Album review: STEVE HILLAGE – Rainbow 1977

Steve Hillage - Rainbow 1977

Gonzo Multimedia [Release date 23.06.14]

Those of a certain age may remember Steve Hillage more for his range of woolly hats than his music. That’s a little bit cruel, but his headgear may have overshadowed sometimes patchy and meandering albums. Reviewing his 2006 remasters I opined that “In truth, without a spliff and a light show, you’re going to find much of this hard-going.” And this 1977 Rainbow gig is no different.

Hillage came out of the Canterbury Scene of the early 1970s forming the band Khan and playing in Kevin Ayers’ band. In 1973 he worked with, and subsequently joined, the French avant-garde prog rockers Gong but that had fallen apart by 1975 when Hillage resurfaced playing in Mike Oldfield’s band. In fact he became first reserve whenever Oldfield was asked to perform Tubular Bells live, given Oldfield’s reluctance to perform his magnum opus on stage at this time.

It was in the late-seventies that Hillage’s solo career blossomed and this Rainbow gig was recorded in November 1977. It’s an excellent recording but overlaps with his 1979 release ‘Live Herald’ (which was actually recorded between 1977-1978).

By the time of his then current album – ‘Motivation Radio’ – Hillage had gathered a reputation of new age guitar hero and the album marked a change from the sometimes rambling psychedelic rock workouts of his first two solo albums. There seemed to be a move to snappier, even more radio-friendly, tunes such as the featured ‘Light In The Sky’ and ‘Octave Doctors’.

This Rainbow gig still retains those extended wig-outs ( ‘Searching For The Spark’) along with set-list staples ‘It’s All Too Much’ and ‘Hurdy Gurdy Man’.

In the poor packaging there’s an absence of informative liner note or any recording credits, just a lazy reproduction of the 1977 tour programme which gives this release a whiff of “bootleg” which isn’t deserved.

For Hillage fans, and others seeking the roots of psychedelic prog and spaced-out ambience (which would influence the likes of The Orb a decade or so later) – worth investigating. ***1/2

Review by David Randall

David Randall presents ‘Assume The Position’ on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio every Sunday at 22:00 GMT.

Archive review (2006 remasters)

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