Ken Hensley - Tales Of Live Fire & Other Mysteries
Ken Hensley
Tales Of Live Fire & Other Mysteries
(Cherry Red)
7/10
By Decibel Report - June 10, 2020
With a legend finely weaved into the fabric of British Rock as the main creator of the classic Uriah Heep songs and sound, Ken Hensley needs no introduction. Nevertheless, to finally walk away from a band and cornerstone of British Rock Music to follow his nose to possible dead-end obscurity would dissolve most musical polymaths into a dark puddle of sour reflections on their many past glories. Then to observe his former band resurrect and re-assert their legendary name might test and strain every fibre of his very being dwelling upon a far-reaching decision made in possible haste.
Yet, Ken Hensley doesn’t seem to be one to stare into any puddle of dark despair. In fact, he can positively thank his lucky stars he wrote a magnificent chapter of everlasting stonewall classic tunes in the Great British Rock songbook. Moreover, by continuing to release well-received new music and playing many live shows, some in concert with stellar collaborators, Hensley definitely hasn’t stood still with clay feet clanking.
As proof, Cherry Red has compiled a compendium of Hensley's more recent post-Heep solo works under the Live Fire banner, backed up by a couple of solid gold live recordings on this satisfying box set.
With no new/unreleased bonus additions to what has already been put out into the public realm, put together the two studio sets and live recordings place a sharp lens observation across a musically peripatetic couple of years.
The emotive, soul-bearing balladic nature to Love & Other Mysteries, supremely elevated by Glenn Hughes’ vocal participation, is a stylistic songwriting detour into unchartered waters for Hensley which works very well in parts if not actually in its whole.
Whereas, Hensley’s Live Fire Trouble release rekindles the old flame of Uriah Heep in song, delivery and feel. With sweeps of arch Hammond Organ and chunky guitar riffing, there’s a Heepful of vibes chiming back down the years from a creative flow being tapped from a wistful wellspring of milestone moods and muscle memory moments.
Going beyond the recording studio, both live releases demonstrate the continuing draw Hensley has in attracting the already charmed and the plain curious to his concerts. In particular, his solo performance reveals a performer contentedly at ease with his own legend as he goes back to basics on some of his most famous tunes. In contrast, his Live Fire band approach to most of the same songs, with a few solo dead-ringers including epic showstoppers Blood On The Highway and The Last Dance, blow away any possible cobwebs that might have dared to settle on these big band bangers.
Clearly not wishing to escape his illustrious past by celebrating in concert his much-loved self penned Heep tunes and studio releases, Ken Hensley can afford to be very proud to dust down these recordings from their estimable vault shelf for a very welcome and overdue airing. It’s a shame that there isn’t any extra bonus tracks to supplement an otherwise desirable box set.