PAST AND PRESENCE

Pendragon - Past and Presence This very eagerly awaited DVD has finally arrived! The packaging, whilst up to Metal Mind's usual high standard is breathtakingly beautiful and very impressive even without it's precious contents! This is the DVD of the concert to mark the 21st Anniversary of The Jewel. I find it shocking that it's really been 21 years since we all sat on my friends bedroom floor huddled around his record player and listened to this album with awe, but I guess it must be. This album has always held a warm spot in my heart, and watching this DVD shows that it's not just me, for those of you who like me remember the old Marquee days this is a very special treat indeed. In the main DVD you have a Pendragon line up that consists of Nick Barrett, Clive Nolan, Peter Gee, Joe Crabtree, plus Julian Baker (founder member with Nick Barrett) John Barnfield (first keyboard player and co writer of much of The Jewel) and Rik Carter (keyboard player in the Fly High and Jewel days) Technically this DVD sounds suberb, faultless and full of life, best of all it really does sound live, but for me the high point of this DVD is not its technically impressive production, but the energy, the emotion and the fun, this was one VERY special concert indeed. There are few bands who can re-unite in this way with genuine passion and warmth. All of The Jewel is on this DVD plus some other tracks of the time, Alaska is incredible, Dark Summer's Day has been jazzed up with the help of Jools on Sax, Stan and Ollie is mayhem! So much fun! The lighting is exceptionally good, but what really gets you the most with this DVD is the genuine warmth between the musicians, the fun of the gig, and that watching this is like becoming a time traveller you can almost smell the marquee! In the DVD extras you will find footage from the Riff's Bar gig in Swindon featuring Nigel Harris (original drummer) and it's difficult to find words to say what it was like to see Nick, Peter, Rik and Nigel on stage together again so this section is a great souvenir of that incredible gig. I have the special edition which also include two live CD's....... And to be honest it is worth every single penny! A massive thumbs up on this one chaps!