I never did get to see the original lineup of Karnataka live. I only knew their atmospheric celtic-flavoured progressive rock through the albums, especially the excellent live double “Strange Behaviour” that turned out to be their swansong. I discovered them just around the time I started going to gigs again. I almost got to see them supporting Blue Öyster Cult in 2003, but they pulled out because Rachel Jones had lost her voice. I was planning to see them on the tour scheduled in late 2004, only for the band to split just before the tour.
When founder Ian Jones reformed the band with a completely new lineup a couple of years later, I was more than a little sceptical. How much of the spirit of the original band would survive with just the bass player remaining from the original band?
I hadn’t originally intended to go to the Crewe show, having pencilled in the Manchester one ten days later. But I got an email from an old friend Ian Redfearn who I hadn’t seen for five years asking if I was interested in going to the Crewe show, so I changed my plans. On a wet Thursday night the Crewe Limelight didn’t contain anything like the heaving throng that I’ve seen turn out for Mostly Autumn shows, but there were still a decent number of people there by the time Karnataka finally hit the stage.
Two or three songs into the set I was converted. The new lineup produced the same sweeping atmospheric sound, and more than did the music justice. Vocalist Lisa Fury has both a great voice and stage presence. She kept close to the original vocal arrangements rather than reinterpreting them, which is probably the wise thing to do at this stage, although with just one singer, some songs had to manage without the two-part harmonies. I was also very impressed with Enrico Pinna’s fluid guitar work; very ‘prog’, but never once lapsing into self-indulgent noodling. Not quite sure what to make of keyboard player Gonzalo Carrera’s hairstyle; so 1970s he could have been an extra in “Life on Mars”. He should have worn a cape! The flawless two hour show mixed a lot of old favourites with several strong new songs that bode well for the new-look band’s future. The finished with the audience singalong to the encore “Out of Reach”, which is as good a way to end a show as anything.
I shall probably be still be attending Manchester Walkabout on March 18 for a second helping.
