Dream Theater / Along For The Ride In Osaka / 3CD

Dream Theater / Along For The Ride In Osaka / 3CD / Zodiac

Translated Text:
Osaka International Convention Center, Osaka, Japan 22nd October 2014

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Than the band for the first time ever due to the latest album of Dream Theater bearing the self-titled more than 3 hours and is entitled “An Evening with Dream Theater” from the tour this time of the Japan tour that became their Japan tour in history most dense live Grand Cube October 22 Osaka (Osaka International Convention Center main Hall) live a complete recording by the ultra-high-quality audience recording from genuine ringside in. Magnificent and is the emergence of a perfect title that can enjoy the best part of the stage. Recording who is familiar Mr. “West strongest taper”. The board is also expected! For us to reproduce the Osaka show from the most recent tour, which became a huge reputation in the highest quality of raging reminiscent with.

Part 1 live in excess of the 3 hour, 15 minute break, the second part, it is made up of content that there is a meaning-intention to each in the form of Angkor. Part 1 is made up of songs and past songs from the latest album “DREAM THEATER”. Start from opening SE that was used as a prologue also the latest installment “False Awakening Suite”. In this live is using a screen disposed on the stage behind effectively by each song, I was reflects this intro interesting video that connected the jacket of all work in narrative in SE. This rush intro to and is finished Kanpatsu Irezu in the flow of the album Street to became one of the most aggressive songs band in history than the latest work “The Enemy Inside”. I will let the perfect performance which is not disturbed Isshi from immediately after the start. That perfect performance is looming in the front row recording because of tremendous pressure. Plump sound isolation also it also contains perfect in front because the raw sound of each instrument (especially noteworthy is vividness of guitar and drums) live that will now be up to 3 hours or become any content, that music is what in this sound you should be promoted to hear while expected to whether hear the wind. Early compared to the missing each instrument of vocals in the front row because is weak but it will be resolved gradually whether the PA comes to stability. “The Enemy Inside” You can see that last as long as you hear the shout of a long tone tone of James LaBrie of this day is also the best at. After that I will proceed in such a way as arranging the songs and past songs of the latest work alternately. Past of the song is played just any of the 10 minutes than Omagari, you can not exceed 80 minutes in only the first part while the number of songs is less.
Was re-built skillfully arranged the fragments of past song “The Shattered Fortress” and drew a PINK FLOYD specific profound world “Trial Of Tears” is a particularly complex and esoteric music in their music, said this it seems the current state of the band that can play the music speak for themselves that they are the best. The first part ends with previous work “A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS” was than become the new anthem of the band “Breaking All Illusions”.

15 minute break will be the first of silence has been cut, but I have recorded from the portion small neta video flows. I do not know the only sound (there is also a funny thing) video of the cover band of the world, even in fictional CM such flows break that members appeared you can feel the attitude of the band that does not boring the audience. The second part from the fact that you are hitting the announcement 20 anniversary of the 2014 masterpiece “AWAKE”, is the main show configuration that was reproduced in almost non-stop from “The Mirror” in the second half of the album until the last track “Space-Dye Vest” making it the. This is in part to enjoy the band evolution and deepening of in 20 years from the album announcement, explores the meaning of the original, which had a song 20 years ago, listening point of maximum it is in again Toitadasu of such playing far from is. In even the played music and the current playing time than to hear the playing of the 1995 Japan tour is completely different texture, and especially music “Scarred” that content to be said that it became the thing to stir up the pros and cons of “AWAKE” “Space-Dye Vest” in the representation of the beauty of, profoundness is a place noteworthy. “Scarred” has become a performance to suggest that the increasing number of musical vocabulary by overlapping the years, here playing force out and the depth of the deep gouge like singing expression, a sound that appeals to a variety of things to flowing is contrast will become strongly you feel that is changing the music to larger ones. “Space-Dye Vest” is similar, this work the heavy representation depiction with the song You are imminent in calmly staring back like whether a sound image, also different musical to subtle yet fairly faithful performance to the original I am captures the difference of breathing beautifully. Part 2 last show off Oomagari “Illumination Theory” that all is jammed in the current band ranging to 22 minutes from the latest work. Produce a peak in to show end while changing the various deployment and Kyokuso with advanced playing techniques performance of this song is a masterpiece.

