Brixton Academy
October 21 1995
Why do Silhobbit sing such high praises of this band? Probably because they are the best, and by a long way. They have about seven albums behind them (many of them released on vinyl) and they are one of the few bands to receive regular airplay on radio stations such as Radio One. As musicians go they are difficult to beat... with drummer Chris Maitland able to show Fudge Smith a thing or two and bassist Colin Edwin would make a suitable tutor for John Jowit should he ever wish to improve his already brilliant playing. Each of their albums are different to the previous release which is something that certain bands could do with. To me their finest albums are When the Sky Moves Sideways closely followed by Up the Downstairs. If you find a copy of the Moonloop EP or Voyage 34 CD single, then buy them or forever regret it!

I missed their last tour and so I made sure that I would attend as many on this tour as possible. One of the last nights was at Brixton Academy and so a group of about eight of us picked up the train (none of us wanted to drive because the 'Tree' are one of those bands where little tablets and plenty of water only increase the pleasure and the atmosphere). They opened with a new song which I guess could only be described as modern IQ, old Pink Floyd with a sniff of Metallica! Then they took us on a journey through to such gems as Radioactive Toy, The Joke's on You, Moon Touches your Shoulder, Isolation Day, Moonloop, all of Voyage 34 and some stuff from various albums and singles etc. The lightshow/back projectors were very trippy and the sound was brilliant. By the time you are reading this they would've finished the tour, which includes 'The Forum' (ex-Town and Country Club).  

When William Goate last reviewed this band he commented that the discerning Silhobbit readers should 'Set their controls for the heart of the sun because that is where they are taking us'. Since those illustrious words 'The Tree' have gone through the sun, come out the other side and they are now taking us to Jupiter, or anywhere....  

by Rebecca Goate