Amongst my personal highlights when it came to gigs in 2007 was Marillion's show at Newcastle University. It was a fabulous night and one that was reviewed by myself on behalf of HRH. I’ll never forget the comment from a friend of mine, someone who is a confirmed Marillion obsessive and who has seen the band more times than he’s had school dinners, when he said that Marillion, as of now, are playing some of the best shows they had ever played. I have seen the band on many occasions and on that nights performance I could only agree and confirm that belief.

For those who missed Marillion's 2007 tour you now have the opportunity to see what you missed out on thanks to the release of the double DVD set “Somewhere In London”. Filmed over two nights in June at The Forum in London this set captures the band at the height of their powers and in quite incredible form. For some years now the band have been regularly releasing DVD’s from various tours and special fan weekends via their web site and being the proud owner of all of these I can say that each release has got better and more professional. I thought their Marbles On The Road was the finest visual statement of the band but with their latest offering they have even surpassed that fine release.

A quick glance at the track listing will have many fans positively doing cartwheels of joy as, it has to be said, the band have managed to pick songs that promote their new album whilst also dipping into their enormous back catalogue and performing some of their classiest numbers. Visually the whole package is wonderfully filmed with intelligent camera angles and tight editing. The excitement of the band's show has been captured without resorting to the numbing trick of chopping and changing views at a great rate of knots, instead when Rothery takes a guitar solo the camera lingers on every nuance and when Mosley puts in delicate or fiery drum fills the camera is there to pick it all up.

I guess by now you will realise that this DVD has really impressed me and to be honest you could just stop reading now and log onto Marillion's web site to order it, I wouldn’t feel offended in any way at all. For those who want to know a little bit more however before taking the plunge I can say that the first DVD entitled “The Somewhere Else Tour 2007” features fifteen fantastic performances. Opening with a dramatic rendition of “Splintering Heart” the band lead us on a musical rollercoaster ride with highlights including “Fantastic Place” which is just exquisite and shows Hogarth has a unique place to store his guitar plectrums (watch and learn), ”The Wound” which is energy personified and delivered with real passion and “Neverland” which is a brooding and uplifting tour de force of melodic song writing. Also on the first DVD you get great versions of “The Other Half”,” You’re Gone”,” Faith” and “King” and many more, it all adds up to a truly mesmerizing show.

Over on the second DVD there is a section entitled” Here’s Some We Played Earlier” featuring a further seven live performances filmed at The Forum. The first thing that will leap out to present day Marillion fans is the inclusion of the epic “Ocean Cloud”. It’s great to finally have a visual version for posterity and it's destined to be one of those songs that Marillion will have to include in sets down the years if time allows. Also in this set we get the gorgeous “Beautiful” during which Rothery straps on his double neck Steinberger (eat your heart out Jimmy Page) and also the fan favourite “Sugar Mice”. The second half of the disc features “Racket Club Rehearsal” which is an intimate record of the band preparing songs in front of a few very lucky fans. It’s kind of a gig in the round but with the roles reversed. The fans sit on the floor in the middle with the band all set up around them. Musically this section is stunning and I would advise listening to through headphones as it’s very, very tasty. For those who were present this section will be a wonderful surprise and one to show the kids in the future. Finally the DVD closes with four songs give the 5:1 mix treatment, they are “The Wound”, “A Voice From The Past”,” No Such Thing” and “Somewhere Else”.

With “Somewhere In London” Marillion have released the best DVD of their career so far. It captures the band in full flight and is an exact and honest representation of just what the shows in 2007 were like. Marillion fans will watch this and think they have died and gone to heaven, anyone new to Marillion if prepared to put all their previous conceptions of the band to one side for a few hours may just start to see and understand just why Marillion have such a loyal fan base and to many of us, myself included, are regarded as a national treasure.

Let us know your views on Somewhere In London

Track Listing

Splintering Heart
The Other Half
You're Gone
No Such Thing
Faith
Thankyou Whoever You Are
Fantastic Place
The Wound
A Voice From the Past
Somewhere Else
Man of a Thousand Faces
Between You and Me
King
The Release
Neverland
Ocean Cloud

Line Up

Steve Hogarth - Vocals
Mark Kelly - Keyboards
Ian Mosley - Drums
Steve Rothery - Guitar
Pete Trewavas - Bass