Search - Steve Hillage :: Green (Mlps)

Where the Ozric Tentacles got their inspiration

BENJAMIN MILER | Veneta, Oregon | 06/16/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Green was the 1978 followup to Motivation Radio. This time around, Hillage and Giraudy returned to England (Motivation Radio was recorded in Los Angeles and L was recorded in New York). The original LP was pressed on green vinyl, came with an insert with lyrics to all the songs, a poster with a picture of Hillage himself with that strange symbol on his face, and mountains in the background, and the cover to the album was embossed. 1978 was obviously difficult times for many British bands not willing to hop on the punk bandwagon, but in '78 Hillage managed to stay true to the space rock that he obviously done so well since his days with Gong. What's even more surprising is a good deal of this album has a very strong hippie theme to it (the lyrics dealt with being in spiritual connection with the trees and with nature). "Sea Nature" sounds the most like something off Motivation Radio, reminding me of "Light in the Sky". "Ether Ships" finds Hillage experimenting with delayed guitar. This was the method you heard on Pink Floyd's The Wall (especially "Another Brick in the Wall Part 1") and many of Ozric Tentacles' works (like "Dissolution" off Pungent Effulgent). "Musick of the Trees" is prime example of hippie-oriented lyrics, the subject literally being he's talking to the trees. I especially love those electronic effects near the end. "Unidentified (Flying Being)" is one of those songs dealing with New Age mysticism, of him not wanting his auras messed about. "Leylines Over Glassdom" is another experiment in tape delay, but what's really interesting is none other than Nick Mason of Pink Floyd plays drums here! He also produced the album. It's also interesting to note he produced Gong's Shamal (in which Hillage was credited as a "guest" as he pretty much left the band by that album). "The Glorious Om Riff" is actually just an instrumental version of the theme to "Master Builder" from Gong's You. Ozric Tentacles also happened to play that song live in their early days and it also appeared on their early cassette, Live Ethereal Cereal (1986), which proves how much an impact Green had on the Ozrics. Green might not be the best space rock album out there, but definately you'll want this if you like Gong, solo Hillage, or Ozric Tentacles, for that matter."

Funky, spacey, heavy, hippie rock - the way it should be!

Micheal O Mealoid | 09/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Green - Ref. V2098, released 1978.Steve Hillage, at the time of this album, was one of the last great hippie guitar heroes, and was at the very top of his form. He had been touring with the group he assembled for this album for some time, so they were tight and knit together very well. By 1978, Hillage had lots of solo experience, with three solo albums behind him, and plenty of group experience, (most notably with Gong during their most successful period, 1973-75, composing and playing on the "Radio Gnome" trilogy of albums). He had worked with some of the best producers (Todd Rundgren and Malcolm Cecil), and some great musicians. For Green, his producer was Nick Mason, Pink Floyd's drummer and co-producer, and the quality of his work shines out. The guitars sing, the drumming is punchy, the bass infectious and funky, and the synthesisers are other worldly and spacey. Hillage's vocals are usually not his strong point, but here they are very good, while Miquette Giraudy's add an other worldliness and, it must be said, a nice feminine touch.Regarding the music, Green is basically a mix of hippie, funky, heavy and spacey rock. It works on different layers, keeping both ears and intellect happy. The first listening gives you a really tight group playing great guitar based hippie rock. Later, you can hear and appreciate the sophisticated bass lines, the imaginative drumming, not to mention the superb and highly distinctive guitar playing from Hillage. After that, well, if you really want to, you can get into the Gong references, the influence of Nick Mason, the almost fugue-like repetition of riffs. But let's not go too far, after all, I'm trying to convince you to buy it and listen to it! Ultimately, this album deserves a listen, and if you .On to the tracks: SEA NATURE is a fairly conventional rock track, but with fascinating liquid synth noises, a good song. ETHER SHIPS is an instrumental, with a repeating guitar riff that sounds like someone running, a funky bass line, drumming that fills the sound stage, and a wailing guitar solo. MUSICK OF THE TREES is quite relaxing, with a nice flute-like synth as a backdrop to drums, guitar and very interesting bass lines. PALM TREES (LOVE GUITAR) is a love song, with lots of echoed guitar, a cool drum beat, and a bass line that drops in now and then to say hello. UNIDENTIFIED (FLYING BEING) is unashamedly funky, with a bass line to match, wah-wah rhythm guitar and punchy drumming - a really great song. UFO OVER PARIS is an exercise in synthesisers going from low to high (you can test your speaker's responses with this song alone!), while LEYLINES TO GLASSDOM is a very relaxing theme played initially on synthesiser with a rising and falling guitar riff in the background. Eventually a solo guitar takes over the theme, and its worth the wait. CRYSTAL CITY is fairly heavy, with lots of guitar synth effects. ACTIVATION MEDITATION is fairly short, and acts as an intro for the next song. It's hard to describe - the best I can do is to say it's bouncy and synthy. THE GLORIOUS OM RIFF shows Hillage saving the best until last. Its a fairly heavy, intricate song, with an intro that builds throbbing drums on top of bass and a repeating synth riff that refers back to Gong, and yet sounds kind of North African. Soon the guitar zooms in, and takes over the riff, really heavy and powerful. The guitar squeals and sings, the synths seems to swirl around, the bass drum throbs, while the bass backs up the guitar. This is not a song, its an adventure in music! It ends with Hillage's Fender playing plaintive notes, like a whale singing in the sea.Hillage is first and foremost an electric guitar player, and if interesting and technically excellent guitar playing is what you like, then this is the album for you. The thee of the album is nature. The cover describes the album as "a celebration of time-space travel through nature". The lyrics speak of "the power of nature under the sea" and of "talking to the trees", and Hillage really meant it! A theme of Hillage's music during his entire solo career, he was a great believer in spirituality, especially reflected in nature, the sea, electricity, love, technology, music, etc., etc. If you can just transport yourself back to the mid 70's, to the simplicity and earnestness of hippiedom, to people who really believed in stuff, and try to suspend your disbelief for a bit, then it really is quite attractive. It's a pity there isn't a bit more of that kind of open hearted sincerity and genuineness in modern music. My advice is, buy it and listen to it - you won't be disappointed."

Fiery Prophetic Peace & Love Guitar

Micheal O Mealoid | 11/23/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Steve Hillage plays and sings on this album as if the coming of Utopia depended on blasting the listener's heart wide open. Other reviewers have said plenty about the style of music, to which I can only add that as a guitarist, he seems totally unconcerned with technique; his goal is transparency to the incredibly joyful, optimistic burning spiritual energy he's got to share. He is really a jewel among prog-rock/psych guitarists (and his band here is pretty darn rocking, too). This album is also the epitome of 70s British free-festival type music, so if for example you're a Grateful Dead fan, this will give you a window into the corresponding British scene (totally different in musical form, very similar in underlying ethos)."