SECRET WORLD LIVE

Are you a Peter Gabriel fan? If so, have I got a show for you! The SECRET WORLD LIVE DVD provides the best seat in the house for a fantastic 1994 performance in Modena, Italy, during Gabriel's bravura "Secret World Live Tour."

The DVD captures Gabriel (replete with hair, ladies -- unlike on the later "Growing Up" tour!) at the height of his powers, and the master performer is joined by an absolutely top-notch band (who, even by themselves, would have represented a fabulous ticket!) We get the inimitable, long-term Gabriel band mate and stellar session man Tony Levin on bass, Gabriel's regular axesmith (and friend -- it shows) David Rhodes on guitar, and the incomparable Manu Katche making it all look easy behind the drum kit. Add to that "can't miss" equation the lovely and talented Paula Cole on backing vocals, violinist extraordinaire Shankar on a unusual, haunting-sounding double instrument, and newcomer Jean Claude Naimro expertly providing main keyboard duties, and you have the tasty ingredients of an aural and visual feast. (This is an awesome band, and the great pleasure they take in performing Gabriel's material is apparent throughout, with all concerned exuding infectious charisma and camaraderie.) The choreography, cutting-edge stage setup and accompanying technology is unique and artful in itself, and to top it all off, there is a guest appearance by African associate Papa Wemba and Molokai (his troupe of colourful singers/dancers) during the jubilant finale.

The material presented is, of course, superb, and includes flawless and energetic versions of favourites like "Steam," "Shaking the Tree," "Blood of Eden," "San Jacinto," "Solsbury Hill" (if the joyous performance of that one doesn't make you grin and sing along, you have a real problem!), "Digging in the Dirt," "Sledgehammer," the title track, the achingly beautiful "Don't Give Up" (Cole shines in Kate Bush's old part!), and a sublime, life-affirming version of "In Your Eyes" to close the show. Watching this magnificent DVD is a truly uplifting experience, and my whole family (including two kids, ages 9 & 12) really love this disc!

If you don't yet have a DVD player with surround sound, I urge you to invest in one as soon as possible, because performances like SECRET WORLD LIVE are a music lover's dream come true! Worth every penny, and then some, this is one that Gabriel's many fans will want to experience again and again. No reservations whatsoever: five well-deserved stars. A MUST!