You rush to Angkor while accompanied by great elation. Encore of the 1999 masterpiece “METROPOLIS PART.2: SCENES FROM A MEMORY” will be played over the song to become the nucleus in about 27 minutes to the center of. While digest using the effective video the world of masterpiece that expresses the dramatic tragic story I will be reproduced. It’ll bring this live that seemed to have peaked in the second part by the music selection from this album that I do not know whether there was a meaning is a masterpiece of this work from 15 years to more heights, finale I will tell the excitement of about trembling out in the “Finally Free”. Great finish was left of outro have more than three hours in the “Illumination Theory” masterpiece of live exits.

Recording is from Jordan Rudess side of the previously described first floor Aa column (front row). The front row was a also annoying audience noise, applause, singing I’m off-record in the miraculous environment of none. Complex playing each instrument Irimidareru also I enjoy high resolution audible to detail, the live of this masterpiece in sound image with perfect balance and preoccupied stable clear and powerful to the last.

This tour that embodies the idea should be called a musical culmination of the band, it can be said to have embodied the evolution and deepening of the band. The word progressive in lock of the world but we are mere facade, what what Dream Theater to hear this live is not to say that the only progress to continue the band. Great live recordings that convey the emotional overnight is the appearance than ZODIAC label popular in limited press CD.

バンド史上初めてセルフタイトルを冠したドリーム・シアターの最新アルバムに伴うツアーより「An Evening with Dream Theater」と題され3時間を超える彼らの来日公演史上最も濃密なライブとなった今回のジャパンツアーより10月22日グランキューブ大阪(大阪国際会議場 メインホール)でのライブを正真正銘の最前列より超高音質オーディエンス録音により完全収録。壮大かつ圧巻のステージを堪能出来る完璧なタイトルの登場です。録音者はお馴染み「西日本最強テーパー」氏。本盤もまた流石!と思わせる怒涛の最高音質で大評判となった最新ツアーからの大阪ショウを再現してくれます。

その3時間を超えるライブは第1部、15分の休憩、第2部、アンコールという形でそれぞれに意味・意図がある内容で構成されています。第1部は最新作「DREAM THEATER」からの曲と過去曲で構成されています。最新作でも序章として使われたオープニングSE「False Awakening Suite」からスタート。今回のライブではステージ後方に配されたスクリーンを各曲により効果的に使っており、このイントロSEでは全作品のジャケットを物語的に繋げた興味深い映像を映し出していました。このイントロが終了すると間髪いれずにアルバム通りの流れで最新作よりバンド史上最も攻撃的な曲となった「The Enemy Inside」へ突入。開始直後から一糸乱れぬ完璧な演奏を聞かせます。その完璧な演奏が最前列録音ゆえ凄まじい圧で迫ってきます。各楽器の分離も完璧で前方ゆえ生音も含んだふくよかな音(特にギターとドラムの生々しさは特筆すべき)はこれから3時間に及ぶライブはどんな内容になるのか、この音であの楽曲はどういう風に聞けるのかと期待しながら聞き進めれるはずです。最前列ゆえにボーカルの抜けが各楽器に比べ序盤は弱いですがPAが安定してくるのか次第に解消されます。「The Enemy Inside」での最後のロングトーンでのシャウトを聞く限りこの日のジェイムズ・ラブリエの調子も最高であることが分かります。その後も最新作の曲と過去の曲を交互に配するような形で進みます。過去の曲はいずれも10分超の大曲ばかり演奏され、曲数は少ないながら第1部だけで80分を超えています。
過去の曲の断片を巧みに並べて再構築した「The Shattered Fortress」とPINK FLOYD的な深遠な世界を描いた「Trial Of Tears」は彼らの楽曲でも特に複雑かつ難解な楽曲であり、こういった楽曲を演奏できる現在のバンドの状態が最高であるということを物語っているようです。第1部は前作「A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS」よりバンドの新たなアンセムとなった「Breaking All Illusions」で終了。

