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ARRIVING SOMEWHERE...

Porcupine Tree

Heavy Prog


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Porcupine Tree Arriving Somewhere... album cover
4.57 | 579 ratings | 37 reviews | 70% 5 stars

Essential: a masterpiece of
progressive rock music

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DVD/Video, released in 2006

Songs / Tracks Listing

DISC ONE:
1. Revenant (3:04)
2. Open Car (4:46)
3. Blackest Eyes (4:41)
4. Lazarus (4:06)
5. Hatesong (9:14)
6. Don't Hate Me (8:38)
7. Mother and Child Divided (5:11)
8. Buying New Soul (7:17)
9. So Called Friend (4:55)
10. Arriving Somewhere but Not Here (12:57)
11. Heartattack in a Layby (4:07)
12. Start of Something Beautiful (7:19)
13. Halo (6:42)
14. Sound of Muzak (5:14)
15. Even Less (6:54)
16. Trains (7:18)
17. End Credits (special alternate mix of Mother and Child Divided) (2:05)

DISC TWO:
1. Rockpalast TV: Futile (6:29)
2. Rockpalast TV: Radioactive Toy (6:45)
3. Lazarus - promo clip directed by Lasse Hoile
4. Start of Something Beautiful (live film directed by Przemyslaw Vshebor and Lasse Hoile )
5. Halo (live film directed by Lasse Hoile)
6. Mother and Child Divided (live film directed by Lasse Hoile)
7. Gavin Harrison - Cymbal Song film (in stereo and 5.1 audio)
8. Photo Gallery (with exclusive ambient music by RB+SW)

Line-up / Musicians

- Steven Wilson / guitars, lead vocals
- Richard Barbieri / keyboards
- Colin Edwin / bass
- Gavin Harrison / drums
- John Wesley / guitars, vocals

Releases information

DVD Snapper (2006)

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
and to zarathustra for the last updates
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PORCUPINE TREE Arriving Somewhere... ratings distribution


4.57
(579 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(70%)
70%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(23%)
23%
Good, but non-essential (5%)
5%
Collectors/fans only (1%)
1%
Poor. Only for completionists (1%)
1%

PORCUPINE TREE Arriving Somewhere... reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Tony R
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
5 stars Arriving With A Bang.....

Says the blurb:

Disc one is a full show from the Deadwing tour filmed at Park West, Chicago in Oct 2005, edited by Lasse Hoile, with the soundtrack mixed in stereo and 5.1 surround sound by SW, and mastered by Darcy Proper (who mastered the award winning PT DVDAs). Disc two includes bonus live performances of Futile and Radioactive Toy from German TV show Rockpalast, the Lazarus promo clip, the live films used during the show for Start of Something Beautiful, Halo, and Mother and Child Divided, Gavin Harrison's "Cymbal Song" (also in 5.1 sound), and a photo gallery with well over 100 images.

Having seen the preview of Blackest Eyes on the PT Myspace I was more than a little apprehensive that Lasse Hoile had been allowed to run riot with all kinds of "video effects". Well,fair to say that every track gets this treatment but somehow it works. Porcupine Tree tend to be pretty static in concert, letting the music provide most of the action apart from a small rear-projection screen, so Hoile's artistic effects reallly add to the DVD making the concert almost a unique experience even for seasoned fans. Another interesting quality of this presentation is the keyboard mix which is far higher than either the actual concert or indeed the studio recordings. Richard Barbieri must be ecstatic as his atmospheric keyboards are really prominent and give every song a much deeper, lusher sound.

There are highlights all over this disc: Blackest Eyes,Arriving,The Sound Of Muzak,Even Less,the heavily acoustic Trains and the best of all; Hatesong. This performance of the track really is a tour-de-force and Gavin Harrison really gets to shine particularly in one jaw-dropping moment when he suddenly puts his right drumstick in his left hand, licks his finger and then slides it across his tom-tom making a beautiful acoustic sound.I guess you really have to see it to appreciate it.

The band has really matured and this truly was a great time to capture them at the peak of their form.I have no gripes about this DVD at all,the Special Edition Bonus Disc even has a live recording of the PT evergreen Radioactive Toy from the Rockpalast TV Special.

The recording and mixing are truly magnificent, the DTS surround mix is astonishing clear and accurate.Steve Wilson is a star on either side of the mixing desk proving once again that he is a unique talent amongst today's progressive artists.

Ok so the visual style wont be to everyone's taste but for me it really adds to and even augments some truly wonderful performances. A solid 5 star masterpiece, dont hate me...this is the start of something beautiful.

Review by Melomaniac
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars I will be short. A-MA-ZING !!! The setlist is wonderful (even though we could have used stuff from Signify), the sound is as great as I thought it would be (Wilson got us used to such quality, and he does not dissapoint), the band is in perfect shape and are flawless (except for that broken string in Trains, but fortunately it happened before Wilson even struck a note before the middle section of the song, and he had a replacement guitar at hand) and, contrary to most reviewers, I find Lasse Hoile's editing perfect for two reasons : One - it fits the material and Two - it adds to the replay value, in my humble opinion. Every song is a highlight, and I was blown away by Mother and Child Divided, which has a rythmic phrasing somewhat similar to Rush's YYZ. Hatesong also stands out... Hell, all songs do !

Definitely in my Top Three Live DVD's ever, a fitting documentary of a band caught in it's prime.

An undisputed five stars.

Review by Gatot
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
5 stars This DVD blew me away at first spin and I spin it again over and over. By now, I have spun it five times already on Disc One only. I got no chance to spin the Disc Two because I really enjoy Disc One already and has no plan to move on with Disc Two until I got complete understanding and comprehension of subtleties produced from the main disc: Disc One. After I got all discs spun then I would do a novel-long review about this amazing DVD that truly satisfies my need. That's my plan . But, I found product defect at Disc One of this DVD package so I need to write this review in advance so all of you who have purchased this DVD might help me whether you guys experience the same. Or it gives alert to those who are about to purchase.

The Show That I would NOT forget .!

The performance was filmed from the band's concert at the Park West, Chicago, USA, 11-12th October 2005. I'm not quite sure on which date this film was truly taken. It could be at the first night because right before the encore "Trains", one of the crowd shout a request "Free Bird!" and Steven Wilson replied "Not Free Bird, okay? That's tomorrow!". Whatever the exact date it was performed it's not important to me. When I ordered this DVD I actually did not expect much about this show because my favorite "Waiting Phase One - Two" was not featured in this concert. But I gave it a try anyway.

