Pink Floyd
Pulse - DVD

PINK FLOYD - P·U·L·S·E - (1994 tour - DVD released in 2005)

In general

This is the recording of one of the concerts from the 1994 Pink Floyd tour. In the United States, the album received double platinum certification for traditional format sales, in addition to 8 platinum certifications for video format sales.
The tour culminates with the concert at Earls Court in London: the event was broadcast live to millions of viewers worldwide and is the main source for the album, supplemented by some snippets from other tour dates.
The group (without former leader Roger Waters since 1985) presents a lineup suitable for replicating the complex sounds of the studio-recorded tracks:
David Gilmour - Guitars - lead vocals - backing vocals
Richard Wright - Keyboards - lead vocals - backing vocals
Nick Mason - Drums and percussion
Sam Brown – backing vocals, first lead vocals on The Great Gig in the Sky; vocals on Comfortably Numb (backing vocals)
Jon Carin – keyboards, backing vocals, programming; vocals on Hey You, Breathe, and Comfortably Numb (verses)
Claudia Fontaine – backing vocals; third lead vocals on The Great Gig in the Sky
Durga McBroom – backing vocals; second lead vocals on The Great Gig in the Sky
Dick Parry – saxophones (the good old Parry... remember him in The Dark Side and Wish You?)
Guy Pratt – bass, backing vocals; vocals on Comfortably Numb (verses) and Run Like Hell
Tim Renwick – guitars, backing vocals
Gary Wallis – percussion, additional drums (played and programmed)
The main feature that distinguishes P·U·L·S·E from the previous live album (Delicate Sound of Thunder) is a complete performance of The Dark Side of the Moon, recorded for the first time.
All tracks are performed with great care and attention. As in all their concerts, Pink Floyd just play... Their relationship with the audience is developed solely through their music. There is no trace of chit-chat and their presence is very cold. Some like this aseptic approach, others less so. I, for example, don’t like it at all, but the music does...

Audio
Very good quality despite recording, mixing, and mastering all being done in analog (the DVD is actually a digital remastering). Excellent spatial imaging of the instruments and great timbral accuracy.
The drums are well recorded, although slightly muted. Excellent vocals and sax rendition.

Video
Good quality that respects the spectacular lighting effects.

The stage
Spectacular, with incredible lights and the classic large circle with numerous lights around the perimeter frame serving as a mega-screen. In particular, the lasers are very impressive (typically '90s), but it is the great attention to detail and recreating scenarios according to the musical situation that pleasantly catches the eye.
I won't say more to not spoil the numerous visual surprises...

The set list

DISC 1
1.Shine On You Crazy Diamond - Played in a special version for this tour that essentially includes both the first and second parts of the studio track expertly mixed together
2.Learning to Fly - Classic post-Waters track. Well played without particular artistic peaks.
3.High Hopes - Enjoyable, nothing more
4.Take It Back - Same as above
5.Coming Back to Life - A bit boring
6.Sorrow - Splendid, intriguing, atmospheric
7.Keep Talking - Enjoyable
8.Another Brick in the Wall (Part II) - Rock history, and you start singing and dancing...
9.One Of These Days - Psychedelic, acid, captivating, lethal

DISC 2
1.Speak to Me
2.Breathe
3.On the Run
4.Time (+Breathe Reprise)
5.The Great Gig in the Sky
6.Money
7.Us and Them
8.Any Colour You Like
9.Brain Damage
10.Eclipse
All of Dark Side had never been heard in a live recording before. I can assure you that P·U·L·S·E is worth the expense just for this. Performed impeccably and sung just as well, it recreates the atmospheres it aimed to give us back in 1973. Even the oft-overlooked On The Run regains vigor, especially when listened to while watching the amazing video. The Great Gig played well by Rick is always splendidly decadent, although, to be picky, the original vocal harmonies by Clare Torry (who was paid a mere 30 pounds for her vocal performance back then...) were quite another thing compared to those of the current vocalists, who are excellent but far from the original drama. Money is well performed with an almost jazzy central part that is very interesting. Us and Them is my favorite, and here it is played truly splendidly and evocatively. The rest is beautiful and of a high level, well reproducing the album's atmospheres.

11.Wish You Were Here - What can I say... tears in your eyes watching and listening to David playing the acoustic and singing "So, so you think you can tell..."
12.Comfortably Numb - Dreamy enough, Gilmour's solo elevates it several steps higher than it would deserve if he weren't there.
13.Run Like Hell - Rough and spectacular closure.

Final rating: 8.5