Starsailor - 'Love Is Here (Live)' (EMI)
4/5
By: Toby L
And so to DVD...
The natural rounding off to a two-year period which has seen Starsailor rise from the status of 'Wigan hopefuls' to one of the UK's most popular balladeering quartets, 'Love Is Here (Live)' marks an implausibly successful London performance and the inclusion of interview-snippets galore, all the band's music-videos to date, and other features that S-S fans will inevitably swoon over.
Content > > >
The live-performance on offer itself makes for startling entertainment; as filmed from the London Forum all the way back in November 2001, the show comprises 15 tracks, including every song from the band's debut-LP of last year, in addition to unreleased composition 'Some Of Us', b-side 'From A Whisper To A Scream' and impromptu, mini take-on's of the likes of Elton John's 'Rocket Man' and Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah', let alone a full band-effort of 'Hot Burrito 2'.
Frontman James Walsh clearly revels in the performance throughout, and any worries that his grand, bellowing throat would give out at any moment seem affirmatively canned, the opening roll of singles within 'Alcoholic', 'Poor Misguided Fool' and 'Fever' surely worth the original entrance-fee of the evening alone. By the time his fellow co-horts Barry Westhead, Ben Byrne and James Stelfox have glided through the anthemic likes of 'Lullaby' and 'Talk Her Down', the highlight of 'Good Souls' and almost-perfect close on the eerie 'Tie Up My Hands' rounds off a concert of the highest, most intimate quality.
Extras elsewhere comprise four documentaries - inclusive of an amusing tour-insight and the recording-processes of 'Love Is Here' and really-rather-impressive b-side 'Born Again' - plus a full, detailed discography, not to mention two low-key acoustic tracks as performed by Walsh, 'She Just Wept' serving as particularly gripping.
Sound & Vision > > >
Technically, this couldn't be more perfect; for the Forum-gig, the sound is so closely defined to the original effort that it's a true, modern wonder, whereas the crisp picture is second only to being there in the flesh for the actual evening. The promo-vid's meanwhile, the countless sound-bites and footage - it's similarly faultless.
So, a package for the keen fan and curious-type alike, Starsailor's first excursion into the world of the DVD is both imaginative and entertaining - a feat others in their league should strive for.
Artists in this article: Starsailor
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment