ARRIVING SOMEWHERE...

Very well done all around. The band can seem a little stiff at times, but they play flawlessly. This is somewhat forgiven since they are more of an art rock band than a performing machine. Even so, Steven Wilson and Gavin Harrison put forth a great amount of energy when called for. Vocals by Steven Wilson are done perfectly, except some songs he almost seems to have an arrogant overtone which some may be turned off to. The solos played by John Wesley (the only performer who isn't an official member of the band, but rather, a 5th "member" for touring) aren't just copies of the solos from the albums, instead, he gives his own take and they give chills to hear the emotion he puts into them: more specifically, listen to his solo on 'Buying New Soul' and 'Arriving Somewhere, But Not Here'.

Sound:

Recorded, Mixed and Mastered perfectly. Steven Wilson once again proves he's an excellent producer: with excellent use of the DTS license he doesn't overabuse the surround, (which could have been tempting, but ultimately, would have depreciated the live sound) but uses it to enhance the experience instead of rule it. All instruments come through clear on a 5.1 setup with Polk Audio speakers and a Harman Kardon receiver. The one instrument that is sometimes harder to hear is a few select piano parts. Other than that, the bass is punchy and all of the effects come through surprisingly clear for a live performance. All in all, very well mixed. Aside from Porcupine Tree's studio albums on DVD-Audio, this is another great disc to show off the power of your sound system.

Video:

This is where most people will find a complaint on this dvd, if any. The video itself is clear and well recorded. The cuts show exactly what we want to be seeing most of the time and they do a good job showing a lot of the little nuances that are placed in the songs(see 'Hatesong' for an excellent example). The main issue that some people will have with this DVD is the visual style. While some of it shows the band as if you'd see them live, many of the cuts show black and white screen, gold and black, off-colored screens, visual blur, scratches running through the film, etc... While I think these 'effects' are a great touch because they make the visual experience of watching a live performance that much more interesting and easier to sit through the entire performance, other people will view it as a distraction from the live element. I have this to say: No DVD concert will ever compare to actually seeing a band live, no matter how good it is. This visual style makes watching a concert dvd in the home much more akin to watching a movie and I think it's a good thing for the longevity of the disc to help it not slip into the "never to watch again" pile.

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