In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Crispy Ambulance flourished as a cult combo in Manchester, and found a spiritual home on the legendary Factory Records, whose Joy Division they resembled so closely that Ambulance vocalist Alan Hempsall actually stood in for Ian Curtis on one occasion. The Crispies certainly mastered the chiming hypnotic guitar lines of their mentors, but Hempsall lacked the charisma of the doomed Curtis, and their songs have failed to become rock classics for any but the band's terminally smitten original fans. Nevertheless, they did manage to get back together for a series of gigs in late 1999, and this live CD was recorded during the Guy Fawkes Night gig at the Band On the Wall, Manchester. There's no denying that, for a bunch of middle-aged geezers, the band still plays with muscle-a-plenty, investing each "classic" from their catalogue with a passionate urgency that the crowd responds to with evident enthusiasm. It's unlikely that such aggressively discordant angst can spread its charms beyond the faithful, but for the small clan of nostalgia-seeking devotees--all of whom seem to have turned up for the gig--this must have been a great night. --Johnny Black Product Description An all-new live album by cult Manchester new wave band Crispy Ambulance. The 70 minute CD contains all original material performed by the group at their one-off hometown reunion show on November 5 1999 including favorites such as Deaf the Presence United Are You Ready? Travel Time & the Plateau Phase as well as previously unheard material such as Come on Say Shake & Open Gates of Fire. The CD is a digital recording produced by the band & Graham Massey (of 808 State) & a must have.