Our very good friends at  Prog-Nose have posted a review both in Dutch and English. please visit them with our thanks !

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I'm typing this having got in from work about an hour ago, finding the 'York' CD on the mat and whacking it straight into the nearest available CD player, prior to going off to see the Aussie Pink Floyd later on this evening.

First thought (cue for a song...?) WOW! I'll repeat that:- OH GOOD GRIEF, GREAT DAY IN THE MORNING, IS THIS SOMETHING ELSE OR WHAT!!!! I don't have this new-fangled surround sound stuff, and so as not to annoy the neighbours unduly, I'm playing it on a portable Panasonic CD player, as loudly as I dare.

But nonetheless, it sounds astonishing. The sound is crystal clear, as if the band have set up in your living room and got the perfect sound at the first attempt. In answer to Bob's question on an earlier thread, it's far and away the best sound I have heard on any MA release, live or studio, and as for the performance itself.............

Some random thoughts as I'm listening:- How great it is to have live versions of the

'Passengers' material, especially '...Fold', how much I love Iain's solo in 'Answer The Question', that I've always thought that 'Gap' is Iain's masterpiece but 'Distant Train is making me think again.

 I always had the idea that the York show would be a landmark in the history of this most special band and listening to this and standing in front of a stage on which MA are performing, you know, just KNOW that you are in the presence of something very, very special. And I really do not have the words to do justice to 'Comfortably Numb', the awesome majesty of 'Distant Train' and the eleven minutes of unmitigated beauty that is 'The Gap Is Too Wide' Even on only one hearing, I am blown away by this CD, and it's made me even hungrier for the 'V' shows than I was before.

And now for the Aussie Floyd.

Dear me, they're going to have to go some to impress me tonight

Paul Quinton

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Dutch Newspaper review dated February 18, 2004

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From: John Goode

Another winner from the Mostly Autumn stable!

This Special Edition 2 DVD set contains an edited "official release" version of the York concert, the full concert and a beautifully illustrated booklet. The "official release" comprises songs that, for the most part, have not been released before on DVD, including several from the Passengers album and two brilliant covers ("Smoke On The Water" and "Comfortably Numb"). It also contains a deeply moving performance of "The Gap Is Too Wide", which many of those at York will probably regard as the highlight on the entire night. The standout feature of the disk is, however, the sound quality. The 5.1 DTS mix retains the edge and personality of the live music, while capturing the texture of studio sound. An excellent example is "Distant Train", which takes on a whole new personality. Nor have nuances - for example the sharpness of the tambourine and the sweeping string arrangements - been swamped by the more robust instruments or vocals. Happily, gimmicky 5.1 effects are eschewed.

It would have been very easy for the soundtrack to give the impression that Jon Blackmore was toting his drumkit all around the auditorium or that Andy and his bass were permanently stationed in row Z. However, the rear speakers are generally dedicated to the audience , while the front three are largely reserved for the performers, thus recreating the geography of the concert. This is not to say that the technology has been under-used: neat echo and reverberation effects have been added in places, while backing vocals and keyboards have been filled out by the judicious use of the rear speakers. Above all, the  sound quality stood up brilliantly when the disk was played very, very loud indeed! As a bonus concert projection footage is included - a neat touch.

And there's more. The film of the full concert provides those who were there with opportunity to relive the night, and those who were not to see how the evening unfolded. This version contains more of the interaction between the band and the audience, and contains outstanding performances of some of the more familiar material. Obviously the set list was not thrown together willy-nilly, and the full version of the concert puts the songs in the official release version into their proper context. Inevitably, given the time between the concert and DVD release, it obviously wasn't possible to produce a 5.1 DTS mix of the entire show, but the material is there and perhaps it can be re-mastered for future release, either as a DVD video or DVD-A. Using Sony home cinema equipment set to cinema B, the stereo mix sounded pretty darn good anyway.

The booklet which comes as part of the package provides a potted history of Mostly Autumn (including a perceptive analysis of the unique relationship between the fans and the band), an account of the recording of "Passengers" and a review of the touring season that culminated at York. It is lavishly illustrated throughout, and the evident care with which the whole package has been put together marks it out as a genuine attempt to provide the fans with something to treasure. This is most emphatically not, in short, more "product" simply designed extort a few more quid out of the fans.

