OCTANE TWISTED

PORCUPINE TREE have released quite a number of superfluous live releases in their career but this one tops them all. Spread over 2 CDs we find a note for note live rendition of 'The Incident' followed by a selection of tracks they played after the break in this tour.

I did attend the Brussels live gig of this tour and I found the first set to be an improvement over the studio album. Not that anything was much different but the live ambiance breathed some life into the thing and also made it more coherent. I don't find that here. It sounds a slight bit rawer and less polished then the studio album but it still feels like a flat and uninvolved performance to me. And besides, 'Drawing The Line' and 'I Drive The Hearse' prove that even in a live setting they are still the most annoying two songs Wilson ever penned.

'The Incident' isn't exactly PT's best offering but this live release is more problematic then just that as also set 2 is a disappointment. With the exception of 'Hatesong' which enjoys some well played instrumental sections, it all suffers from Wilson's urge to make it sound heavier and grittier then these songs were supposed to sound. 'Even Less' in particular is completely wasted by Wilson's inadequate attempts to strain his voice. The other songs fails as they don't add anything to their studio counterparts and the 'Russia On Ice / Anesthetize' medley doesn't do justice to any of the participating songs.

Live album are mostly a hit and miss for me but with 'Coma Devine' and 'Arriving Somewhere' Wilson managed to deliver some outstanding exceptions to the rule, and they are nothing less then essential items in the PT catalog. Not this one, this is for hardcore fans only and chances are even those will be disappointed just like I am. Watch out for this one, especially if you already didn't think too highly of 'The Incident'.