The Allman Brothers' "Whipping Post," the Grateful Dead/ Phish concerts ragas, Mountain at the Isle of Wight doin' "Stormy Monday" or the percussive abandon of Santana at Woodstock is the atmosphere of Live Orion. Hear the tripped-out Hawkwind, space rock, sonic abandon here. Jam after jam, everyone in the band has opportunity to stretch, to extend the soul of the moment, in an uninhibited frame of mind. For me it was track after track of aimless, way too laidback, straight-up noodle rock.
Imagine Quicksilver Messenger Service redoes Happy Trails but adds some Tim Blake or Tangerine Dream synth work here and there. You have Quarkspace. This is retro-rock without the bell bottoms, no pink shades, and no Vietnam crisis. Best piece on the CD is "Whitehawk Space" which gave us much more synth work, walls of guitar wailings, and the bass at last, becomes melodic and animated.
Quarkspace is Chet Santia doing bass, vox, and guitar. Jay Swanson is keys. Dave Wexler is guitar. Paul Williams is drums, keys, and loops. Darren Gough had his guitar parts dubbed in later since he was ill the day of the show.
© John W. Patterson /TiVo