The Hillage reissue programme ends here, scooping up last time’s chronologically-skipped Green and the awesome Live Herald. Again, there are extensive sleevenotes and bonus tracks, though compared to the first set, the cupboard looks bare.
Green continues Hillage’s mid-70s style, having the appropriate floating glissando space-trip sound effects and Nick Mason producing. Open, however, though starting with Talking To The Sun (a typical mid-70s composition), really kicks off with 1988 Aktivator, a furious and snappy punk-styled song that was originally part of a studio Side D of Live Herald.
Despite his hippy roots, Hillage had caught something of the changing times. That’s not to say that he fully embraced punk. The exuberant arrangements owed as much to P-Funk, while the only clunker in this catalogue, For To Next/And Not Or, is a turgid, bandwagon-jumping slice of early 80s synthpop.
Hillage then seemed to have semi-retired, sporadically appearing as producer for Simple Minds and The Charlatans. But respect for him didn’t diminish. One free festival was named ’88 Aktivator and his influence could be heard on the cosmic warblings of Ozric Tentacles. He now plays ambient/trance-rock in System 7, with long-time partner Miquette Giraudy. This is work deserving of reissue.