My TV screen came out with pictures in dark nuance presenting many shots in blur fashion as part of introduction of the DVD, it's basically "Revenant" (3:04). The show starts wonderfully with guitar riffs that remark the opening of "Open Car" (4:46) from the band's "Deadwing" album. From this first real track I could project that the whole DVD would be an awesome one to watch and listen to. My projection was right - this is an incredible DVD to have in prog music collection! I don't want to review on track by track basis, but let me give my rationale why this is an incredible DVD:

First, the band has successfully made their studio tracks being better performed live in concert. Well, this was actually proven with my first experience with the band music when my friend lent me a "Comma Divine" (live) album. I never heard the band's music before and I fell in love with "Waiting Phase One - Phase Two" track. From this album I moved forward exploring other albums of Porcupine Tree and finally found "Waiting Phase One - Two" original studio album. To my surprise, I'd rather listen to live version than the original studio version. This is also the case with this DVD. I found nothing special with "Open Car" when I listened to "Deadwing" studio album. But at this DVD Porcupine Tree performs it better - it has richer sounds and textures than original studio version. The extreme case is with "Hatesong" (9:14). This track I think is one of the best tracks from this DVD. Well, I don't dare to say that this is "the" only best track because many great tracks from this. Opened with Collin Edwin calm yet firm bass lines this song moves beautifully in crescendo, adventuring into wide variety of styles - from simple to complex with great combination of Steve Wilson guitar, Gavin Harrison's dynamic and attractive drumming, and Richard Barbieri's keyboards / synthesizers. I especially love the stunning guitar solo and effects (at approx minute 24). Steve Wilson is the most dynamic musician on stage - with sometimes does a headbanging while playing his guitar. The second one goes to drummer Gavin Harrison. Collin Edwin does not move his position at all during the concert.

Second, the set list is outstanding. This is not to say that each individual track is excellent but I am more to say that the position of the tracks are well crafted and carefully thought of, I believe. See for example, after two heavy songs with metal components: "Open Car" (Deadwing) and "Blackest Eyes" (the opening track of In Absentia), the band brings it down into a ballad psychedelic song "Lazarus" (Deadwing) - it's a song that my dear friend, Icann of i-Rock!, loves it. Having been entertained with slow moving song the band brings the heat up with wonderfully crafted song "Hatesong". And you know what? After this very dynamic song the band brings it down to a beautiful music of "Don't Hate Me" (one of the tracks that I adore from "Stupid Dream" album which I reviewed couple of months ago at this site). Many of you who have heard the music of Porcupine Tree might think that most of the band's music is simple and easy to digest for most people even with different music background or taste. I remember someone said that "nothing in it" commenting the music of Porcupine Tree. I never said into that extreme. But you should give a try with "Don't Hate Me". Don't look at the simple structure, comprehend the groove it produces! Awesome. And after this cool track the band brings the mood UP again with very dynamic track "Mother And Child Divided". I love the guitar effects produced by S Wilson in the middle of this track. Oh man . it's incredible!!! Well, basically the set list creates ultimate satisfaction for viewing and listening pleasure.

Third, Steven Wilson proves that he is the best sound engineer nowadays! Why? This DVD has the highest quality in sound quality as well as picture. Well, for picture quality there are others with par excellent. But for audio? Don't ever dare to challenge him, my friend! Am currently reading a book called iWOZ (a story about Steve Wozniak of Apple) where I know that he is the best electronic engineer in planet earth that has made a big change in the way people behave - invention of Apple 1, iPod, etc. And Steven Wilson is the one in sound engineering. I wildly imagine if (an only if) Steven Wilson was there already when Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of The Moon" was recorded - he might win the competition against Alan Parsons. This DVD has great sound in 5.1 technology and I'm sure that you will agree with me if you have a chance to enjoy this DVD. Even, I'm now listening to the audio (without TV). It has proven also with my Audio DVD format of "In Absentia" album (which I purchased from Amazon as well). The DTS sound is great! I believe Steven Wilson is the master of DTS recording / mixing. I have no complaint at all. In fact I never expected that my ears would be ultimately satisfied with this sound quality. Thanks a lot Mr Wilson. You are my hero in sound engineering.

Conclusion

Despite the product defect I'm experiencing, this is a masterpiece of prog rock DVD which makes elder proggers (Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Alan Parsons, Peter Gabriel, Robert Fripp, Keith Emerson etc) would be proud of. They might never expected that prog music would evolved into something as beautiful as this band's music - especially this live DVD.

FYI, on last Friday night when i-Rock! (a rock organization in my country where I have been heavily involved) presented the 4th Jam Session night at Front Row Cafe, Jakarta, Indonesia, I played this DVD for one hour just before the program was officiallystarted. Comments from the crowd about this DVD were very positive. For those who never heard Porcupine Tree music planned to explore the band's albums. It was a good thing to introduce before four local bands came on stage (one of the bands was a powerful prog band IN MEMORIAM which would be featured at this site shortly).

Highly recommended. If you have limited budget, prioritize this DVD first! This might be the best DVD in 2006. I believe. Keep on proggin'..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

----

Notes on The Product Defect

Sorry I have to put this upfront despite awesome band performance because I don't know how to escalate this problem. Contacting amazon.com (where I purchased this DVD altogether with The Flower Kings "Instant Delivery") is a hazzle. Their site is excellent for ordering but is lousy at giving access to customers who have problems with the orders. One example is that I cannot automatically reply the mails I receive from them because they are automated for sending message only. I browse around the menu in "Contact US" (or something like it) but could not find the friendly menu. I experienced this when my order of PALLAS "Men of Dreams" was coming late. For my problem with Porcupine Tree I'm not gonna contact amazon - it's terrible for feedback.

So what's the problem with my copy of PT "Arriving Somewhere"? At Disc One minute 49:08 when the song So Called Friend I experienced sudden lost of audio sounds for one second just like you have power off but it suddenly returns back to original sound. I thought that was problem with my power supply of my DVD player or government-supplied power. But my other electrical household things had no problem at all. So I repeated the track - the same thing happened. I brought my Disc One up stair to second floor where usually I listen to audio (without TV) and the same problem occur. It's really annoying you know. Especially, I like this track very much. This morning I played it very loud because I love the music riffs but the problem at minute 49:08 still occurred. I'm disappointed because I cannot get full sound of incredible Porcupine Tree's song. FYI, the disc has no physical scratch on it - so I think this is a recording issue and NOT damage during delivery.

Do AMAZON people or SNAPPER or PORCUPINE TREE people read this review? If so, HELP ME OUT man! I want the perfect copy of the disc because this is an incredible performance by the band! And of course the dollars I invested must be justifiable. Why bother purchasing a defective product? (BTW, I'm a Six Sigma Blackbelt so I understand that there is three DPMO - defects per million opportunities - allowed. Unfortunately, I am one of the three. Lucky me.!)

