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As I
already said in previous Porcupine Tree or No-man reviews,
collecting every Steven Wilson item is expensive and (almost)
impossible. They keep on releasing limited editions and different
versions of singles with different bonus tracks. And yet again,
here’s a new limited edition live CD. But this time, we can’t blame
the band because it’s the radio station XM that only wanted to print
1.500 copies of this album.
The CD’s were sold during the American tour. An extra 1000 were
printed for the European leg of the tour, with a slightly different
cover.
This
album was Recorded live at XM Satellite Radio Performance Studio
One, Washington DC, USA, 12th November 2002 and mixed by Steven
Wilson at No Man’s Land, UK, December 2002. So it’s a show that was
played live on satellite radio, without any public. It feels as a
studio album. No cheering public and not one single word between the
songs.
Especially the tracks from “In Absentia” are the same as on the
studio album. The line-up is the same, because John Wesley was
already present on IA. The production is good, but of course not as
good as on the studio CD. There are only details that are different.
I miss the special effect on Steven’s voice, by which I mean the
fifties microphone sound. I like the version of “Wedding Nails”. It
has a fresher sound than on “In Absentia” and they omitted the
unnecessary last minute.
Also the little medley “Even Less / Slave Called Shiver” is
brilliant. And the version of “Tinto Brass” is just wonderful.
With these little differences, I would advice you to buy “In
Absentia” or “Coma Divine”, if you really want a live album. (“Coma
Divine” was recently re-released as a double album). This limited
edition is for collectors of Porcupine Tree. If you want everything
of this band, buy this, but it’s already hard to find and they are
offering large amounts on eBay for it. The “normal” music lover will
buy the regular releases. Or not?? |
