Porcupine Tree - Arriving Somewhere...

Year of Release: 2006
Label: Snapper
Catalog Number: SMADVD051
Format: CD
Total Time: 104:28:00

Since signing to a major label (Lava/Atlantic), Porcupine Tree has made two changes, both with positive results. Wilson's use of heavier guitar sounds was injected into the band's sound, giving the band an added punch, yet not totally abandoning their more atmospheric side. Second was the addition of drummer Gavin Harrison, whose intricate and dynamic drumming has made the band tighter. Arriving Somewhere? is Porcupine Tree's first live DVD, and it was well worth waiting for.

Filmed over two nights at the Park West in Chicago (October 11-12, 2005), most of the material featured is from the last two releases In Absentia and Deadwing. The band stays pretty close to the studio versions, but they rock a little harder live. The addition of John Wesley (guitar/vocals) fills out the bands sound, and his backing vocals are essential. As the opening strains of "Blackest Eyes" begins, bassist Colin Edwin has this little grin, like he knows he is playing with the best band around. Edwin's bass really stands out, thumping through my stereo surround sound, the 5.1 mix is terrific. Listening and watching keyboardist Richard Barbieri is also a treat, absorbing all the colors he adds to the songs. He may not play the keyboard hero as far as soloing, but his contributions continue to standout and separate them from other bands. Standout tracks include "Blackest Eyes", "Arriving Somewhere?" and the instrumental "Mother And Child Divided" which harkens back to the Signify days. "Arriving Somewhere But Not Here" takes off and rocks harder than the studio version. "Trains" closes the show, and provides some comic relief to the proceedings, while sounding absolutely terrific.

Surprisingly, "Deadwing" and "Shallow" do not appear, although I am not sure if either song was played on the tour. "Even Less" and "Hatesong" are about as far back as they go, but both fit into the set nicely. The bonus disc is a bit sparse considering the band's lengthy career; it would have been nice to have some older material included. You do get two live cuts, "Radioactive Toy" and "Futile" from a German TV show. The highlight of the bonus disc is Gavin Harrison's "Cymbal Song," a very creative piece. They also include the video footage used onstage for a few of the songs.

Wilson tends to change things up, so who knows what to expect next. As for right now, Porcupine Tree has the songs, the musicianship, and the stage show to become one of today's most popular acts.

Tracklisting:
Disc One: Revenant (3:04) / Open Car (4:46) / Blackest Eyes (4:41) / Lazarus (4:06) / Hatesong (9:14) / Don't Hate Me (8:38) / Mother And Child Divided (5:11) / Buying New Soul (7:17) / So Called Friend (4:55) / Arriving Somewhere But Not Here (12:57) / Hearattack In A Layby (4:07) / The Start Of Something Beautiful (7:19) / Halo (6:42) / The Sound Of Muzak (5:14) / Even Less (6:54) / Trains (7:18) / End Credits (special alt. mix of Mother And Child Divided) (2:05)

Disc Two: Rockplast TV: Futile (6:29) / Rockplast TV: Radioactive Toy (6:45) / Lazarus (promo clip directed by Lasse Hoile) / Start Of Something Beautiful (live film directed by Przemyslaw Vshebor and Lasse Hoile) / Mother And Child Divided (live film dir. by Hoile) / Gavin Harrison - Cymbal Song / Photo Gallery (w/excl. ambient music by RB+SW)

Musicians:
Steven Wilson - guitars, vocals
Richard Barbieri - keyboards
Colin Edwin - bass
Gavin Harrison - drums
John Wesley - guitars, vocals

Discography:
On The Sunday Of Life... (1991)
Voyage 34 (1992)
Up The Downstair (1993)
Voyage 34: Remixes (1993)
Staircase Infinities (1994)
Moonloop E.P. (1994)
The Sky Moves Sideways (1995)
Signify (1996)
Coma Divine - Recorded Live In Rome (1997)
Stupid Dream (1999)
Voyage 34 - The Complete Trip (2000/2004/2005
'4 Chords That Made A Million' (2000)
Lightbulb Sun (2000/2008)
'Shesmovedon' (2000)
Lightbulb Sun - Special Edition (2001)
Recordings (2001)
Stars Die: The Delerium Years 1991 - 1997(2002/2005)
Metanoia (2002)
In Absentia (2002)
In Absentia (European version) (2003)
Warszawa (2005)
Deadwing (2005)
Porcupine Tree (2006)
Fear Of A Blank Planet (2007)
Nil Recurring (2008)
The Incident (2009)

Arriving Somewhere... (DVD) (2006)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: November 19th 2006
Reviewer: Eric Porter
Score:
Artist website: www.porcupinetree.com
Hits: 3839
Language: english