Review by TRoTZ
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars A great document of Porcupine Tree's last two phases, since Stupid Dream to Deadwing the band made a very solid performance, giving another life to their sound. In fact, in several tracks their effort gave a particular feeling to the music, surpassing the album version. The DVD quality is so great that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to say that it was a live performance if we did not listen to people screaming or clapping at the end of the tracks.

Outstanding are the inevitable Arriving Somewhere but Not Here, one of the greatest tracks ever made, a superb mix of a strange and recondite feeling with modern sonic power. Other magnificent performance is from technically brilliant and heartbreaking "Hatesong", the always vibrating "Blackest Eyes", the ballad "Lazarus" in which Steven Wilson's voice seem to be less shy and even more celestial than studio version, the supreme beauty of "The Start of Something Beautiful", the psychedelic "Even Less" and the captivating "Trains" even though its unexpected incident.

Could be a great start for those who don't know one of the most important bands of nowadays. An impressive and rare sound quality among live performances. Almost impossible not like it, even if they sound even better seen really live.

Review by evenless
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars Glad that "Arriving Somewhere." has finally arrived !

Finally a live performance DVD by Porcupine Tree! The DVD comes as a 2-disc set. Disc one is a full show from the Deadwing tour filmed at Park West, Chicago in Oct 2005, edited by Lasse Hoile, with the soundtrack mixed in stereo and 5.1 surround sound by SW, and mastered by Darcy Proper (who mastered the award winning PT DVDAs). Disc two includes bonus live performances of Futile and Radioactive Toy from German TV show Rockpalast, the Lazarus promo clip, the live films used during the show for Start of Something Beautiful, Halo, and Mother and Child Divided, Gavin Harrison's "Cymbal Song" (also in 5.1 sound), and a photo gallery with well over 100 images.

This DVD was the DVD that all PT fans had been waiting for! As most bands with a far smaller discography had already released some DVD's, PT just made us waiting. But as always with PT the waiting was really worth it! It must have been easy (or actually could already become very difficult) to come up with a track list for this release. I think they did a great job here. I simply love the track list which is a mix of the "Lightbulb Sun, Stupid Dream" era and their later albums "In Absentia" and "Deadwing".

Somehow PT manages to always play some great tracks live that even weren't released on their studio albums. I am talking about "Revenant" and "Mother and Child Divided" which were only available on the Deadwing DVD-A and "So Called Friend" which was released only on the German/Polish "Lazarus" single. Funny that those supposedly "not quite good enough" DEADWING tracks are still better than some other bands finest!

I noticed quite some reviewers of this DVD didn't like the artistically filming and editing. For this I think one should be more familiar with PT and Lasse Hoile in particular. As all PT fans know Lasse Hoile is PT's "home artwork director". He has done some great work on most of PT's albums already. No wonder PT wanted to give their 1st DVD a similar "feel" to it. As PT fans will also know that their music and especially their live performances are always very cinematic it might not come as a surprise that they hired Lasse Hoile again, but now as the editor of the "movie". Some blurry and grainy shots are the result, sometimes in colour, sometimes in black and white, but always with enough variation to keep things interesting. No problems for me here whatsoever!

What is left is a great performance with superb sound effects and even some funny moments as well. E.g. when one of SW's guitar strings breaks in the encore "Trains" and he says: "we were doing so well." After a new guitar has been given to him he asks the audience where he was standing at the moment this happened, as the could "delete" this occurrence afterwards. Luckily they didn't!

5 stars for one of the best live DVD's in my personal collection.

Review by Heptade
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Never having seen PT live and not being particularly impressed with Deadwing, I wasn't sure what to expect from this DVD. I'd heard that the band was pretty hot, so I was curious. Well, this one's a winner for sure and makes me regret not going when the Deadwing tour passed through my town. This band is hot indeed, particularly drummer Harrison, who is a monster behind the kit, sometimes too much so, but I was very impressed nonetheless. Harrison and Wilson are the only animated performers in the group, as Barbieri is always hunched over his arrays of keys like a mad scientist and bassist Edwin is basically a mannequin on stage (a very proficient one, though). Steven Wilson is a very impressive performer, dramatic, animated and intense. His live vocals are excellent, and his guitar/vocal interplay with second guitarist Wesley is great. Wilson's soloing is creative, but those expecting metal chops should go somewhere else. Wesley also acquits himself well with some Gilmouresque leads. On the whole, I don't entirely disagree with those who criticize the arty cinematic effects that Lasse Hoile added, like fake scratches, b/w, different colourings, etc., as they can be kind of intrusive, but the band is so static as a whole that the effects add an good distraction to what could have been a boring visual experience, almost in a Floyd/Hawkwindian kind of way. It complements the spaciness of a lot of the band's material and creates a hallucinatory atmosphere. On the whole I found the set to be a good balance between the recent albums, with a good balance also between Barbieri's ambient interludes and the big metallic riffs that underpin many of the songs. There is a nice human touch amongst all the monstrous precision of the band when Wilson breaks a string on Trains and makes light of it to the crowd. I'm pleased he left it in there. Overall, this DVD demonstrates that PT are incredible players and Wilson a fine singer and songwriter. I'll have to go revisit Deadwing now, since I even enjoyed those tracks on this excellent concert DVD.
Review by Rivertree
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions
5 stars Arriving Chicago - start of something beautiful

GRANDEZZA! A wonderful performance which I haven't expected in that way. This is the first time for me to regret that I'm not able to give 6 stars. The musicians are acting very concentrated in perfect harmony. Almost no emotions and interaction with the audience (excepting the end of the gig).

But this is not really surprising. Also nothing new: Steven Wilson is heading the concert with his vocals and various guitar work from acoustic to psychedelic and metal riffing. Richard Barbieri serves the psychedelic background for the songs with piano and soundscapes. Colin Edwin plays a solid bass part as usual. John Wesley is the wellknown precious fully intergrated second guitarist and vocalist. So at the end there is one musician missing in my enumeration - Gavin Harrison - I was not able to see him live with PT until now. His powerful various drumming is impressing - for example on Hatesong including some wonderful jamming. This is one of my PT long time favourites - and I must say - never have heard this song in a better way! Followed by Don't hate me they probably have to be played together until the end of time!

Another song to point out is Heartattack in a Layby with wonderful vocal harmonies by Wilson and Wesley. I never thought they were able to perform it in this way on the stage. And the title track Arriving somewhere ... plus the other songs from their last studio output 'Deadwing' are working live much better. The video performance is okay for me - maybe for some people it's a little bit restless. Second DVD is not spectacular - filled with a lot of pictures, some videos and live tracks. I can recommend Radioactive Toy from the Rockpalast Concert and - we are coming back to Harrison again - the fascinating Cymbal Song.