If one were to quibble, one might note that long shots from the front on camera are not always pin-sharp, and the lack of a basic song selection menu for the full concert makes it difficult to find favourite tracks quickly. However, these are minor blemishes and do not detract from a fitting record of a wonderful night. The only problem is that the package is so good that you might have to order two copies - one for everyday use and one for best!
 

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From: Stephen Lambe

From  Colin Brown

I picked up my copy of the York DVD on Friday in Stratford. First of all, a big thanks to the band for a great evening and for continuing to be so great to the fans, something that is lost on the new wave of manufactured music. Seeing the DVD for the first time that night with the band was also a treat, watching their reactions not only to the video but also to the photos in the excellent booklet accompanying the set. As one fortunate enough to be at the York show, the DVD really does capture the energy of that evening. Having the full set on the second disc is great, allowing those present to relive what was a unique experience. All in all, a great package and all credit to the record company for getting it put together so fast!

From Martyn Miller

Ok...I will make an attempt at a review based on the fact that I am in an
emotional mood after just listening to The Gap.

The Packaging of the dvd, absolutely beautiful. from the starfield and the  gold lettering on the cover, to the illustrations beautifully drawn by  Heather on the inside, this package gives off the appearance of pure class,  but then, so do Mostly Autumn as a band so this is an apt souvenir of a  classy evening in the classy surroundings of The Grand Opera House in York

The booklet. Now this is special. It is so well written. the life of the  band, the input from the fans. It is a journal that brings everyone together  and that is what makes Mostly Autumn so special. The band and the fans are all part of one family. There are of course other bands I listen to but, none, I repeat none of them make the fans feel like part of the band.

The music. I have now listened to both of the dvds and the bonus features  and I just cannot find fault, not that I'm looking to of course. Being in the front row at York, I had a great view of the evening and watching this just brought everything back. Watching The Gap is too Wide again, absolutely stunning. I remember at the show, listening to the gentle keyboards, Heathers haunting voice totally hypnotizing me, you couldn't hear a pin drop in the audience. Then the choir bringing a lump to my throat as the vocal
from them and the sounds of the violins built the song up to its climax. It  was just a sheer relief at the end of that song to let out all of the intense emotion that it had built up inside. This could be seen by thestanding ovation the band received.

The whole band were on song that night and though I am a big Heather fan ( to the point of meeting her after the Stratford gig and being so besotted, that i could only think to babble on to her about ...Jammy Dodgers. Whatmust she think?), the band had 7 stars that night.

Then there was troy Donockley, the choir, the orchestra. everyone was just so superb and this dvd just highlights everything that is great about Mostly Autumn. Everyone who had anything to do with this dvd and the York show should bevery proud of themselves, the band, the crew, the management and anyone else involved.

When it comes to the Classic Rock Society Awards again, the people involved, should watch this dvd and make sure that justice is done to this band, they deserve so much. While I am on this subject, I would like to thank the on stage camera man as well, a man after my own heart. While playing Smoke onthe Water, the camera work was excellent which brings me back to The CRS awards. New catagory.....Classic Rock Rear of the Year Award. And the winner is........

Regards
Martyn.
 

From David Meadows

This is the most beautiful DVD package I own.
 
From the external box, a midnight blue starfield with echoes of the Passengers cover and gold lettering, to the gorgeously-designed interior booklet on heavy, glossy paper, fantastic photography, and two bonus illustrations by Heather Findlay, the whole thing seems to have justified its price before I've even played the discs. This is something I feel proud to put on my shelf.
 
The book: 52 saddle-stitched pages are an integral (as in, "glued in") part of the package and the words by Bob Carruthers are supplemented by plenty of quotes from the band and fans' comments lifted from the message boards. Every band member gets a full-page "action" photograph and there are plenty of other candid and posed pictures scattered throughout the text. It's a journal of the making of Passengers and the Grand Opera House show, but it's also an exploration of the spirit of the band and the music -- and of the fans, whose persistent lobbying for this DVD release is well-documented with gentle humour and obvious respect. You feel that the whole book has been written by a fan just as dedicated as you are -- which, I suppose, is true.
 
