It didn't take long for a huge grin to overtake my face, as I sat there reveling in Wilson's amazing DTS surround mix. Once again, he has produced one of the finest sounding audio tracks I have ever heard. Strangely though, he doesn't even utilize the center channel - maybe that is the secret. If this guy isn't the best producer/sound engineer in the business, I don't know who is. The Stupid Dream remaster blew me away with its astonishing clarity and power, and this mix is no different. Colin Edwin especially owes Wilson a debt of gratitude because his tasty bass riffs stood out like his amp was sitting right in my living room. Both the PCM stereo and DTS surround mixes are killer.
Unfortunately, it took even less time to realize that the video editing of this concert was shaping up to be a disaster. Wilson basically handed over the editing duties to Lasse Hoile, and this was a big mistake. I am a big fan of the amazing album artwork and videos that Hoile has produced for Porcupine Tree, but his trademark style did not transfer well to this live concert experience. For the unfamiliar, Hoile likes to incorporate a lot of distortion, black and white, saturation, sepia, and quick editing, to give his videos the look of an aged 8mm film. Think of the opening titles to the movie Se7en to get an idea.
Hoile takes this otherwise astonishingly clear and sharp, hi-def video transfer, and basically turns it into one of his personal music videos, with all of the constant cutting to black and white, and simulating that aged 8mm look he so adores. When I watch a concert video I want to get a perspective of what it was like to be in the audience at that particular show, and Hoile nearly robs you of that experience. Porcupine Tree incorporates some fascinating video imagery during most of their songs, but you never really get to experience it fully during any of the performances.
To be fair, Hoile's artistic liberties are not so overwhelming as to completely ruin the viewing experience - it was just completely unnecessary. When you watch the two Rockpalast performances from the bonus DVD, it becomes perfectly clear just how much better the main disk could have been without Hoile's fingerprints all over it. Those songs were filmed beautifully, without a hint of post-production trickery, and it perfectly captured the amazing live experiences that I remember so fondly. Hopefully that entire show will eventually get released.
Now for the good parts - the rest of the DVD! Arriving Somewhere... captures one of the world's greatest rock bands in the absolute prime of their career. I may have my beefs with the video editing, but everything else here is simply incredible - most importantly, the audio and the performance. Porcupine Tree have a knack for harmoniously blending these monstrous metallic riffs with some of the most beautiful, catchy melodies you will ever hear, and "Blackest Eyes" is one of their finest examples. If I had to recommend just one song as a good introduction to this band's current style, this would be one of my first choices.
Article comments
1 - The Craw
Nice review! Thanks for revealing the band's unique and powerful flavor so articulately. They have been my favorite band since 1995's Signify album, which remains a favorite.
I myself quite enjoyed Lasse's video work, and didn't feel it was overblown, but we all have our personal preferences. (Oh, and "So Called Friend" is one of my favorites too, but that might be because it is so damned fun to PLAY that song. Hahaha!)
Great review, and thanks for joining the Porcupine Tree fanbase!!
I did not see any mention that this tour also included 4 or 5 songs from their upcoming new album, which gave us a look at their direction.
One 15-minute piece, tentativley entitled "The Beast" was a full-on assault much like Futile, but with lots of interwoven parts. OTher songs featured classic PTree acoustics blended with harmonies and hard riffs. AWESOME STUFF!
Oh yes, and don't forget that the new Blackfield album (collaboration with Israeli artist Aviv Geffen) drops some time shortly after the New Year!
2 - Paul Roy
Thanks. I also reviewed both of the PT concerts I attended at my personal site if you follow the link above. You are right, the 17-minute "Beast" was awesome, and the new album is shaping up to be killer.