I have prefered the 90s phase of PT before I got this production - now I have to think over it!

Review by Finnforest
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars PT arriving in your living room with a great show.

An outstanding concert document filmed in Chicago in October 2005 this DVD does the job of presenting the band. It manages to capture the obvious excitement in the hall with great camera work, killer sound, and very high quality overall.

They did make the decision to employ the visual effects that many (myself included) find unnecessary: the color to black/white switches, the grainy or flecked images to make it look like dated film stock, etc. For the most part these didn't wreck the show for me as the material itself is good enough to make you forgive the visual tricks. And they avoided the worst sin of the concert video which is the super lightning fast edits that keep your head spinning and never allow you to settle in with one performer for more than two seconds. So my conclusion about the visuals debate is that those who hate that stuff will have to deal with a bit of it but shouldn't allow it to keep them from buying this and enjoying it. All in all it works.

The music is very good and the band is on top of the execution all the way. The opening track will blow you out of your chair if you have the luxury of watching this on a fine audio system. Lots of great guitar solos, beautiful keyboard textures, out of this world drumming will thrill any rock fan. The highlight for me was long and tasty version of "Arriving Somewhere But Not Here" which Wilson squeezes every drop of passion from, but all of the songs have something to offer. The emphasis never strays from the music to other typical concert distractions like "the light show" or camera mugging. Wilson comes across as a down to earth guy and delivers alternately sensitive or passion-filled vocals as required by the track. Backing vocals do a great job of recreating the gorgeous harmonies you find on their studio albums. Other Deadwing tracks like "Halo" and "Lazerus" are also delivered with great conviction by the band. The performance makes clear that PT as a band unit are at the top of their game.

The bonus disc includes several cool things. First, the "gallery" is maybe the best I've ever seen. The photos are outstanding and they scroll themselves so you don't have to keep pushing the remote. Also they are put to space music so the effect is nearly that of a video. The Rockpalast live songs are as good as those in the main show. The "Lazerus" promo as a video could have been great but was ruined by the nasty visuals that Wilson seems willing to let shroud him. It featured these really sweet home movies of a family from the 50s or 60s (Steve's family?) that I really wanted to **see** but unfortunately the whole thing is mucked up by saturated colors and scratch/grain/aged film effect. What a shame. The bonus concert back-drop films are great to set a mood in the concert but presented alone are of little value. The last item is a video for "cymbal song" which is a solo item where the drummer creates an entire song using only his cymbals. It works amazingly well. Nice idea.

Packaging is great with a full color fold-out digipak housing the two discs. (Love the speakers with the photos inside, nice touch!) The menu commands are fast and easy to navigate.

I would recommend this DVD not only to PT fans but to anyone who appreciates a good rock show. My better half is not into watching rock shows to the extent that I am and often times gets bored with them. But she really enjoyed this one and watched the whole thing! Good job guys!

Review by 1800iareyay
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars Arriving Somewhere shows PT in their live glory on the Deadwing tour. Unlike a lot of live giants, their show is incredibly simple and they don't run around energetically in a Rush or Who-like manner. Instead, each member essentially stays rooted to his position and ensures that the music is what comes through. And it does so masterfully on this set. My one complaint is that the director uses a host of effects that can distract from the music on the first watch. However, in some bizarre way the use of 70s effects and the general dated feel of the video fits the band's retro style.

The concert opens with Revenant as the band enters the stage. Steve Wilson looks like the clean-shaven, English arty equivalent to Kurt Cobain. Perhaps if people were more receptive to good music, Wilson could have also been hailed as a great writer, but oh well. The entire concert is a highlight, but nods must go to heavier version of Blackest Eyes, the epic Arriving Somewhere But Not Here, the riffy instrumental Mother and Child Divided, the trippy Halo, and the hands-down best song of the concert, Hatesong. The band kicks it into overdrive here, and Gavin in particular shines. They picked all of the best Deadwing songs and left the filler, and the rest of the songs are well chosen as well. The encores are all superb, with The Sound of Muzak and Even Less sounding even better than the studio versions. Before PT launches into the final number, Steve makes the first real audience interaction of the night, as he deals with a Freebird heckler amusingly. Halfway through the closer Trains, one of Steve's strings breaks st the worst possible time, leading to some more quips.

The second disc features some great Rockpalast footage, and Gavin's Cymbal Song is magnificent. Overall, this DVD is a must buy because it shows how talented each member is, with special focus on Steve, Colin, and Gavin, who all prove that they are incredibly skilled. The video effects can be annoying, but it fits in a way, so I'll still highly recommend this. It's worth the price just for Hatesong and Arriving Somewhere.

Grade: A-

Review by Prog Leviathan
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars A killer set-list exceptionally performed coupled with this videos AMAZING production values make this one of the best concert DVD's around. Not only does the band look and sound on top of their game their multi-media projections, as well as digitally added effects (making the concert sometimes fit the old time, "grainy" film look of the album's artwork) make watching a real experience.

Wilson's guitar performance is stellar, especially during his extended and altered solos (which are typical), while Gavin Harrison's contribution to the bands energy is immediately apparent.

My only complaint is the limited lack of extras, which consist of a few extra songs from another venue, as well as a groovy "cymbol song" performed by Harrison. Interviews, documentaries, etc. would have been greatly appreciated.

A must for fans who haven't had a chance to see the band live yet, or those who just need to be reminded how awesome they are on stage!

Review by ProgBagel
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Porcupine Tree - 'Arriving Somewhere.'

A superb DVD that has qualities in a few categories like production, presence, setlist and film that makes this a worthy purchase for just about anyone. Since this DVD presents itself after the 'Deadwing' album, you can expect to find that album to be most prominent on the DVD.but not by too much. Regardless, the songs put onto this release from 'Deadwing' were among the best of the album.

The sound is pretty crisp.if you have a decent speaker system. The major flaw on the DVD is for some reason it doesn't work well unless you have surround sound.it was very annoying when I got this for Christmas when all my equipment was at school. I watched it on my old TV and the bass always clipped the volume. So buy at your own discretion regarding the sound.

The show was a great one. The band threw in a bunch of tricks and some lengthy improv, especially on 'Hatesong'. The cameras didn't focus too much on the main man Steven Wilson which is always cool, shedding light on the other members. The songs were the very best of the 4 previous studio albums, although they skipped the first four albums.but this is about moving forward in their career anyway. The performance was incredible and there were no mistakes apparent to these eyes.

