SMOKE & MIRRORS

I have ordered the dvd just released and yesterday it arrived to my home in Italy! Arena are my preferred neo-progressive bnad, I have seen live them in 1998 and in 1999, really astride the last changes of formation, but in the last years they have not come in Italy anymore so to appreciate their live performance doesn't remain me to buy the CD live (breakfast in Biarritz) and the DVDs that go out (Caught in the Act and Smoke and Mirrors). Smoke and Mirrors shows us a concert recorded in Poland during the tour of the tenth anniversary. the Tracklist is a summary of the life of the Arena since 1995 to today (sinned that they miss Criyng IV and The Butterfly Hand), very well recorded and, contrarily to Caught in the Act with a good sound and volume. Good also the quality of the images. The band plays really ease on all the pieces (for the first time Rob Sowden also convinces me on the pieces of Paul Wrightson), while Nick Pointer is the true limit of the band: surely improved by the times of the Marillions but a more flowing and various drumming would make to have a further breakthrough to Arena. However a good concert, further confirmation that Arena are the best neo-progressive band post Marillion Fish's era!!!! Among the bonuses there is the Reunion concert of October 15 th 2005 where it exhibits him for 5 pieces the line-up of "the Visitor" (for me the best line-up, for the best album of the Arena), an occasion to see Paul Wrightson,in good form and Jon Jowitt again and in the 6th track they also climb on the stage Rob Sowden and Ian Salmon. In both the concerts excellent the test of Clive Nolan and John Mitchell. Surely the best piece is" The Hanging Tree". Then a must purchase for all the fans of Arena and recommended to all those people who appreciate the neo-progressive ones