Venue: Whitchurch Festival                 Date: 4th August, 2001

Early Saturday evening at Whitchurch and it's still light outside. The doors are supposed to have already opened but Sphere3 (cubed) have only just started setting up their equipment due to earlier delays (Martin Orford and his band were not able to start getting their equipment out until some two and a half hours after their allotted time).

The doors open to let in the audience as Sphere3 are still sound checking and the band leave the stage to return almost immediately to play their set...

They open with the title track of their new single, 'Paralysis'. This is a work that contrasts slow meandering, semi classical sectors against heavier and more upbeat parts and was well received by the audience.

Very quickly Sphere3 launch into 'Shrimp.SNG', another track off the single. This is a lighter and more easily accessible piece with a clear, clean sound and it comes over well.

'Cowpool' is a jazz-fusion number combining smooth rhythms together with classy and sophisticated instrumentation ... an excellent piece.

A full on, up tempo jazzy numbers comes next.  'An Unusual January' features strong keyboard work set against a rounded instrumental backdrop ... nice!

Next up is 'A Good Example of Arbitrary Presumption' - what a splendid title that is! This begins and continues strongly with a full rich sound which calms towards the end to a moody introspective feel prior to the huge finale.

The final number of the night is 'Lights Going Down', an older track that appears on the single with vocals. Here it is, as was the rest of the band's set, an instrumental piece. This cleverly bows an acknowledgment to the historical prog sound while presenting it in a new and updated fashion and finishing the set on a high to much applause.

Sphere3 certainly created a favourable impression at Whitchurch and I expect that the performance got them noticed by many who had heard of the band but did not know what they sounded like ... I know, I'm one!

Marisa