I highly recommend this DVD, only flaws are a prerequisite of a decent sound system and a little short for the money. If you are a fan this is an essential addition.

Review by Queen By-Tor
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
5 stars Simply stunning

If there's one thing that's always been said about Porcupine Tree by critics and appreciators alike is that these guys are great to watch live. Despite being one of the darkest and most brooding people to watch perform, Steve Wilson and his band of merry men put on quite a show whenever they get the chance, and that's exactly what they do here. Recorded shortly after the release of the acclaimed Deadwing this dvd only release features an excellent setlist ranging over the course of the band's career, including songs that didn't make it onto the actual albums (rarities and b-sides, something I think bands should play live more often) and some excellent special features on a second disc. The actual concert itself is shot wonderfully with grainy cameras giving the concert a very distinct look and feel while the excellently recorded sound pounds away at your mind. This is a must have dvd for Porcupine Tree and general prog fans alike.

The mood and the atmosphere of the entire concert is very dark, and that adds a wonderful touch. With everything mentioned before (the camera, the front man, the songs) and with the lighting effects this concert really does get a very Porcupine Tree feel to it which only lends itself to the replay value of the piece on the whole. This is the kind of dvd you can watch over and over again without being bored by it. It's a good length (about an hour and a half) so you won't find yourself needing to take a break in the middle and every song is interesting as hell with Wilson headbanging and jumping around the stage only to calm down at the end to simply say, ''Thank you...'' to the audience. Excellent choices in the setlist including the particularly difficult to find b-side instrumental Mother And Child Divided which has become a favorite with its heavy riffs and powerful delivery as Wilson tries to suck his audience into the black hole of the performance. Other standouts of the performance include the melancholic Arriving Somewhere... but Not Here, the pretty Trains (with an interesting section near the middle) and the brooding Hatesong.

Of course the second disc is quite the addition as well. Including film clips, music videos, bonus performances and the very fun Cymbal Song this disc is a very good watch for people who want more. And believe me, you'll want more. Radioactive Toy is shortened a touch but that doesn't stop it from being the behemoth masterpiece from the band's ''debut'' that it is, and Futile makes a great live appearance as well. The Cymbal is fun to watch (pity the editor of that one...) with Harrison doing some very interesting noodling and the other films make for good entertainment.

All in all an essential dvd from the band. A great place to get started and a great place to see more if you're already familiar with them. Camera affectionatos will also appreciate the shooting of the performance, because let's face it - it's unique and fun. 4.5 mothers and children divided out of 5, but rounded up for good measure. This is about as good as a dvd is ever going to get, so nab this one if you have the chance - you won't be let down.

Review by Menswear
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Cold but professional.

We can't accuse Wilson of over-acting; he's pretty stoic when it comes to giving a performance. But Porcupine Tree is not Rush nor Arena, so we couldn't ask them to as other could do it. But what a flawless performance, I dare you arguing with me.

Just because they're are what they are does not mean that you won't have a good time. Why not? Most of your favorite songs are there and they're done with such panache and grace. While looking at them playing I thought many times:Man, this looks easy. Look at them! Hey, maybe I could drum like that!' The thing is, we realize fully in this DVD how good the guys are (especially Gavin Harrison). I cannot play like Harrison, but they make it look like a cakewalk on easy street.

Cold? Yes. Moody? Kinda. Darkish? You to judge. Entertaining? Oh yeah.

Review by tszirmay
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
5 stars Strange that a band with such a prolific discography/live history has only one DVD released, as I would have deeply enjoyed their live album Coma Divine in a video setting! I guess Wilson "the Prog basketball", simply had too little time on his hands to set up more visual documents. This package is clearly from the "Deadwing" phase, which means that the harder edge espoused with In Absentia (in sequence with the Opeth producing experience) is in full evidence. As a few other PA reviewers have commented already, the various spooky/grainy effects added on by editor Lasse Hoile are really unnecessary in the whole scheme of things , perhaps a tad kitsch which may be more in jest (Wilson does have a somewhat impish sense of humor) than any serious attempt at being original. Psycho- psychedelic has been done already! "Open Car" certainly kicks off in rambunctious fashion, alternating crackling swagger with sweeping melodies and bone crunching drums. Wilson actually displays fine voice with various interesting modulations and the Richard Barbieri keyboard colorations are really way more vivid in a live setting than on record (heavy Roxy Music influence in his playing , even all these years after Japan) ! "Blackest Eyes" offers up some more steamroller/rollercoaster rides, meshing pile driver rhythms with one of the sweetest main melodies ever , showing off Gavin Harrison's undeniable talent (the man is a beast live), with bassist Colin Edwin merrily keeping everything stitched tight. "Lazarus" mellows the tone, showing off Wilson the tunesmith, creating an almost pop standard , having everyone "follow me down to the valley below", with pastoral piano and a simply honest guitar solo. This is not about technique or chops but more musical poetry which Wilson certainly knows how to turn. "Hatesong" is this scribe's favorite PT track, so I will drool a tad if I may. A simple bass riff repeated ad nauseam ( somewhat remindful of Roxy Music's "The Bogus Man", check it out -wink), with some exalted keyboard patterns , whirling dervish guitar pirouettes, odd drum fills a la Paul Thompson and Wilson's "yeah, yeah, yeahs" combined with a screeching axe solo that would make Manzanera/Eno proud, treatments (Barbieri again) and all. A manic showstopper, a fantastic track that deserves being seen/heard in a live context. I slurp up the sweat and the saliva 'cause I really hate my ex wife. The rage fits, thank you very much! "Don't Change Me" has become another darling branch of the quill's tree, a moody, broody and sooty sarcastic lament with a melodic hook the size of Holland (the Dutch fans will get this one), Wilson proving again that he can sing with passion and despair, the 2 words that best characterize Porcupine Tree, BTW. Here again, Barbieri gets to add his special touch, giving off more dreamlike sequences on his various Rolands, combining with Wesley and Wilson's dual guitar attack with sinuous dexterity and spatial eloquence. Another masterpiece! "Mother and Child Divided" proposes more eccentric tonal architectures, altering the whoosh with the brawn, almost Crimsonesque in stature with Harrison pounding relentlessly and the axes grinding ferociously, extended noisy interludes vying with spooky synthesizer sweeps, a whamming, jamming affair. "Buying New Soul" again showcases the keyboardist flair in expressing complex simplicity with Wilson's acoustic guitar grabbing the torch, another pop ditty much like Lazarus or Trains, a simple song with sad lyrics and terse arrangements (symphy keys). Wesley gets to solo electric. "So Called Friend" returns back to the edge and the falsetto voices are amusing in context of the thinly veiled sarcasm, draped in a sea of atmospherics and propulsive melodrama but this tune does not venture into new territories. The title track provides Eno-like soundscapes, again with a strong early Roxy vibe, with superb video backdrops to accentuate the groove, sweet expressions of desperation perfectly evoked with a limpid Wilson green guitar foray, Harrison pummeling along in subtle simplicity, a second more raging solo from the leader with a raunchy section and a peaceful outro. It arrives somewhere, I assure you. Mushrooming blue skies and all. Another high point, very nice, indeed. Fire flames on the screens, more hints of Roxy's "In Every Dream home" early on, very moody and labored, with stunning chorale vocals, the massively gorgeous "Heartattack in a Layby". "The Start of Something Beautiful" is led by Edwin's bopping bass and a funkier groove than ever, evolving gloriously into a raging anthem, still careening on the four string track, steam rising from the synths, Wesley "wah"-ing his fretboard, masses of atmospherics and Wilson plaintively expressing some kind of hope both with his voice and green guitar. "Halo" is another groove sizzler, Edwin and Harrison laying down a funky beat, suddenly morphing into a Lennon-ish rant about God, cell phones, freedom, truth, power, fame and of course, pain. Sounds like this tune is dedicated to those bushleaguers who want to lead the world into the abyss. No need to stand up! This is where the concert, as such ends and the encores begin. Get to see a few hot babes in the crowd. "The Sound of Muzak" is a big fan choice, so it's no surprise that the return attack begins with this marvelous tune, a main chorus that just sticks to your brain, a simmering lament that has everyone singing in unison with Wilson and crew. A tortuous, curvy, rapacious solo captures the attention of each and all. One of the wonders of the world, no one cares..."Even Less" is another big moment, possibly even the tops, a typical incursion into the groovy world of spiny psychedelia, with Wilson's rifferama guitar plowing mercilessly, Harrison bashing confidently and a magnificent chorus sung masterfully by the castaway, possibly PTree's finest moment ever , as both lyrics, music, intent, passion and despair combine into a crescendo of pure genius. By this time, the Chicago crowd is spellbound and near delirium, or is it shock? "Trains" ends the show and I am not ashamed to say that it isn't and never was a big deal for me, yes its pretty and cute and even mildly amusing when Wilson pops his strings and has to ad-lib a return (very coolly pro BTW) and I guess this DVD will get me to really like this song too . I am dying of love, too. Great job Steven, and the Montreal show was a memorable blast. If any had doubts about P Tree's raison d'être, then get this DVD and you will arrive somewhere in the higher reaches of Progland. 5 Fedexed basketballs
Review by progkidjoel
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars Porcupine Tree - Arriving Somewhere... DVD

