Review of Roger Waters In The Flesh: Live

Introduction

One of the most eagerly awaited DVD releases is Pink Floyd`s Pulse, but despite rumours of the disc a year ago, it hasn`t surfaced. In the meantime, fans of the group can get their hands on the film of The Wall, and now, ex band member Roger Water`s new DVD - In The Flesh Live. Roger Waters wrote much of Floyd`s material, and includes a lot of these songs in his set list alongside his solo material.

Floyd fans will note that this DVD contains numerous tracks from Wish You Were Here, Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall - three of the best albums ever recorded - among other Pink Floyd albums.

Video

The video is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and is of a very good standard - the picture is crisp and stable and contains plenty of detail. There are no signs of compression problems and the image is free fro any film grain or dirt.

Rock concerts are usually enjoyable visually when you`re there in person, but often slightly dull when watched in the home, and I`m glad to say that this disc is definitely above average. Pink Floyd/Roger Waters have always been known for their big stage shows, and this concert is no exception, with some huge pictures overlooking the stage during the songs - many in the style of The Wall, which for many, myself included, is no bad thing.

Audio

The sound comes in Dolby Digital 5.1 and is superb, I cranked the volume up and sat singing along, playing air guitar and generally being an embarrassment to humanity whilst watching the concert - and I thoroughly enjoyed myself throughout.

The sound, like the picture is wonderfully clear, and fills the room beautifully. The music is presented with plenty of power, but is always balanced, so you can pick out all the vocals and instruments clearly.

Music DVDs of course rely on the quality of the songs as well as the quality of the presentation, and for me, this disc is a winner on both counts. I`m a big Pink Floyd fan, and this disc contains lots of my favourite songs - granted without the guitar of Dave Gilmour, but nonetheless wonderfully performed - these include Another Brick in The Wall Pt 2, Mother, Wish You Were Here, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, and, what is undoubtedly one of the best songs ever recorded - Comfortably Numb. Superb.

Features

With a two hour concert, any bonus features are welcome, and the documentary on the disc is a pretty interesting look behind the scenes and is well worth watching. There are also band biographies, a still image gallery and a system set up feature.

The disc is packaged in a clear Amaray case, which contains an insert detailing the other Sony Music DVDs available.

Conclusion

In the absence of Pink Floyd`s excellent Pulse on DVD, this Roger Waters: In The Flesh Live disc is a worthy substitute, featuring a great track listing combined with excellent sound and video. The great presentation is capped off by a good documentary. There`s not much more I can say other than this is a recommended disc and I`m off to watch it again…