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Live albums can be great, or they can be a shambles of terrible sound quality and hearing nothing but the crowd screaming as you strain to pick out the band.
Fortunately this live album, recorded at the Camden Underworld on Adequate Sevens farewell tour, falls into the former category. Having been there on the night, I can say the sound quality is good, and while some cringe-worthy singing from the crowd is audible, it is only occasional and certainly doesn’t spoil the overall effect.
For the majority of people who won’t have heard of Adequate Seven, they were a band that blended together punk rock & hardcore with a heavy dose of funk and a pinch of hip-hop. Despite their extensive use of brass instruments Adequate Seven did not play ska, unlike many of the UK punk bands of the late 90s / early 00s, something which set them apart from their peers and gave them a refreshing sound.
But anyway, enough band history. Last Night In London kicks off with ‘Human Condition’, the first proper track from their debut album. A fast and hard number with some group shout-along vocals, a slower funk-laden middle eight utilising claustrophobic brass, and a heavy breakdown near the end to top it all off. It sets the scene well for what to expect over the next 15 songs.
Despite only having two full-lengths and a long out of print debut EP, the band still have plenty of great songs to kick out, and having played close to 600 gigs before they split, they’re great live. They storm through old favourites from their debut album, which is generally harder and faster, as well as a mix of the best tracks from their second full length. ‘Protest Beat’ and ‘The State We’re In’ get a predictably warm welcome, while ‘Minor Details’, a more laid back number, is perfectly placed in the middle of the set allowing the listener (and the crowd at the gig!) to catch their breath. ‘Head Up High’ and ‘Set Your Sights’ brim with positivity, and while both still sound good, it’s unfortunate that minor mistakes are more noticeable than on the faster, heavier songs that are by their nature meant to have a more raw sound.
‘Free The Adequate Seven’ is a really funky bass and brass driven number that also features some spiky guitars, while ‘2 Minutes’ gives a rare airing of what is apparently the first song the band penned together. The band ends the set with the bittersweet ‘Splitting Up’, which was a single and seems fitting for the occasion. Fortunately though there is an encore, consisting of fan favourites ‘Choices’ and the scathing attack on consumer culture that is ‘No Space’.
This live album also contains a previously unreleased studio track ‘Imbalance’, which was recorded at the same time as their second album ‘Here On Earth’. While it wouldn’t have been the best song on that album, it’s still a very good track and a worthy addition to an already impressive package.
If you’re a fan of the band, this is an absolute necessity. But if you’ve not heard of them before, debut album ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’ is the place to start for those well versed in punk / hardcore, while ‘Here On Earth’ is better for those who like something a little more ‘radio friendly’ for lack of a better term.
You can sample some Adeqaute Seven songs on their myspace -
http://www.myspace.com/adequateseven
You can buy all their albums from www.amazon.co.uk
(so if you've won some GameADay vouchers you can get them free!)
Or you can also buy direct from the record labels (and listen to song samples)
http://www.householdnamerecords.co.uk/bands/adequateseven.php
http://www.gravitydip.com/band.jsp?ad7
Fortunately this live album, recorded at the Camden Underworld on Adequate Sevens farewell tour, falls into the former category. Having been there on the night, I can say the sound quality is good, and while some cringe-worthy singing from the crowd is audible, it is only occasional and certainly doesn’t spoil the overall effect.
For the majority of people who won’t have heard of Adequate Seven, they were a band that blended together punk rock & hardcore with a heavy dose of funk and a pinch of hip-hop. Despite their extensive use of brass instruments Adequate Seven did not play ska, unlike many of the UK punk bands of the late 90s / early 00s, something which set them apart from their peers and gave them a refreshing sound.
But anyway, enough band history. Last Night In London kicks off with ‘Human Condition’, the first proper track from their debut album. A fast and hard number with some group shout-along vocals, a slower funk-laden middle eight utilising claustrophobic brass, and a heavy breakdown near the end to top it all off. It sets the scene well for what to expect over the next 15 songs.
