Pekka Like the Live at the NEC 1993 double CD, this release also documents the final tour of the classic Mk II lineup before Ritchie Blackmore's final split. This concert was recorded earlier in the tour, and given the internal strife at the time, the band is in a marvellous condition.

Listening to the NEC recording and this one back to back it's easy to compare and see that the biggest flaws of that recording are missing from this one. Ritchie Blackmore actually comes on stage at the beginning of the show and kicks Highway Star to a great drive, which is pretty difficult to achieve without a guitar no matter how hard the others try. Ian Gillan's voice is in a much better shape as well, which becomes delightingly clear especially during Child in Time, and the audience is very enthusiastic and audible during Black Night and Smoke on the Water in particular. Perfect Strangers is another older number that gets a great treating and the new numbers, studio versions of which I'm not familiar with, sound surprisingly good.

Once again Jon Lord shines all the way through, every one of his organ leads is a pleasure to listen to, not to mention the solid rhythm work and the lighthearted solo following Blackmore's Beethoven quotation. Blackmore himself is in great shape too with his versatile and lively playing, Lord and Blackmore trade and share some licks to great effect during the extended Knocking at Your Back Door. One also must mention the good bit of fun called Anyone's Daughter with a lot of lovely electric piano work by Lord and a short solo spot for Roger Glover as well. Blackmore's spirits are considerably higher than on the NEC release, with Anya stretched five minutes longer with some impressive soloing and Smoke on the Water getting a long and beautiful guitar intro, and the band also includes a jam on The Hall of the Mountain King and surprisingly spirited version of Speed King, again with some tasty Lord/Blackmore trade offs and melody/riff quotes from all over the place, both of which they omitted at NEC.

An excellent representation of a band in top form despite inner turmoil. Very recommended.