Now this is more like it.
Porcupine Tree's second official live DVD (and their first to be released on Blu-ray) is such a marked improvement over the British progressive rock band's previous attempt — 2006's Arriving Somewhere — it makes the former look like a mere test run for the real thing.
Recorded in October 2008 during a stop at Tilburg in the Netherlands, Anesthetize captures Porcupine Tree on two particularly hot nights during the Fear Of A Blank Planet Tour. The first big difference you notice here is in the video quality. Where Arriving Somewhere was often plagued by irritating, cheesy and often grainy looking video effects, director Lasse Holie wisely steers clear of any such artsy sideshows here, concentrating purely on the band and what is happening onstage.
Utilizing multiple cameras and angles, the end result comes about as close to actually being there as you can get. But the thing that really makes Anesthetize stand out is the way that the cameras divide the action equally between each of the band members.
Although PT singer/songwriter/guitarist Steven Wilson often gets the lion's share of the attention in this band — and rightly so — Anesthetize shows just how great the rest of these guys are as individual musicians, and how much of an actual "band" Porcupine Tree really is.
As much as this benefits all four musicians (or five, if you count perennial "guest" John Wesley on guitar and vocals), the one who emerges as the true star is drummer Gavin Harrison.
With many of the shots filmed from behind Harrison's kit, you see everything from the double-bass movements of his feet during "Halo" to the all of those little cymbals and bells he hits during the intricate drum parts on "Anesthetize." Harrison's status as a world-class skinsman is no secret to PT fans of course. But seeing it up close and personal is a revelation.
Likewise, the contributions of keyboardist Richard Barbieri and bassist Colin Edwin come into much sharper focus here. On "Anesthetize," you hear Edwin playing bass parts you never even knew were there before, and the sweep of Barbieri's keyboards during songs like "Dark Matter" and "Sentimental" is so deep it nearly swallows you. On the latter, there is also a very cool shot near the song's end where the keys themselves are reflected in Barbieri's ever-present shades.
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Article comments
1 - Duncan
Another reason to buy a Blu-ray player if you don't have one. The difference between the lossless surround mix on the Blu-ray and the lossy mix on the DVD is like night and day, nevermind how much sharper the video is. Even if you're going to just turn your TV off and listen, it's Blu-ray all the way.
2 - Paul Roy
Excellent review as always Glen. Glad to here that they didn't let Lasse Hoile fuck this one up too. Have you heard that Amazon.com already sold out of the Blu-ray edition although it doesn't come out until June 29. I pre-ordered one as soon as they were available and now I've got to wait until who knows when.
3 - Glen Boyd
Review just got linked at
PorcupineTree.com. Whoo-hoo!
-Glen
4 - Frank of America
one of the best things about this dvd is you don't see the cameras! Not a one. what did they use - mini-cams?
5 - glebarr
excellent dvd, Gavin's drum parts on the 18 minute long Anesthetize is worth the money alone...I liked the first dvd, but this one's even better...great live performers, go see them every chance you get.