LIVEOSITY

"Liveosity", brings together Pendragon's "Acoustically challenged" live CD, and "Live at last" DVD into one package. The collection is deceptively housed in a CD jewel case, rather underplaying the presence of the full length DVD.

Both these albums are listed and reviewed as separate products on this site, but their combination here offers excellent value both in their own right, and as an introduction to the music of this underrated band.

The package is worth picking up for the DVD alone, which contains a gig filmed in Poland in 1996 on the tour to promote the then current Masquerade Overture album. This sees the band at their best, enhanced by sympathetic audio and video production.

There is little overlap in terms of songs between the full band gig and the CD containing the unplugged session. In any event, the unplugged versions are radically different to the normal plugged in renditions of the selected songs. For me, the transition does not work particularly well, focussing too much on acoustic guitar and vocals. Given the great value of the package as a whole though, if we look upon the acoustic CD as a bonus, in total we have a fine offering.

The presentation is completed with well presented sleeve notes, and a host of DVD extras.