In some ways, this is kind of like a European clone of the 'Yankee Stadium 1994.' As with that previously reviewed title, 'Marooned In Oslo' captures an entire show exactly as it happened (though two of the songs in the first half are slightly snipped). Also like 'Yankee Stadium,' this recording was shot from what looks like the last row at the very back of the venue (which, in this case of this tape, is Valle Hovin Stadium, which judging by the apparent distance of the camera to the stage, is one fucking HUGE place).

Apart from these similarities, however, 'Marooned In Oslo' is a *very*different kind of viewing experience that offers three unique selling/trading points to the discriminating 1994 VOIO collector ...

1. The first eight songs in this set were performed before the sun was completely set, making this the only daylight Pink Floyd VOIO I have ever seen.

2. The cameraman looks at the entire stage for the entire duration of the show without *any* close-ups at all. Nope, not even one (well, OK, not until the VERY LAST SONGS OF THE EACH SET).

3. As hinted as by the title, this is the only VOIO that offers up a live performance of "Marooned" (which was only performed live twice - at both nights the band played at this location).

As a result of points 1 and 2, the first half of 'Marooned In Oslo' is as unbelievably fucking dull to watch as you can possibly imagine. With no close ups, cutaways, or camera tricks of any kind to let up on the tedium of staring at Pink Floyd's stage in the slowly encroaching twilight, this is kind of like listening to an average-quality 1994 ROIO while looking at a vast, featureless field of heads, with an occasional flash of light or puff of smoke from the huge, inanimate parabola squatting a quarter mile away. Jesus Christ, we think to ourselves, what the hell time did the show start? Six o'clock? Did the government outlaw the use of "zoom" functions on Norwegian video cameras? About the only positive thing to be said at this point is that the sound quality here is superior to the 'Yankee Stadium' VoIO, though not exactly stellar, either.

By the time we get to "Sorrow," a lot of the effects are finally becoming at least visible (though if I were one of the people in attendance, I'd be viciously cursing the lack of a dome on this stadium), and the first set closer "One Of These Days" finally gives us the full effect of the production at last as by this the sun has finally set (though someone leaned just a little too hard on the smoke machine lever), and we're in for a pleasant long view of the show all the way through to the end. The picture from here on out is fairly good for the most part (the colors showing up decently enough), but there is a noticeable graininess to the image at times, which can make some of the films appear a bit indistinct and fuzzy (this is most likely due to generation loss than to a fault with the equipment).

Of course, the half of this show that we can actually *see* is the same old same old with hardly any variation from what's been reviewed before, but at least it's a thousand times more interesting to watch than anything in the first half. Twirly twirl go the Vari-Lites. Up and sideways goes Mr. Screen. Up and around goes Mr. Mirror Ball. Jouncity jounce go Mr. And Mrs. Pig. Blinky blink go the strobes. Fun for the whole family.

Finally, along comes "Comfortably Numb," during which is when the cameraman *finally* gets a little daring with the "zoom" button and takes us in nice and close to the stage ... just in time for the band to say goodbye for the first time, heh heh. Fittingly, the only other time we get in this close is in the aftermath of the always- spectacular finale that is "Run Like Hell," where Gilmour and company say goodnight and goodbye for the second and final time. Bastard.

Ahh, we can't move onwards until I mention the chief reason anyone would want to go after this tape, now can I? Just before we get to "Run Like Hell," we are treated to a live performance of "Marooned" at long last. Like the rest of the 'Division Bell' material performed on the tour, this is a virtual note-for-note copy of the original track, though the screen images of a few whales swimming about under the waves at least provides some nice extra atmosphere to all the squiggly guitar notes (which, truthfully, start to get on the nerves after a few minutes). As with the original album version, "Marooned" swoops around in a directionless fashion for a few minutes, then just kinda fades out. The end. Sorry, folks -- no riots, all-consonant epithets, or hurled bottles of piss from an outraged Norwegian crowd … in fact, they seem pretty receptive to the whole thing (either that or they're all thinking "mmmm, humpback whale").

'Astronomy Domine'	'One of These Days'
'Marooned'	'Run Like Hell'