Danish Blues (Siréne-199)
Falkoner Teatret, Copenhagen, Denmark – September 23rd, 1971
Disc 1: Intro, Careful With That Axe Eugene, Fat Old Sun, Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun, Cymbaline, Atom Heart Mother
Disc 2: Echoes, A Saucerful Of Secrets, Blues
Bonus CDR: A Saucerful Of Secrets, Blues, Echoes
Danish Blues is an excellent clear audience tape that tends to favor the upper frequencies. It is slightly distant but the atmosphere is captured very nicely. There are cuts between the songs presumably to save tape but all songs are complete with the exception of “Atom Heart Mother”, which is only seven minutes missing a large chunk of the beginning, and the end of “Set The Controls” which gets cut off at just under nine minutes. There are a few minor tape glitches throughout the recording but overall the tape seems to be in very good condition.
The performance tonight is superb with the band sounding very tight and in tune with each others playing. There is a tiny cut in Wright’s keyboard wanderings right before the footsteps section of “Cymbaline” that is handled much better on Siréne’s version than Shout To The Top’s Northern Old Sun. The ending of “Echoes” is different tonight than I’ve ever heard it before. Instead of the usual breakdown the band ends the track rather abruptly almost as if they were out of time but managed to play the lengthy “A Saucerful Of Secrets” and “Blues”.
In comparison, Danish Blues runs at the correct speed where Northern Old Sun runs about 3 or 4 % too slow and the “Atom Heart Mother” fragment, although listed on the back cover, was missing. Siréne didn’t crank up the level like Shout To The Top did and is not as harsh sounding. Danish Blues has better separation and is either closer to the master or they did a much better job with the mastering.
The bonus CDR is a direct copy of the 1971 Live In Denimerk LP (APR7801) which contained only the final three tracks. Vinyl surface noise is present and the sound quality doesn’t compare with Danish Blues. It was issued as a bonus initially but is no longer being offered with this title.
Siréne use the thick glossy paper again for the tray cards that really adds to their already class act production and Danish Blues is a worthy upgrade to Northern Old Sun and is a nice title to own, with or without the bonus CDR.
