In this phenomenal new world where the thin red line between real and fake is now constantly blurred, whether in words , visions and sounds, there is nothing more soothing and comfortable than a live recording. A humanoid band of living and breathing creatures playing actual instruments, on a factual stage with tangible people in the audience is nothing short of active resistance to the AI hegemony that will soon engulf us all (for our alleged own good). Martin Kennedy takes his sonic ruminations straight into the concert hall of a social club, where amplifiers and lighting do the obeying, in service to the musicians. What a novel concept, enjoy it while you can!
As per my usual self-imposed rules, live album reviews do not get the track-by-track treatment simply because they are invariably not discoveries but replays. The concentration will be on the atmosphere and mood as instrumental highlights. This November 2025 was surely an intimate affair (a social club is a cool place to preform a concert, me thinks!) and with an opening track titled “Uplift-Four Three”, one can surmise that the entire experience will be a blissful travelogue into the stars. Martin has a stunning rhythm section with an active, upfront bass player and a solid drum alliance (Ben in a wheelchair having broken his leg), laying down the colossal grooves that makes his music closer to therapy than just mere audiophonics. Yes, the melodic themes are dreamy and atmospheric but clearly defined with immense feeling and passion. Playing at reduced speed may actually be harder than blitzing through fully ablaze, helter-skelter and cranking up the volume. The focus is uniquely on creating a mind-blowing hypnosis, a warm cocoon of sound that may make one comfortably numb and daring to dream. My all-time favourite definition of progressive music is a soundtrack to the movie in one’s mind. The soothing panacea is utterly addictive and hence can be extremely personal. Its not always soporific stylistics either, as the band ratchets up the sound on thrilling tracks like “Waukaringa”, “Wisteria” or “Everything”.
All through the dozen drifting pieces, one has a sense of travelling far into the universe, unhurried and unafraid. This is the main reason for maintaining my rather voluminous All India Radio (A.I.R) collection as Mr. Kennedy is quite the prolific artist , also hooking up with Aussie legend Steve Kilbey, he of the Church fame, Devin Townsend as well as classical guitarist Gareth Koch. I don’t even consider this as music, more like organic, side-effect proof medicine. The shamans would approve.
5 live Tasmanian devils