I love the classic Procol Harum band and their recordings upto about mid-seventies. With this video and it's performances I do have a few dissasatisfactions that keep it from getting my full five-star blessing...
1) I don't care what the common practices are, there is no excuse for not using a REAL PIANO for a concert. Lets see...real piano strings or a digitally sampled piano sound. I'll take a real piano (in tune or not) anyday.
At least Matthew make no compromise and uses a real Hammond organ, but c'mon Gary lets hear Grand Hotel on a real piano. Maybe slightly inconvenient but it won't break the bank.
2) The band is together (altough perhaps a tad too loose, but please, please put some energy into it. Getting a little older is no excuse for not turning up the volume and getting wild.
The drummer has great style but will only hit his kit so hard and overall the band just seems to be holding back.
Take off the slippers boys and put yer Rock n' Roll boots back on and don't be afraid to break a sweat.
All that aside, the visual and audio production on this disc is excellent, very good indeed. None of that disturbing modern flash editing that makes us music lovers cringe.
The song list is great, lots of old favorites...
Christmas Camel, Memorial Drive, She Wandered Through, Repent Walpurgis, New Lamps and much more).
I actually enjoy the rehearsal performance more than the concert itself.
Overall this is a great disc and well worth the price of admission.
