Level 42
'LIVE'
(Wienerworld)
The 1980's was a decade of one-hit wonders, blatant commercialism and preposterous egotists. It spent half it's years with only one eye on the ball, floundering in weary indifference and being culturally overwhelmed by a flood of instantly forgettable synth-pop tunes and narcissistic big hair anthems. It was, without question, the decade that good taste ignored. Of course there were notable exceptions. Level 42 oozed originality and perception, the soulful jazz/funk sound of their self titled debut album towered above anything else at that time, with its skilled balance of perfectly weighted styles and remarkable musicianship it was a flourishing symphonic conclusion by anyones standards. In 1985 the commercial success of the single 'Something About You' kick started the ascension to super stardom and an entire nation, it seemed, were Level 42 fans. Recorded live at the Town and Country Club in London in March 1992 the recently released DVD captures a dynamic and inspired Level 42 performance. From the roving, funk paced opener 'Hot Water' they rarely miss a beat and are consistently flawless song to song, the shimmering cohesion of the horn section, the solid punctuation of Gary Husband's accomplished drumming, Mark King's unconventional guitar virtuosity and those unexpected flourishes that such clever musicianship conjures up. They unfurl their back catalogue with remarkable style – heartbreak ballad 'Leaving Me Now', refined pop tune 'Running In The Family', the infectious bounce of 'Children Say' and groovy funk classic 'Lessons In Love' are among them. A wildly jubilant crowd is the true measure of any live performance and the greatest review you'll ever see – as the celebratory ones who filled this venue to full capacity proved.
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