Greenslade – Large Afternoon (Esoteric Recordings)

 

“Large Afternoon” is a brand-new reissue set from Greenslade. It combines the studio album and a “Live 2001” set. This set also marks the final recordings from Greenslade.

The band initially reunited in 2000 and wrote music that later became “Large Afternoon.” The band continued with their progressive style heavily driven by keyboards. The music is very easygoing and charming, with very reflective passages. One could say “Large Afternoon” is a very personal-sounding album, which makes this reunion even more sincere. It didn’t last long, but it was certainly worth it for a record like this.

“Live 2001” catches the band on stage playing a mix of new and old tracks. Five tracks from “Large Afternoon” are included in this 12-song set, which tells you how strongly Greenslade felt about the new music. The band feels very comfortable in a live setting, improvising here and there, and really having fun with the music. It doesn’t feel like a show; it feels more like a celebration of music and its creators.

The 2-CD set is accompanied by a very lavish booklet. It includes some cool photos and a very informative essay from Steve Pilkington. Everything about this reissue feels very warm and special, and you get the same feeling while listening to the recordings. What a magical time it was when bands like Greenslade were able to get together and create this truly timeless music. “Large Afternoon” is definitely an important document that extends that legacy into forever.

Mark Kadzielawa