Despite only having two full-lengths and a long out of print debut EP, the band still have plenty of great songs to kick out, and having played close to 600 gigs before they split, they’re great live. They storm through old favourites from their debut album, which is generally harder and faster, as well as a mix of the best tracks from their second full length. ‘Protest Beat’ and ‘The State We’re In’ get a predictably warm welcome, while ‘Minor Details’, a more laid back number, is perfectly placed in the middle of the set allowing the listener (and the crowd at the gig!) to catch their breath. ‘Head Up High’ and ‘Set Your Sights’ brim with positivity, and while both still sound good, it’s unfortunate that minor mistakes are more noticeable than on the faster, heavier songs that are by their nature meant to have a more raw sound.
‘Free The Adequate Seven’ is a really funky bass and brass driven number that also features some spiky guitars, while ‘2 Minutes’ gives a rare airing of what is apparently the first song the band penned together. The band ends the set with the bittersweet ‘Splitting Up’, which was a single and seems fitting for the occasion. Fortunately though there is an encore, consisting of fan favourites ‘Choices’ and the scathing attack on consumer culture that is ‘No Space’.
This live album also contains a previously unreleased studio track ‘Imbalance’, which was recorded at the same time as their second album ‘Here On Earth’. While it wouldn’t have been the best song on that album, it’s still a very good track and a worthy addition to an already impressive package.
If you’re a fan of the band, this is an absolute necessity. But if you’ve not heard of them before, debut album ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’ is the place to start for those well versed in punk / hardcore, while ‘Here On Earth’ is better for those who like something a little more ‘radio friendly’ for lack of a better term.
You can sample some Adeqaute Seven songs on their myspace -
http://www.myspace.com/adequateseven
You can buy all their albums from www.amazon.co.uk
(so if you've won some GameADay vouchers you can get them free!)
Or you can also buy direct from the record labels (and listen to song samples)
http://www.householdnamerecords.co.uk/bands/adequateseven.php
http://www.gravitydip.com/band.jsp?ad7
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Live albums can be great, or they can be a shambles of terrible sound quality and hearing nothing but the crowd screaming as you strain to pick out the band.
Fortunately this live album, recorded at the Camden Underworld on Adequate Sevens farewell tour, falls into the former category. Having been there on the night, I can say the sound quality is good, and while some cringe-worthy singing from the crowd is audible, it is only occasional and certainly doesn’t spoil the overall effect.
For the majority of people who won’t have heard of Adequate Seven, they were a band that blended together punk rock & hardcore with a heavy dose of funk and a pinch of hip-hop. Despite their extensive use of brass instruments Adequate Seven did not play ska, unlike many of the UK punk bands of the late 90s / early 00s, something which set them apart from their peers and gave them a refreshing sound.
But anyway, enough band history. Last Night In London kicks off with ‘Human Condition’, the first proper track from their debut album. A fast and hard number with some group shout-along vocals, a slower funk-laden middle eight utilising claustrophobic brass, and a heavy breakdown near the end to top it all off. It sets the scene well for what to expect over the next 15 songs.
Despite only having two full-lengths and a long out of print debut EP, the band still have plenty of great songs to kick out, and having played close to 600 gigs before they split, they’re great live. They storm through old favourites from their debut album, which is generally harder and faster, as well as a mix of the best tracks from their second full length. ‘Protest Beat’ and ‘The State We’re In’ get a predictably warm welcome, while ‘Minor Details’, a more laid back number, is perfectly placed in the middle of the set allowing the listener (and the crowd at the gig!) to catch their breath. ‘Head Up High’ and ‘Set Your Sights’ brim with positivity, and while both still sound good, it’s unfortunate that minor mistakes are more noticeable than on the faster, heavier songs that are by their nature meant to have a more raw sound.
‘Free The Adequate Seven’ is a really funky bass and brass driven number that also features some spiky guitars, while ‘2 Minutes’ gives a rare airing of what is apparently the first song the band penned together. The band ends the set with the bittersweet ‘Splitting Up’, which was a single and seems fitting for the occasion. Fortunately though there is an encore, consisting of fan favourites ‘Choices’ and the scathing attack on consumer culture that is ‘No Space’.
