ARRIVING SOMEWHERE...

Focusing on the more metal-oriented material from Deadwing and In Absentia - though notably steering it back in a more rock-oriented direction in order to allow this material to sit a little more comfortably beside the "indie prog rock" stylings of Stupid Dream, Lightbulb Sun and Recordings (picks from all of which surface here). Fans of their earlier psychedelic and space rock styles might be disappointed that those aren't represented, but on the plus side there's a liberal sprinkling of rarities here such as the glorious Buying New Soul as well as Revenant, So-Called Friend and Mother and Child Divided, those three songs having only appeared on various special editions of Deadwing. Not the definitive Porcupine Tree live experience, but a pretty decent one nonetheless.

4.5 stars. This is a sentimental favourite of mine, I've had the DVD for years and watched it a few times but I'm just not big on DVDs. Mike from BC sent me a cdr of this many years ago which I still have and I used to keep it in the vehicle just to have it there. I've since got a more legit recording and I have to say this is probably my favourite period by this band. I like heavy music and this packs a punch with Gavin Harrison really standing out. Of course we get some psychedelic atmospheres on this one too as contrasts and Barbieri is a master at this. I mean check out "Don't Hate Me" as a great example of this. These tracks were taken from two dates in Chicago in October of 2005. Disc two opens with the title track of this recording and ends with "Trains" and it doesn't get much better than those two. There's some nostalgia listening to this having seen them live a few times back in the day. So many highlights! Reminds me why they have been one of my favourite bands for so long.