Carl Palmer "Working Live - Volume 1"

Tim Jones wrote in Record Collector (May, 2003) about Carl Palmer's "Working Live - Volume 1", "The ELP drummer captured live with his band of razor sharp player guitarist Shaun Baxter and bassist Dave Marks in 2001. The eight track set predictably includes a drum finale (and any one who's seen the technician in action knows that he's right at the top of the tub thumping tree) while much of the remainder is a slick instrumental run through of some ELP classics. Hence we get the tempestuous percussive maelstrom of "Barbarian" all wiry runs, Crimson like ebb and flow mewling guitar. Then the discordent "The Enermy God" gives way to a Vai-esque, blues tinged "L.A. Nights" and an ultra twiddly take on "Tank". Elsewhere there are more start/stop rifle bursts of the drum and guitar, not least a whirring three headed monster in the shape of "Toccata". If you like instrumental virtuosity this should sit well with you."