Shpongle - Live In London

A second Shpongle live DVD after only one album? What is the point, one might ask. The answer is, this is a different version of the Shpongle spectacle. The first DVD was, as admitted by Simon, the first proper gig the band had done together. However, the performance by all involved was stunning and the visual aspect of the show was a vision to behold, which greatly enhanced the Shpongle experience. So what new is there on offer on this DVD?
　　First off, a somewhat changed line up. Apart from the core of Simon, Raja, Trevor, Callard, Escott, Gorton and Adamson, there is a new drummer, bass player, and a guest violist, Max Baillie (who is actually not credited outside Simon’s introduction of the band members). No Nogera this time then. However, his absence is more than covered by drummer Joe Russo, an extremely diverse player and, to me, the aspect of this release that is so obviously superior to the Roundhouse DVD. He can pull off steady beats for quite a while with mechanical precision and rigid discipline and then do a long fill that totally blows the mind. Play simple, super-funky beats that make it impossible not to move and then do long, percussive passages in weird time signatures. Russo gives this release a lot more character as a live performance. As for Simon’s performance, I tend to prefer the bits when he spends more time behind synths, which is what I like to see and hear him do, rather than the rocky ones, when he does quite a bit of subdued strumming that’s barely there.
　　On to the setlist. All but two of the Museum tracks are done, which divides it evenly between old and new tunes. That poses a double problem: the new tunes come from what I consider the least good Shpongle album, and also all the old tunes featured on the first DVD. As said earlier though, Russo gives these oldies a much improved rhythm backbone. He occasionally even leads Callard and Simon through jammed-up additional sections. So despite hearing the same tracks again, we are treated to slightly adapted versions of those. Some work better than others in their new form. The new ones are presented quite well, with excellent musicianship from Callard, and beautiful cello, violin and flute embellishments and they certainly benefit from the live setting, as they sound better than their studio versions to my ears. I particularly enjoy Museum and Molecules, and Jellyfish is not far behind. On a final note, I do wish they’d played Electroplasm, but…
　　There is one more noticeable difference from the Roundhouse DVD: the show. There are no Brazilian dancers this time, but Cid Shaha’s role has expanded to include costumed dances and even theatre performance. The latter, which happens twice (one of them on stilts!), can be borderline cheesy, especially as Raj takes part. Speaking of whom, he seems to do a little more vocals this time – check out the silliness at the very end of I Am You. He moves about on stage doing faces, tossing fluorescent caps to the audience, pulling cosmic threads and grabbing invisible objects in midair. He also does a drawing on stage during When Shall I Be Free. Long story short, he’s his usual self. It might be me, but I liked the projection work more this time round. This is done on three circular screens, and consists mostly of band member shots – treated with effects to give them an extremely dream-like quality. There are some uncredited performers too. There’s someone who jumps about on stage dressed as a puffer fish (I think?) moving the costume’s eyes and what I think might be “The Human Slink” (don’t quote me on that): a performer inside a three-tentacled costume with eyes at the ends. That’s really impressive to watch and original. The mentally enhanced portion of the audience must have enjoyed the show i