Review by ProgKidJoel

Porcupine Tree, the band at the forefront of modern prog, are one of the best bands going around. This DVD stands as a testament to that, showing that a band which is brilliant in studio truly can be better live. This is the band's first (and currently only) DVD release, and this remains in the top 3 live videos I've ever been given the privilege and honour to see.

The band is captured live in CHICAGO, 2005, on the DEADWING tour on this DVD. This is sonically in the top 0.5% of live recordings I've ever heard, both visually and aurally. Perfect live performances, sound, camera angles and directing style round out this perfect set into one of the best prog DVD's ever.

The band play an all-star set here, choosing to focus on tracks from the latter half of their career. Opening with a great live energy and perfect performance on OPEN CAR, the band choose to play a great selection of B-Sides, smash hits and crowd pleasers to build up a perfect live set. The band performs every one of these tracks perfectly live (other than a minor hiccup in TRAINS) and never ceases to amaze, especially during HATESONG, SO CALLED FRIEND and MOTHER AND CHILD DIVIDED.

Every band member was on fire the night this was recorded - Steven Wilson sung and played guitar like never before, Colin Edwin grooved along quietly all night, Richard Barbieri mixed the live set whilst playing brilliant ambient synth and hair-raising piano, Gavin Harisson played the best drum sections you will ever see, and John Wesley (only a Porcupine Tree member during live performances) contributed great rhythmic guitar, vocals and the occasional solo.

The highlights of this DVD include the live version of HATESONG, which has around three more minutes before it closes, full of masterful soloing by Steven Wilson and the best drum section I've ever seen live by Gavin Harrison. I have absolutley no complaints about the quality of this DVD, and am thrilled that it introduced me to this band's live prowess and many of their tracks I hadn't previously heard.

A perfect live DVD, and well worth every penny.

Until next time, -Joel

Review by Conor Fynes
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars 'Arriving Somewhere...' - Porcupine Tree (8/10)

For a band like Porcupine Tree, it's quite a suprise actually that the band has only released one DVD thus far in their career. Being a Porcupine Tree concert, my expectations are obviously raised from square one. While there were things about it that I found a bit lacking overall, I enjoyed the DVD quite a bit, and every Porcupine Tree fan should check this out.

The main issue I had with the DVD was actually the song choice. There was an over- abundance of b-sides, especially being their only live DVD. Some of the songs that really could have had a beautiful presence onstage (such as 'Russia On Ice') were overlooked. The b-sides themselves weren't bad, but there are only a handful of performances on here I really love.

Also, for a band that used to actually be primarily psychedelic, there are very few visuals; very little visual effect. There are the occasional 'sepia' or 'black and white' tones (courtesy of visionary Lasse Hoile) but I would really prefer a longer visual segment. For people looking for a bare-bones concert DVD experience, it shouldn't bother them, but at least for Porcupine Tree, I was expecting something a little more 'trippy,' to put it gracefully.

Good performance, amazing sound and good production however, makes for an enjoyable concert DVD.

Review by JLocke
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars I would say that this is one of the best recorded live performances I have seen thus far. The stage presence of Wilson and crew is just dynamic, and something I really enjoyed (but I've known others to find pointless and distracting) is the fact that the audience is shown so often. I loved being able to see just how intense and in-the-moment the PT live audience is, and also just how varied the audience members are in age. It really shows how this band's music truly transcends all boundaries that tend to separate the generations, especially with music. It's like with Porcupine Tree, the music IS the only thing that matters, culture and age be damned.

The editing choice I'm NOT as keen on however is the heavy use of fake film grain, the in-and-out B&W grade that shows up in the most random, pointless places, and things like that. Not really sure what they thought it would achieve, and I guess if you're a fan of that 'vintage' look, you'll like it, but I personally thought the fake video effects detracted from the 'live' feel a bit. If an old concert record on film has that look, it's natural and real, but when you fake it just to achieve a certain look, I'm not sure if that does much to add any appeal. Luckily those moments aren't frequent enough to really ruin it, and it IS only a minor complaint, and my only one. Just be warned, though; that overlaying of post-production video effects makes you very much aware that you are watching a video rather than an in-person live performance.

