Tyketto - 'Live From Milan 2017'

An absolutely brilliant release.

Tyketto have been a regular touring entity since their reformation in 2004, even more so since the revamped line-up appeared in 2014. The excellent 2016 album 'Reach' rewarded them with a whole new army of admirers, but in a recording history dating back twenty-six years, they have never released a live album or DVD (Danny Vaughn's solo 'Forever Live' is, up to now, the only live document of this amazing front-man), so 'Live From Milan 2017' is well overdue – let's face it, as wonderful as their albums are, it's in the live arena that Tyketto truly shine.

Recorded at the 2017 Frontiers Festival in April, rather than perform the set-list that promoted the 'Reach' album, Tyketto wisely returned to the set that celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of their much-loved 'Don't Come Easy' debut, the album played in its entirety, but backwards, beginning with 'Sail Away' and culminating with their anthem – as Vaughn pointed out when he revealed to the audience they would play the album in reverse "if we played 'Forever Young' first you'd all fuck off home!" With '...Easy' exhausted, for an encore we get 'Rescue Me' and the brilliant 'Reach', while the DVD adds 'Dig In Deep'.



The sole negative of this release is the one that has plagued all Frontiers Festival visual releases to date – the lighting is simply inadequate for filming a live show. It's better than that of Treat's 'The Road More Or Less Traveled', but there are still times when some of the band are shrouded in darkness. That said, the great visual editing by bassist Chris Childs makes the best of the situation, with each band member getting an equal share of the spotlight. On the other side of things, the audio mix is simply phenomenal, the balance of electric and acoustic guitars perfect, and also highlighting just what an important part of Tyketto keyboardist Ged Rylands has become with his impeccable backing vocals. The crowd sing-alongs (always an integral part of a Tyketto show) are also clearly audible.

Lighting issues aside, the band themselves do what they always do in a live situation, perform an absolute blinder while enjoying the hell out of it. Guitarist extraordinaire Chris Green plays like he's been a member forever, drummer Michael Clayton Arbeeny breaks stuff as is customary, while Vaughn is his usual accomplished showman and leader.

Yes, admittedly, they're my favourite band so I'm a tad biased, but this is an absolutely brilliant release, and is almost as good as actually being at a show... Almost...

Ant Heeks