In retrospect, it’s hard not to argue that Peter Gabriel had reached his artistic peak in 1994. Just a few years after his most popular album “So,” Gabriel was at the top of his game, which is what makes “Secret World Live” such an amazing video to watch even almost twenty years later.
Recently released for Blu-ray and DVD, the show looks and sounds just as fantastic as I remember it when I owned a VHS copy of it many years ago. I was sent the Blu-ray disc and while the picture is great, it’s the sound quality of the show that sets it apart from the original.
The song selection is also outstanding, and while I wish it included “Biko,” “Shock the Monkey” and “I Don’t Remember,” I can’t honestly say that the inclusion of those songs could have improved what can only be described as a flawless performance. It is so good it’s almost depressing to think that Gabriel slowed to a near crawl creatively soon after the tour it came from.
What is on the disc is standout performances of “Us” gems like “In Your Eyes” and “Sledgehammer,” along with far too many other numbers to mention. If you are just discovering Peter Gabriel then this performance is a great starting point, and if you were ever a fan of Gabriel this is a must own disc.