The set list is very good as well, including some songs that may be more obscure to more recent fans of the post-Lightbulb Sun PT material. One song in particular, ''Mother and Child Divided'', is a lesser-known B-side full of rhythmic fury and energy that mirrors some of the work of the more technical Prog Metal acts. Perhaps some people will wish more early PT songs had been played, as the majority of the numbers do indeed come from the band's then-newly released album, Deadwing, but that isn't much of an issue for me,. The songs that ARE featured, more recent or not, are very good choices and wonderfully played.

The highlights for me would include the performance of ''Arriving Somewhere But Not Here'', a moment of humorous banter between Wilson and an audience member before the final number, and the final number itself, which is a live variation of ''Trains'' featuring a very funny 'incident' that Wilson successfully handles and carries on with the song even stronger. Another highlight for me is a bit of an odd one; Gavin Harrison's ''Cymbal Song'' on the second disc. It's something I can't really describe, but I absolutely love it. Creative and inventive all the way.

It's just a great video. That's the truth. One minor complaint that is more of a personal pet peeve, and the rest of my comments are all positive. This may not be the wildest, most over-the-top stage performance ever, and the guys in this band aren't much interested in running around the stage like chickens without heads; rather, they are simply putting on an intimate show where they can connect with their dedicated audience via this complex, modern music that they play so well. If you consider yourself a Porcupine Tree fan at all, you owe it to yourself to pick this one up if you haven't already.

Very happy viewing.

Review by memowakeman
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Arrived here, and received with a smile.

Last year I gave this DVD to my girlfriend as a birthday gift, since then, every time we watch it, we cannot help but feeling excited because it first reminds us to that PT show we attended some years ago, and secondly because the setlist here is simply awesome, and third, now that I'm writing the review, because we are truly excited that we are seeing them again in some days.

Porcupine Tree are a band whose music I enjoy a lot, but a band which honestly has lost interest on me, however, when I play some of my favorite albums (Lightbulb Sun or The Sky Moves Sideways) I remember how good they are, sadly their last album was a real disappointment to me, anyway, I am eagerly waiting to see its live performance.

In this DVD, called Arriving Somewhere?, we can appreciate their talent and musical skills, besides realizing how can a good sound (not musical, but aesthetic) make a better show, and like this, a better DVD. In this review, I'll be shorter as I use to, since I am not reviewing each and every of the songs performed, nor the entire extra features, but just talk about my impressions. The album Deadwing, is not my favorite, I say that because in this concert, as in the same tour, they played plenty of Deadwing's songs, so that may cause less interest on me, but it was not the case, because their sound live may be better than the album's one. A thing I did not like, was the choice of the opener song, Open Car is actually one of my less favorite Deadwing songs, so that would not help, anyway, they composed the way with some In Absentia songs.

Their musical skills are awesome, a song that I normally love, but here left me mesmerized was Hatesong, particularly Gavin Harrison's performance, which is worth paying attention, since he really makes an extraordinary work there; a moment that I should mention is when they play Arriving Somewhere but not Here, which is by far their best song in the last 4 albums, and which performance here is great (with a little Wesley error), but which overall provoked goose bumps on me.

The song selection was impressive, obviously, a band will never please everyone's whims, there are always songs missing, but anyway, the show here is superb. My favorite moments are the previously mentioned "Hatesong"; "Arriving Somewhere but not Here"; "Mother and Child Divided"; "Heartattack in a Layby"; and "Evenless"; their potential and majestic performance can be shown there, different kind of songs, but always with that PT sound.

Worth mentioning the extra DVD, with some interesting features such as TV performances, or video clips.

This time, despite I really love watching it, I will not give that 5 stars that several people gave, because the visual show in my opinion could have been better; in a concert, I really love that extra things that add a special flavor, a visual show in other words.

Anyway, this is a superb DVD and highly recommendable to any prog lover. Final grade, 4 strong stars.

Enjoy it!

Review by AtomicCrimsonRush
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Porcupine Tree's first DVD is a real favourite of mine with some of their finest material. The setlist is compelling but could have been improved with more heavier selections from "Deadwing" such as 'Shallow', but this is still a terrific concert document. The lighting is effective though nothing like Pink Floyd; the band tend to allow the music alone to take centre stage though they like to screen some scenes from their clips and some psychedelic lighting. Steve Wilson is the centre of attention and is excellent on both vocals and on his PRS Custom 22 guitar, though all the band members shine in their own way.

The band rarely smile and look very serious as they crank out one track after another. The crowd are simply hypnotised by the music. The best songs are certainly 'Slow Car', 'Blackest Eyes'. 'Lazarus', 'Hatesong', 'Don't Hate Me', 'Arriving Somewhere but Not Here', 'Start of Something Beautiful' and 'Halo'. There are a few B sides that could have been omitted in favour of some better material. I have to mention 'Trains' as a showstopper too with the acoustics and crowd pleasing riffs. The rarely heard 'Buying New Soul', unreleased in the studio, is a good addition and I liked some of this material better than the studio tracks such as 'Mother and Child Divided' and 'Sound of Muzak'.

The editing of the footage is high quality and there are no cheesy effects to spoil the band performance. The sound is of the highest quality and the picture has excellent resolution, though is edited a bit fast at times flashing from one band member to the next that can be a bit tiring on the eyes.

The menus and part of the concert have grainy sepia toned footage that give it a dark edge as if this is a horror movie. It is effective but I felt unnecessary as the music is more beautiful than horror based. The bonus DVD is an excellent addition with great performances of 'Futile' and 'Radioactive Toy' from the Rockpalast sessions. I also enjoyed the concert screen films for 'The Start of Something Beautiful', 'Halo', and 'Mother and Child Divided' that are difficult to see in the actual concert. The promo for 'Lazarus' was a pleasant surprise with wonderful direction by Lasse Hoile, as were all the screen films incidentally, though they are rather bleak and contain horrific nightmarish imagery that are not my taste. Wilson would return to Hoile of course for his solo material, especially "Grace For Drowning", continuing this dark Gothic imagery.

An added special feature is available of Gavin Harrison's 'Cymbal Song', which is basically his cymbal solo montaged with split screens to show how he played each cymbal to form a sound wall of cymbals clanging. The slide show of photos is very good and can be viewed as a package rather than the need to scroll through them. Overall the DVD has enough to satisfy any Porcupine Tree fan and is well worth checking out, along with the band's more recent DVD "Anesthetize".

