3.5

Release data:

Liveform – Take One Volume 1
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2013

Around the end of the ’90’s, preliminary to the formation of the band Remotion, Arjan Arjan Steenbergen and Richard Stuij briefly formed the band Liveform with Menno Zielhorst as third member.
“Take One, Volume 1” is their second album, offering eight tracks all made live in the moment, fully based on improvisation, with no overdubs or multi-tracking whatsoever.

There’s a natural freshness coming from this raw-ish rhythm/sequencer-based music, occasionally reminding of some stuff made by Ron Boots and friends in that same period, including some enthusiast Wavestation soloing. Opening track “Alive” already reveals this clearly through all its veins. “First Seven Days” is another notable track, featuring nicely straight forward sequencers and drums. These interlocking elements can be packed in a nutshell (as heard on the more relaxed “Platinum”) or in extended form on the 18-minute “Bellgium”.

Sure, the drums on the album are flat and overall, things sound unpolished, cramped and a bit raw at the edges, but the intrinsic fun and energy make up for that. Above all, this nice project shows the early evolution of Richard and Arjan into more multi-layered sequencing and complex composing techniques.

Website: liveform.bandcamp.com

You can see what reviews I have done of this artist on the Liveform artist page