MUSIC DVDs

Tony Clayton-Lea reviews Sarah McLachlan and Cat Stevens

SARAH MCLACHLAN  Fumbling Towards Ecstasy Arista***

Halifax singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan holds a special place in the hearts of those who appreciate songs about the more sombre aspects of the human condition. Fifteen years after the release of Fumbling Towards Ecstasy(written in the aftermath of a journey McLachlan undertook with the World Vision charity to Cambodia and Thailand) comes the 15th anniversary "Premier Edition". The centrepiece is a live DVD that features rather more earthy renditions of tracks from the original studio album. Unless you're a diehard fan, McLachlan live isn't exactly riveting - the founder of Lilith Fair, the touring festival of the late 1990s that showcased female-only artists, seems far more comfortable in a studio setting. Extras include a documentary on the making of the original album, video promo clips and a photo gallery.  www.sarahmclachlan.com

CAT STEVENS Tea for the Tillerman Live Weinerworld***

It's easy to forget how much influence Yusuf Islam has had on the humble singer- songwriter genre. Back in the mid-1960s, Cat Stevens was a foppish pop star, all Carnaby Street clothes and snappy three-minute pop songs. In the 1970s, following a period of intense personal reflection while recovering from tuberculosis, Stevens embraced a confessional mode of songwriting that effectively invented (with Joni Mitchell) the genre known, often derisively, as "bedsitter" music. This rarely seen Los Angeles TV studio concer, focuses on material from Tea for the Tillerman. It's of its time, certainly, but the directness of the songs and the intimacy of the performance remains a template that continues to be utilised today. Extras include an animated short film, Teaser and the Firecat.