WARSZAWA

This is a good live album from Porcupine Tree's LIGHTBULB SUN tour, showing the band in top form playing some of the true standouts from their central era. The collection of tracks is good - About half the tracks are from LIGHTBULB SUN, then a few more from STUPID DREAM, the title track from SIGNIFY and a compressed version of VOYAGE 34. The band has also offered a track which is not included on the CD (the live version of TINTO BRASS) as a free download to everyone, whether they own the CD or not.

The track selection is pretty solid - As I said, a mix of tracks from PT's most mainstream era. These two albums fall more into a RADIOHEAD-esque pop-prog region, although are still fantastic examples of the band's song writing abilities. The particular standouts are LAST CHANCE TO EVACUATE PLANET EARTH BEFORE IT IS RECYCLED, VOYAGE 34 (which is very rarely performed live), LIGHTBULB SUN and STOP SWIMMING which is also a live rarity.

As far as performance goes, the band really nails every song on this recording - From the cutting edge riff of SIGNIFY to the melancholic softness of WHERE WE WOULD BE, the band plays perfectly and appropriately at all times. As far as perfomance goes, the standouts are LIGHTBULB SUN, which features a much more powerful vocal chorus than the studio version, EVEN LESS which simply has an intense live energy, SLAVE CALLED SHIVER with the thumping bass of Colin Edwin played faster than the album recording and HATESONG, if only for the simple fact that the band nails the super-rhythmic mid-section perfectly in a live setting.

This, sonically, is a great recording - The audience noise is appropriate, and the mixing is level enough to keep the sound clear but still let it sound like a live recording. If there's one thing Steven Wilson can do (other than play guitar brilliantly, sing fantastically and write brilliant songs), its produce a record.

This is by no means essential; although it is a great introduction for newcomers to the band, featuring a good selection of tracks from their least proggy era. The best way to sample this album is to check out the free MP3 of TINTO BRASS - It'll give you a sample of the sonic quality and performance style on this recording, and if you decide to buy it afterwards, it'll let you finish off the concert.

A good sampler of Porcupine Tree in a live setting, and a great perfomance!

Enjoy! -Joel

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