Living Force

Rip It Up, Issue 4, 1 September 1977, Page 12

Living Force

Alastair Dougal

Recording an album seems to have done Living Force the world of good. It’s given them an opportunity to focus their creativity more narrowly than they have in the past, and their audience gains the benefit. New bass player/guitarist/vocalist, Matt Matopi, provides a more solid bottom than his predecessors in the job, and with drummer Glen Absolum and percussionist Mike Fisher, provides a dynamic rhythm section. They’re working in a vein that must ultimately be described as Santana influenced—largely guitar oriented instrumentals in which Harvey Mann now displays great control, and

utilises his Santana-ish guitar tone on the melodically strong material. The odd percussion work-out went on too long but the audience loved every minute of it.

Also full praise to Living Force’s natural and unpretentious way of putting their music across to the capacity crowd at this concert. The show is an extension of their obvious joy at making music, they can get an entire audience jumping three feet in the air with no great amount of coaxing.

Look out for their album when it comes out or, better still, go and see them soon.