The new Pulse DVD is the much-anticipated follow-up to the VHS release of Pink Floyd's best-selling concert video documenting their monumental Division Bell tour of 1994. Rumors began spreading back in 2004, possibly earlier, of the DVD's imminent release, but the date was pushed back numerous times, with production problems or scheduling conflicts usually to blame. Now that it has finally arrived, was it worth the wait? Of course it was.
The two-disk DVD package comes in a basic two-fold digipack and features some trippy new artwork by Storm Thorgerson. A four-page booklet is inside includes mainly concert photos and menu maps for each disk. David Gilmour also made sure to throw in a postcard ad for his new On An Island album. Much of the video has been re-edited, sometimes for the worse, using alternate camera angles, which may leave you scratching your head if you recently viewed the VHS version.
Pulse was recorded on October 20th, 1994, during Pink Floyd's two-week stand at London's Earls Court, while touring in support of the recently released, Roger Waters-less, Division Bell album. For those of you lucky enough to have seen the tour, or who at least saw the original VHS version of Pulse, you know that the Division Bell tour was one of the most amazing visual spectacles to ever call itself a rock concert. I can't say that it has been, or ever will be, topped. The stage is so damn enormous, and the wall of lights, lasers, videos, and special effects are so spectacular that you might find yourself forgetting that there is actually a band playing up there.
Although this tour was in support of the Division Bell album, the real star here was The Dark Side Of The Moon - performed in its entirety. The performance was absolutely stunning, and I look forward to comparing Roger Waters' version, when I see him next month. Before the Dark Side album was trotted out, the Floyds opened the show with a mesmerizing "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". Right off the bat you will notice that some of the camera angles have changed dramatically from the original release, especially the opening sequence which now focused much more on Gilmour than the screen film.
Article comments
1 - Triniman
Nice review! Too bad it was filmed in video rather than film.
I don't know when or if they will tour again, but the demand for Floyd is never ending. Have you reviewed their other concert videos?
2 - Paul Roy
Thanks. I've had Live At Pompeii for a while now, but never got around to reviewing it. I need to watch it again, and finally review the thing. I'm waiting for Delicate Sound Of Thunder to come out on DVD before I review that one. I did review Roger Waters'
In The Flesh Live DVD and gave it one my highest ratings. I'll probably review his concert when I see him next month performing The Dark Side Of The Moon. I can't wait.
3 - Carolyn
I got my copy of "Pulse" today and am, to say the least, amazed (although, kinda disappointed that Roger Waters wasn't on it. I guess if I knew Pink Floyd's history better, I would realize why. I really enjoyed your review and am looking forward to your review of the Roger Waters concert. For his birthday, I bought tickets for my son to go to the L.A. concert in October. (I'm a little envious.) Do you think Waters' "Dark Side of the Moon" will be as elaborately produced as the Gilmour version on "Pulse?" The light show alone would have been worth the price of admission to that concert!
4 - Ripper
Dick Wallis should read Gary Wallis. Nice review though.
5 - Sailor
Excellent commentary. I too am a worshiper of Floyd. Those approx 4 min's of Guitaring in Comfortably Numb puts me in a beautiful and blissful trance. I would have bought this new DVD only for this song. Even my 4 year old son has been enjoying this Music since last 2 years.
So much for fan following