BEYOND THE DOOR

This double disc DVD/CD was recorded and filmed just before Roy recorded his fantastic CD single The Death Of God. Somehow, Roy felt rejuvenated sharing the stage with Irish folk guitarist Matt Churchill, who was an excellent foil for Roy both in the concert and on the CD. However, even with the additions of two never previously recorded songs in "Punch And Judy" and "Kangaroo Moon", the concert performance is very workman like and pedestrian. Perhaps Roy wanted to go into one of his long vocal diatribes about something or other and was precluded from doing so owing to the scarcity of recording time that was allowed to him.

All the same, the songs are not bad and "One Man Rock And Roll Band" is performed and recorded for the first time with two guitarists and it does seem to lift Roy into the moment. However, the dual acoustic playing on "Miles Remains" (form the incredible Death Or Glory? album), with its endless build up and repetitions, conjures up the opposite reaction to both Roy and this listener. The song working better as a meditative album cut on it's bombastic studio album.

The DVD performances are punctuated with different illustrations and animations that don't always seem to connect to the songs they accompany, but are neither helpful nor harmful. They are just there. This is a fan's only item as there are better live Roy concerts on both CD and Video. (Live In Concert At Metropolis Studios being the best.) 3 stars.