Tracklist
| CD 1 |
| 1. | Disc 1: |
| 2. | Shortest Day |
| 3. | In Between |
| 4. | Liberty Bell |
| 5. | Probably Built In The Fifties |
| 6. | Even The Spirits Are Afraid |
| 7. | Saturnine |
| 8. | Monsters |
| 9. | Alone |
| 10. | A Noise Severe |
| 11. | Leaves |
| 12. | Eleanor |
| 13. | In Motion Part 1 - Disc 2: Waking Hour |
| 14. | On Most Surfaces |
| 15. | Strange Machines |
| 16. | Adrenaline |
| 17. | Third Chance |
| 18. | Black Light District |
| 19. | Travel |
Latest Reviews
| Alejandro Nova | 02/05/2010 |
| This music was to stay forever... And you'll know... |  |
I'm in a singular position to review this. I own the DVD, like I will recommend here you do. But I, also, was there. Me and ~5.000 of my countrymates were featured in this exhibition of the marvel of Anneke's voice, The Gathering sound and the Chilean crowd, possibly one of the best of the world.
This may sound you like cheap chauvinism, but, in the very first moment you turn on your music player, and start hearing the crowd, you begin to understand the clarity of this judgement. In fact, I was there, and I can tell you that the fun began for us ~15 minutes before the beginning of the record you'll watch and hear. ~5.000 people in a chant. "GATHERING! GATHERING!" You are missing that, of course. You'll miss the row in the Caupolican Theater, the fight to locate yourself in fourth or fifth row, and the energy released jumping with all the crowd. But you'll not miss the part that follows.
I can criticize the mixing, but this is a cheap criticism. Because I was there, and I know that the whole experience was REALLY "A NOISE SEVERE". Exactly 104db measured by René Rutten from the stage. You'll miss that. But you can't have that. Because if you have that, you won't hear Anneke or the band. It's that simple.
But let's stop talking about what you miss and start talking about what you get. The sound is pristine. You can hear some of "GATHERING! GATHERING!" shouts as the lights fade, Anneke and the rest begin to play, and Shortest Day begins in a synergy with the people. You can see the CD reaching the 3' 20" mark and hear the crowd getting mad. And feeling everything.
This is a pattern that repeats itself in an endless cycle. When The Gathering engages the machine in "Probably built in the '50s", "the gathering" of 5.000 souls is assembled and shouting, but silenced by the mixing. And you don't understand why Anneke is forcing herself like she does, until the mixing crew give place to the crowd. And I was there, in fourth row, singing with all my soul "Miles and miles... I run".
The "new" songs have a _relatively_ cold reception. But the effect of "old" songs is noticeable. In "Saturnine", what you'll hear is Anneke, but, in reality, Anneke sometimes has to shout to hear herself. Is that simple: there isn't any PA system in the world that can overcome more than 100db of crowd sing-along.
Let's omit for now "Leaves", "Eléanor", and "In Motion pt. I", almost one half of the foundational "Mandylion". "Eléanor" is the favourite one of the Chilean crowd, and it shows. You'll get some rarities like "Adrenaline" and "Black Light District", a song that will grow on you. You'll get some good songs from the latest albums, like "Waking Hour" and "A Noise Severe", a personal fav for me.
A special paragraph is for "Travel", the last song. This was absolutely out of schedule. "Shrink" was the last one. And why did they play it? Because of one banner that the band couldn't avoid. A beautiful banner that read "Your music will stay forever...". You'll miss it. But you won't miss "Travel", and the atmosphere, the synergy. You'll feel yourself moved by this song. Like I did.
Obviously, you may have missed the chance to be here, in Santiago, enjoying this live. But you won't miss the sound and some of the whole experience when you buy this CD, and that's why I tell you: simply buy it. Be extasiated by the crowd and captivated by the band, at the same time. Close your eyes and imagine that you are there, with me, in that clear night of March 24th, 2007, shouting "I wish you knew... your music was to stay forever... and I know!". Because, also, this was the last release with Anneke on board, and, certainly, this piece of music will stay forever. Like that banner said.
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