15分の休憩は最初の無音部分はカットしていますが、小ネタ映像が流れる部分から収録しています。音だけでは分かりませんが世界各国のカバーバンドの映像(笑えるものもあり)、メンバーが登場する架空のCMなどが流れ休憩中もオーディエンスを飽きさせないバンドの姿勢が伝わってきます。第2部は2014年は傑作「AWAKE」の発表20周年に当たっている事から、そのアルバム後半の「The Mirror」からラストトラック「Space-Dye Vest」までほぼノンストップで再現したものが主なショウ構成となっています。この部分ではアルバム発表から20年間におけるバンドの進化・深化を味わえ、20年前の曲が持っていた元々の意味を探り、改めて問い質すかの様な演奏になっている点が最大の聴きどころです。1995年のジャパンツアーの演奏と聞き比べても当時演奏された楽曲と現在の演奏では質感が全く違っており、特に「AWAKE」の内容に賛否両論を巻き起こすことになったといえる楽曲「Scarred」と「Space-Dye Vest」での表現の美しさ、深遠さは特筆すべきところです。「Scarred」は年月を重ねて音楽的ボキャブラリーが増えたことを伺わせる演奏となっており、ここでは深くえぐる様な歌唱表現の奥行きと、様々なものに訴える響きを流麗に出す演奏力の対比が音楽をより大きなものに変えている事を強くお感じになるでしょう。「Space-Dye Vest」も同様で、曲が持つ重苦しい表現描写を本作は冷静に見つめ直すかの様な音像で迫っていて、オリジナルにかなり忠実な演奏でありながらも微妙に異なる音楽的な呼吸の差を見事に捉えています。第2部最後は最新作から22分に及ぶ現在のバンドの全てが詰まった大曲「Illumination Theory」を披露。高度な演奏テクニックとともにさまざまに展開や曲想を変えながらショーエンドまでにピークを作り出すこの楽曲の演奏は圧巻です。

素晴らしい高揚感を伴ったままアンコールに突入します。アンコールは1999年の名作「METROPOLIS PART.2: SCENES FROM A MEMORY」の核になる曲を中心に約27分に渡り演奏されます。悲劇的なストーリーをドラマチックに表現した名作の世界を効果的な映像を用いダイジェストながら再現されます。この作品から15周年という意味があったのかは分かりませんが最高傑作とされるこのアルバムからの選曲により第2部でピークを迎えたと思われた今回のライブをより高みに持っていき、終曲「Finally Free」で打ち震えるほどの感動を伝えます。素晴らしい余韻を持ったままアウトロの「Illumination Theory」で3時間を超える圧巻のライブは終了します。

録音は前述の通り1階Aa列(最前列)のジョーダン・ルーデス側からです。最前列であっても耳障りなオーディエンスノイズ、拍手、歌声は皆無という奇跡的な環境で録り切っています。各楽器が入り乱れる複雑な演奏も細部まで聞きとれる高い解像度、完璧なバランスと終始安定したクリアかつ迫力のある音像でこの圧巻のライブを最後まで楽しめます。

バンドの音楽的集大成とも言うべきアイデアを具現化した今回のツアーは、バンドの進化と深化を体現したと言えます。ロックの世界においてプログレッシブという言葉は形骸化していますが、このライブを聞くとドリーム・シアターこそが唯一プログレスし続けるバンドと言えるのではないでしょうか。感動的な一夜を伝える素晴らしいライブ音源が、好評のZODIACレーベルより限定プレスCDで登場です。 


Disc 1 (55:19)
1. Orchestral Intro : First Awakening Suite 2. The Enemy Inside 3. The Shattered Fortress
4. On The Backs Of Angels 5. The Looking Glass 6. Trial Of Tears 

Disc 2 (55:17)
1. Enigma Machine 2. Along For The Ride 3. Breaking All Illusions 4. Intermission 
5. Intro 6. The Mirror/Lie 7. Lifting Shadows Off A Dream

Disc 3 (71:15)
1. Scarred 2. Space-Dye Vest 3. Illumination Theory 4. Overture 1828 5. Strange Deja Vu
6. The Dance Of Eternity 7. Finally Free 8. Outro : Illumination Theory 

James LaBrie – Lead Vocals John Petrucci – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Jordan Rudess – Keyboards John Myung – Bass Mike Mangini – Drums

Zodiac 090

 

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