Latest members reviews

5 stars Arriving Somewhere... may not be the best starting point for a newbie looking to see what Porcupine Tree is about. It starts out quite heavy with Open Car and Blackest Eyes. That might be just enough to scare the faint of heart away before the band has a chance to show their variety. This is a ban ... (read more)

Report this review (#404749) | Posted by Frogfoot | Monday, February 21, 2011 | Review Permanlink

5 stars The review that follows was written on September 22, 2006 (whilst at work, trying my hardest not to get caught) and submitted on another forum. Rather than write up a new review, I decided to submit this earlier effort, as my fondness for this DVD still remains. Sure, the surprises aren't there and ... (read more)

Report this review (#219976) | Posted by captainragamuffin | Friday, June 5, 2009 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Arriving Somewhere... was recorded at Chicago's Park West on October 11-12, 2005. The DVD takes its name from that album's masterpiece and questionably its best track, Arriving Somewhere But Not Here. The setlist weighs heavily on the Deadwing material, and its predecessor In Absentia. I picked ... (read more)

Report this review (#202458) | Posted by pianoman | Wednesday, February 11, 2009 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Arriving somewhere.... in your living room for the ultimate PT head trip! OK, I'll try and sum this DVD up in 3 words.... Awesome, Brilliant and Perfect! I only bought the DVD yesterday and have listened to it 4times, non stop, all night and by God! This is the most brilliant piece of Progres ... (read more)

Report this review (#164053) | Posted by yface1 | Sunday, March 16, 2008 | Review Permanlink

4 stars Porc Tree is one of the most popular names in progressive music in our technologically advanced day. It's a wonder their first DVD was released sixteen years after Porcupine Tree's first single came onto the market. Well, the waiting has paid off. Arriving Somewhere... is as perfect as a DVD ca ... (read more)

Report this review (#128156) | Posted by Shakespeare | Wednesday, July 11, 2007 | Review Permanlink

5 stars I could speak volumes about this DVD, but I won't. I have one thing to say. Buy this DVD!!!! I've had it since the early spring of 2007 and it gets more DVD play time than any DVD I own, music or movie. Buy this DVD!!!! If nothing speaks about the talents of the entire Porcupine Tree band, ... (read more)

Report this review (#128074) | Posted by StyLaZyn | Wednesday, July 11, 2007 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Performance: Very well done all around. The band can seem a little stiff at times, but they play flawlessly. This is somewhat forgiven since they are more of an art rock band than a performing machine. Even so, Steven Wilson and Gavin Harrison put forth a great amount of energy when called for ... (read more)

Report this review (#121837) | Posted by Domidoo | Saturday, May 12, 2007 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Second only to the majestic, mysterious and zany Live at Pompeii (LaP) by Pink Floyd, this DVD is surely one of the best Prog DVD's of all. It generates fantastic feeling of actually being there, and truly reflects what a PT gig is like. It really captures the musicianship of all the band members ... (read more)

Report this review (#120103) | Posted by PinkPangolin | Sunday, April 29, 2007 | Review Permanlink

5 stars When I first saw this film, the experience was really contradictory - as always hearing PT's new recordings. Setlist was almost perfect, the musicianship was perfect, video editing was cool and sound engineering was brilliant. So what was wrong? Well, my best live experiences have been L Zep's ... (read more)

Report this review (#120021) | Posted by keelis | Saturday, April 28, 2007 | Review Permanlink

5 stars I always like to check out reviews of the album that I am about to review- in fact, I think its rather smart to do that (sorry if that sounds cocky :) - Anyways, its seems as if some are annoyed with the cinematography of the DVD. If you have not heard, The screen will change from regular shot ... (read more)

Report this review (#107062) | Posted by Drew | Wednesday, January 10, 2007 | Review Permanlink

4 stars To reiterate what has already been said, the mix on this DVD is no less than superb. Steven Wilson again creates a near-perfect sound that both balances each instrument and captures the energy of a live concert. With this said, though, a brilliant mix does not necessarily make for a masterpi ... (read more)

Report this review (#97462) | Posted by The Progmatist | Monday, November 6, 2006 | Review Permanlink

5 stars After reading some negative reviews concerning the visual effects, I feel the need to add my opinion to it. Every time I watch this DVD I virtually get goosebumps (I watched it a few times by now and it still happens). That tells me that it is working for me. In fact I love it. Combined with th ... (read more)

Report this review (#95300) | Posted by touchdown | Saturday, October 21, 2006 | Review Permanlink

4 stars Looks like the dog pile is starting! I just picked this up today and have only had one chance to view it. Musically, performance-wise and sonically, this is one heck of a release! The bass line and percussion are as crisp as you'd ever want, and the sound is totally in balance, especially in DTS ... (read more)

Report this review (#94938) | Posted by macpurity1 | Wednesday, October 18, 2006 | Review Permanlink

3 stars Not much to say... I agree with the last reviews, specially with petewilson54 "definitely best watched with eyes closed!" because the visuls and all the scene is very irregular (inlcuding the lights) and the camera shots are aout of place sometimes. Musically is very good, specially the acoustic ... (read more)

Report this review (#93995) | Posted by progadicto | Tuesday, October 10, 2006 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Absolutely, I agree with the last review posted. It has practically said everything I was about to say. Five stars. I think PT's recent release is absolutely superb, and is nothing less than I expected. I think the visuals are good and I happen to quite like the scratchy, ghostly overlays ... (read more)

Report this review (#90556) | Posted by | Tuesday, September 19, 2006 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Too much is being made of the visuals. Sure, it's more stylistic than say, DT's recent 'Score' release, but it does nothing to reduce just how great this performance is. In my opinion it makes it a little more interesting to watch. The visuals suit the songs well, and they never do anything to ... (read more)

Report this review (#90549) | Posted by Degolas | Tuesday, September 19, 2006 | Review Permanlink

4 stars Got to agree with the previous review. Killer versions of Hatesong and Blackest Eyes, but definitely best watched with eyes closed! Whatever the arty crap obsession is with directors and editors switching to b&w and ageing the picture for absolutely no good reason, the sooner it becomes out ... (read more)

Report this review (#90532) | Posted by | Tuesday, September 19, 2006 | Review Permanlink

3 stars All Porcupine Tree fanatics have waited with bated breath for this release and what do you end up with - a sonically brilliant recording (as expected) and cinematically a load of artistic bollocks (I hate to say). The sound production is perfect as you would expect of Steven Wilson and in par ... (read more)

Report this review (#89675) | Posted by | Thursday, September 14, 2006 | Review Permanlink

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