Enter Shikari - Live From Planet Earth
For a band whose live show is as visual as Enter Shikari's, a live album is a very ambitious move.
Live From Planet Earth proves that Shikari can carry a show without their "gimmick" of an incredible light show.
The levels are mixed well to capture the energy of an Enter Shikari show, keeping the crowd noise just loud enough to be noticed.
Recording in December 2010 in Hatfield, it's a set littered with talk between songs that make this more than just a slighty gritty version of a greatest hits.
After an 'Intro', 'Solidarity' sets of the set in a great way, kick-starting a great live album.
In what can be both a criticism and a compliment on a live album, the vocals do lack a bit of quality compared to their studio counterparts.
However, moments where things feel natural are what makes live music an unrivalled experience, and its nice to hear that captured on CD.
A new dubstep intro for 'Mothership' gives it a fresh feel, helping the early Enter Shikari classics still remain exciting.
It's nice to hear the imperfections, with Tony (presumably a sound technician) nearly starting Zzzonked again, before the band stopped him and went into the somewhat muted 'No Ssweat'.
Thankfully, 'The Feast' picks up the energy and pace to regain some momentum to the album and set.
The set-list combines old and new, with recent singles like 'Destabalise' working well alongside classic tracks like 'Labyrinth'.
'Gap In The Fence' is a rare tender moment for Enter Shikari, and it seems well-received on the album.
The set comes to its proper end with 'Sorry You're Not A Winner', complete with a fresh (albeit very short) introduction.
This is an example of how well-mixed the live album is, with the crowd noise adding to the atmosphere and energy of an already exciting track.
Live From Planet Earth is a great example of how to capture the energy of a live show on a CD, and shows Enter Shikari are still a force to be reckoned with.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge
Tagged in Enter Shikari