The only problem is that they forgot to allow sufficient space to gather autographs without obliterating the text. I found myself wishing I had one of those gold-ink pens so I could get signatures on the dark-blue flyleaf (hint to anybody intending to get theirs signed!)
 
The discs: two of them, one the "official" release: 90 minutes of music, 12 tracks, and band interviews; the other the "unofficial" complete set: 19 tracks, only missing the impromptu encore of Mother Nature. The package says running time 225 mins -- that's almost four hours! I'll have to take their word for that length as I've only have chance to play the first disk so far. Finding a spare two hours to watch the other one isn't going to be easy at the moment, but anyway...
 
"The Official Release". While it may seem unthinkable to release a show without "Heroes", "Evergreen", etc., I can understand the thinking behind it and the twelve tracks selected here are all "new", fresh, and (it goes without saying) brilliantly performed.

They've also been selected to highlight the contribution from the strings, choir, and Troy Donockley, which seems like a good choice. I was surprised to see the covers (Smoke on the Water and Comfortably Numb) included, but they do show yet another side to the band and they are both solid performances.
 
The filming is, generally, marvelous. All the camera angles are spot on -- unlike some concert footage, this one actually thinks to show the person currently playing the solo! It's all very artistic, with sweeping shots, tasteful dissolves, occasional slow-motion (to capture those "guitar god" moments), and cuts to black-and-white rehearsal footage in a manner similar to that used on The Story So Far. I like the fact that they have kept the interviews together instead of interleaving them with the songs -- to be honest, that gets a bit annoying on The Story So Far when I just want to listen to the music. Everybody gets a fair amount of on-screen time, including the guests, and -- hey -- was the choir really that big?

From where I sat (row B, seat 4 -- see if you can spot me!) I thought there were four or maybe five of them...
 
The sound. Oh my god, you have to hear Mostly Autumn in 5.1. It's like a concert in your living room! Turn it up loud and you can feel them all around you. I've never played anything that sounds like this. It's incredible. Stunning. Honestly, I don't have the words to describe it. Just get it and play it, that's all I can say. There were two or three moments where I felt that something had vanished from the mix, but with a set of instruments that varied it's hard to imagine getting everything perfect all the time, and what gets lost never detracts from what's still there. If you see what I mean.

The songs... well, is it worth me even telling you how good the performances are? It's a fantastic selection, they are technically flawless, and it's got all the emotional intensity you expect from the band. I cried again just playing The Gap is Too Wide. (I can't imagine the expense of getting a full choir on stage but, guys, it was worth it.) But I think my personal favourite might actually be Goodbye Alone... it shows off all the band really well and it's some of Bryan and Heather's best harmonizing, and the climactic build up is... breathtaking. Oh, I don't know, it's almost impossible to pick a highlight. It's hard to even try to describe it without coming across as a drooling idiot. How many superlatives can I fit in one review? Not enough to describe this release. The best concert I had ever been to... and it's all here in a perfectly faithful reproduction... excuse me, I think I'm going to cry again
 

From Stephen C

I just thought I would post a few initial thoughts on the York DVD having just watched the official version for the first time.

I missed the after show preview and am glad now that I did as I hate this DVD.  I hate it because after years of being able to control my emotions no matter what life has thrown at me, I suddenly find myself grinning inanely or having to slyly wipe the tears from my eyes.  I hate it for the way I can only get half way through the Gap is Too Wide before the tears are flowing freely and it's a real battle to get to the end without turning in to a total gibbering wreck !  I hate it for the way it reminds me that for the first time in my life I now get the uncontrollable urge to bellow tunelessly and clap out of time to the music and everybody else ! I think most of all I hate it for the feeling of injustice that a band who make so much original, evocative and emotional music are still so unknown and still play to audiences that struggle to get into 3 figures.

I won't comment on the technical aspects of the DVD as I am not qualified to do so but I will say that it is a wonderful record of a superb night that everybody involved can be hugely proud of. If I had my way ever home would have a copy. I am sure that I will continue to hate this DVD for years and greatly increase the profits of Kleenex ever time I watch it !

On a slightly more coherent note, I can't help but feel that if the "skyscapes" could somehow reach a wider audience they would create an awful lot of interest in the band (in particular Distant Train).

Thanks to all concerned for making it available on Friday and for creating such a superb package.