LIVE IN EUROPE

Even though the studio versions of these songs are slightly crisper and tighter, it's absolutely mind-boggling that these four guys (plus Gildenlow) can actually play and remember(!) these long and intricate pieces live, almost flawlessly. This is a very worthwhile addition to the small Transatlantic catalogue, and renders useless the earlier (mistake-laden) "Live in America" album. With around 140 minutes of overall music, one gets about 80% of the music released on the studio cd's, plus they intertwine the Beatles' Side 2 Abbey Road suite with their own Beatles-esque "Suite Charlotte Pike". Really well done, and a neat tribute. All songs are played and sung exceptionally well, though the harmonies are admittedly off a tad in a few spots - forgiveable in light of their complexity. There's a nice balance between all four members of the group, both instrumentally and vocally. Yeah, I wish Portnoy's fudgin' mouth behaved itself a little fudgin' better between the fudgin' songs; but I do like his singing vocal touches, and both he and Trewavas sound better in this setting than they ever did in their original bands, Dream Theater and Marillion.

I think the tag "supergroup" is overused, but I gotta admit that these four guys composed and played some of the most melodic, interesting and lush prog this side of 1976, and made it look natural. (Couldn't be because of the peerless Stolt and Morse, right?)

Buy this nugget, and snatch up the two studio albums if you don't already have them. Essential prog in the classic traditional symphonic style (with occasional melodic pop sensibilities).