This live album also contains a previously unreleased studio track ‘Imbalance’, which was recorded at the same time as their second album ‘Here On Earth’. While it wouldn’t have been the best song on that album, it’s still a very good track and a worthy addition to an already impressive package.
If you’re a fan of the band, this is an absolute necessity. But if you’ve not heard of them before, debut album ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’ is the place to start for those well versed in punk / hardcore, while ‘Here On Earth’ is better for those who like something a little more ‘radio friendly’ for lack of a better term.
You can sample some Adeqaute Seven songs on their myspace -
http://www.myspace.com/adequateseven
You can buy all their albums from www.amazon.co.uk
(so if you've won some GameADay vouchers you can get them free!)
Or you can also buy direct from the record labels (and listen to song samples)
http://www.householdnamerecords.co.uk/bands/adequateseven.php
http://www.gravitydip.com/band.jsp?ad7
Fortunately this live album, recorded at the Camden Underworld on Adequate Sevens farewell tour, falls into the former category. Having been there on the night, I can say the sound quality is good, and while some cringe-worthy singing from the crowd is audible, it is only occasional and certainly doesn’t spoil the overall effect.
For the majority of people who won’t have heard of Adequate Seven, they were a band that blended together punk rock & hardcore with a heavy dose of funk and a pinch of hip-hop. Despite their extensive use of brass instruments Adequate Seven did not play ska, unlike many of the UK punk bands of the late 90s / early 00s, something which set them apart from their peers and gave them a refreshing sound.
But anyway, enough band history. Last Night In London kicks off with ‘Human Condition’, the first proper track from their debut album. A fast and hard number with some group shout-along vocals, a slower funk-laden middle eight utilising claustrophobic brass, and a heavy breakdown near the end to top it all off. It sets the scene well for what to expect over the next 15 songs.
Despite only having two full-lengths and a long out of print debut EP, the band still have plenty of great songs to kick out, and having played close to 600 gigs before they split, they’re great live. They storm through old favourites from their debut album, which is generally harder and faster, as well as a mix of the best tracks from their second full length. ‘Protest Beat’ and ‘The State We’re In’ get a predictably warm welcome, while ‘Minor Details’, a more laid back number, is perfectly placed in the middle of the set allowing the listener (and the crowd at the gig!) to catch their breath. ‘Head Up High’ and ‘Set Your Sights’ brim with positivity, and while both still sound good, it’s unfortunate that minor mistakes are more noticeable than on the faster, heavier songs that are by their nature meant to have a more raw sound.
‘Free The Adequate Seven’ is a really funky bass and brass driven number that also features some spiky guitars, while ‘2 Minutes’ gives a rare airing of what is apparently the first song the band penned together. The band ends the set with the bittersweet ‘Splitting Up’, which was a single and seems fitting for the occasion. Fortunately though there is an encore, consisting of fan favourites ‘Choices’ and the scathing attack on consumer culture that is ‘No Space’.
This live album also contains a previously unreleased studio track ‘Imbalance’, which was recorded at the same time as their second album ‘Here On Earth’. While it wouldn’t have been the best song on that album, it’s still a very good track and a worthy addition to an already impressive package.
If you’re a fan of the band, this is an absolute necessity. But if you’ve not heard of them before, debut album ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’ is the place to start for those well versed in punk / hardcore, while ‘Here On Earth’ is better for those who like something a little more ‘radio friendly’ for lack of a better term.
You can sample some Adeqaute Seven songs on their myspace -
http://www.myspace.com/adequateseven
You can buy all their albums from www.amazon.co.uk
(so if you've won some GameADay vouchers you can get them free!)
Or you can also buy direct from the record labels (and listen to song samples)
http://www.householdnamerecords.co.uk/bands/adequateseven.php
http://www.gravitydip.com/band.jsp?ad7