BREAKFAST IN BIARRITZ

Arena has always been very popular in The Netherlands. The live tracks from "The Visitor Revisited" (half acoustic, half live) were already recorded in the Paradiso (Amsterdam). Arena is at home there, and since then they have been playing countless times in that country (often at the mythical "De Boerderij" in Zoetermeer) I guess that "Breakfast In The Netherlands" or "Breakfast On The Canals" would have been a more appropriate title...There is a limited version release featuring three additional songs as well as an interesting overview from Arena's history in video format.

This second full Arena live album features logically almost exclusively songs from their last two albums. One exception being "Midas Vision" (from "Lion's Cage). It was a good idea to have it recorded since on their first live album, this track was not present. The other one will be "Crying For Help VII" from "Pride" also unreleased live at that time.

None of those track belong to the must have Arena repertoire but it was interesting to hear how Rob Sowden was interpreting the early repertoire. Since his voice is not drastically different than the one of Paul Wrightson, I have to say that they sound OK. "Help", a traditional encore is particularly good.

The comparison can also be done for three tracks from "The Visitor" already available on the live part from "The Visitor Revisited".

These are "Double Vision", "The Hanging Tree" and "Enemy Without". "Elea" is also present on both ones, but it is an instrumental track.

For the purpose of this review, I have listened to both versions of each side by side and there are really little difference. The main one being the better sound quality of the new recordings on "Breakfast In Biarritz". "The Hanging Tree" is also more extended on this album (over a minute). But most of the extension will feature an additional choir break, so globally both are rather similar as well. The very catchy "Enemy Without" is best played on this new release. It sounds more enthusiastic, and has more rhythm.

In total we will have no less than seven songs from their great album "The Visitor". The additional ones being : "Crack in The Ice" (the most commercial one nicely rendered with a special note for Ian Salmon who does a great job on bass). "Serenity" (a short instrumental) and "Elea" which is another very good instrumental number featuring a great solo from John (Mitchell). They are very similar to the studio version. As "The State Of Grace" actually.

From their last studio album, "Immortal ?" (which I moderately appreciate, bizarrely) we'll get four songs. One of the central piece of this live album is "The Butterfly Man". It was my favorite song of the album, and it sounds just as beautiful while played live. "Chosen" (rather hard) and "Friday's Dream" were originally, average tracks. They will remain so : good music but nothing exceptional.

The opener of this release will be their epic "Moviedrome". I have expressed my view already on this number while reviewing "Immortal ?". It is of course a good song but not a memorable one (IMO). The additional two minutes of this version are almost due to a longer intro. The rest is, again, very similar to the studio version. The great finale is of course fantastic here as well.

This is another very good live album from Arena. The band always sounds nice while on stage, even if they do not deviate too much from the studio versions.

My recommendations will be the same, especially for the casual fan (but not only). Moneywise, it will turn out cheaper to get this one instead of the two studio albums and you will really have the essence of these. Four stars.