to confront every feeling you have attempted to quell. In the London Marquee performances presented on In the Hothouse, that desperation and intensity are even more palpable. The disc culls from gigs that took place on two late-August nights in 1985 and, as a result, it's heavy on Heads and Hearts material, which was released the same year. The band was so prone to rushes of adrenaline when on-stage that it had to consciously slow down to avoid throwing a rod. Admittedly, this self-consciousness takes the edge off some of the performances here. "Heartland" suffers the most, sounding somewhat dreary and too tamed when compared to its non-live counterpart found on Jeopardy. Still, In the Hothouse documents the band in fine form, running through then-new material and the brightest spots of its back catalog with tightness, spirit, and an unparalleled level of conviction. For the most part, the band stays true to the original arrangements. The most significant difference is in the mix; Max Mayers' keyboards have a presence not heard on the band's studio albums (usually for the better), and Michael Dudley's drums have added oomph. Hearing Adrian Borland lug his abused throat through emotionally draining songs like "Missiles" and "Burning Part of Me" makes one want to jump back into time to catch what must have been one whale of a performance to witness. That's the biggest problem with live records. You're only getting half the picture. Er, none of it, technically. [When Renascent reissued the album with vibrant sound in 1997, they added two songs from a 1994 Rotterdam performance. They add little to what was there to begin with.] ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	08/07/2020
Label:	Demon Records
UPC:	5014797903012

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Winning
2. Under You
3. Total Recall
4. Skeletons
5. Prove Me Wrong
6. Wildest Dreams
7. Burning Part Of Me
8. Heartland

Disc 2

9. Hothouse
10. Judgement
11. Counting The Days
12. Red Paint
13. Silent Air
14. Sense Of Purpose
15. Missiles

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Sound   Primary Artist
Festival of the Sound Ensemble   Primary Artist
Michael Dudley   Drums
Colvin Mayers   Vocals (Background),Keyboards,Guitar
Graham Bailey   Bass
Adrian Borland   Guitar,Vocals

Technical Credits

Jon Ivory   Live Sound
Max Mayers   Composer
Michael Dudley   Composer
Graham Bailey   Composer
Adrian Borland   Producer,Composer
Mark Wade   Engineer
Jon King   Engineer
The Sound   Producer