(Kscope/Shock)

Sparse offering from the ‘Tree not without fruits

Anesthetize, the second DVD from British prog svengalis Porcupine Tree, is an admittedly bare package. There are no documentaries, no bonus footage of additional shows, not even a commentary track. It is a music DVD in the truest sense of the word. There’s nothing on offer apart from some live music recorded over two back-to-back shows in Tilburg, The Netherlands, on a DVD. Fans of the band will know that this alone is all the band really need to offer. The set-list features the band’s breakthrough Fear Of A Blank Planet album in its entirety before a selection from the band’s back catalogue. The post- Fear Of A Blank Planet set-list leaves something to be desired, devoid of Porcupine Tree classics like Trains, Lazurus and Hatesong. Visually, the band’s stage show takes its aesthetic cues from the Fear Of A Blank Planet album. The stage is swathed in melancholic blue and aqua hues, as bleak projections of urban decay and blank-faced youths occupy the screen above Gavin Harrison’s gargantuan drum kit. Apart from swirling lights and one incredibly cool guitar, Anesthetize doesn’t offer much to look at; behind his limp bob and not-very-rock & roll eyeglasses, frontman Steven Wilson can scarcely be seen. Likewise his bandmates. While a more extensive DVD offering would be nice – and thoroughly justified given the extensive back catalogue untouched on Anesthetize – the new DVD nonetheless showcases why Porcupine Tree are such a spectacular live band. How Steven Wilson and co. manage to capture the dark, nihilistic vibe of the Fear Of A Blank Planet record on stage without losing the record’s sensitivity or textural richness is impressive beyond words. How they can turn the thematic slant of a record into an unparalleled audiovisual experience is why Anesthetize is an essential addition to the collections of prog fans.

****

TOM HERSEY

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