Focus / Night Of The Prog XI / 2CDR

Focus / Night Of The Prog XI / 2CDR / Amity
Translated Text:
Live at Freilichtbuhne Loreley, St. Goarshausen, Germany 16th July 2016

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Latest live album of name band FOCUS you open the door of the euro Progressive is appeared. In the formation 47 years, they have continued to live activities now of your active duty. Also in 2016 and carried out a tour, of this work has been recording “July 16, 2016 Lorelei performance”. It is the audience album when you appeared in progressive rock festival “NIGHT OF THE PROG” of Germany.
The festival began in 2006, 11th in 2016. ANEKDOTEN and SPOCK’S BEARD & NEAL MORSE this year, in addition to the stalwarts of modern progressive rock, such as ANIMA MUNDI, LUCIFER’S FRIEND and HAWKWIND, also participated former band such as CARL PALMERS ELP LEGACY. All 19 sets in three days is now a major event to appear. FOCUS is the festival’s first participation this year, appeared in the fifth during the second day of the seven sets.
Such this work a maximum of taste is, great sound. In addition to the clear of the recent years of outdoor festivals seems reverberation zero, also the core of the musical tone or the distance between the PA was close thick. Although Listening finely with headphones of the snare drum “sound” audience likeness in drifts faintly, there is little not recording it other than to Kyakuroku whiff conversely. Guitar keyboard also base also each sound very Katsuaki, we complicated involving ensemble comes through vividly. The audience that has helped its shining clear of. I do not wonder at the fuss, such as the summer festival because it is outdoor festivals of the summer, the audience of this film, if I were listened to as the Japan Tour. Of course, Wakiokori the cheers to be a between tracks, where you such recordings as again aware of the breadth of the venue.
The latest FOCUS also great to be drawn with the quality. Or there is also the fact that festival, from the latest “FOCUS X” bear in only two songs of “Le Tango,” “All Hens On Deck”, after up to “FOCUS 3” from the “IN AND OUT OF FOCUS” ultra grandeur by arranging masterpieces and Zurari. Blockbuster “Eruption” is, of course, has been unveiled at “Focus I”, “Focus III” plenty of playing the epic, such as, larger version of the large representative song “Hocus Pocus” is also about 18 minutes. In addition, is also brilliant performance itself to draw such a gorgeous set. But to know the golden age is only Thijs van Leer, and Pierre van der Linden of Orijineita, Bobby Jacobs (base), which is also the son-in-law of Tice and, join the sixth year of the Meno-Hotesu (guitar ) it is also more than enough technician. Brilliantly updates of yesteryear classics group, it it had run in a thrilling performance to forget even epic time.

Only Britain and the United States will pave the possibility of a lock that had a monopoly, was allowed suited the eye by force to the European production band FOCUS. This inscription goods taste plenty with the latest sound of the brilliant progressive rock the 2016. News of the best new sounds from them. Still, one that I would like you to listen to you what you continue to love the euro lock. This weekend, will be delivered to your hand.

ユーロプログレの扉を開いた名バンドFOCUSの最新ライヴアルバムが登場です。結成47年にして、今なお現役でライヴ活動を続けている彼ら。2016年にもツアーを行っており、本作が録音されたのは「2016年7月16日ローレライ公演」。ドイツのプログレフェス“NIGHT OF THE PROG”に出演した際のオーディエンス・アルバムです。
このフェスは2006年に始まり、2016年で11回目。今年はANEKDOTENやSPOCK’S BEARD & NEAL MORSE、ANIMA MUNDIといった現代プログレの重鎮に加え、LUCIFER’S FRIENDやHAWKWIND、CARL PALMERS ELP LEGACY等の往年バンドも参加。3日間で全19組が出演する一大イベントとなりました。FOCUSは今年がフェス初参加で、2日目の7組中5番目で登場しました。
そんな本作最大の旨みは、素晴らしいサウンド。近年の野外フェスらしい残響ゼロのクリアさに加え、PAとの距離が近かったのか楽音の芯も極太。ヘッドフォンで細かく聴くとスネアドラムの“鳴り”にオーディエンスらしさが微かに漂うものの、逆に言えばそれ以外に客録っぽさがほとんどない録音ない。ギターもキーボードもベースも1音1音極めて克明で、複雑に絡むアンサンブルが鮮やかに伝わってくるのです。その輝くクリアさに一役買っているのが観客。夏の野外フェスですから夏祭りのような大騒ぎでも不思議はないのですが、本作の観客たちは、まるで日本公演のように聴き入っている。もちろん、曲間になると喝采が沸き起こり、そこで改めて会場の広さに気づくような録音なのです。
そのクオリティで描かれる最新FOCUSがまた素晴らしい。フェスということもあってか、最新作『FOCUS X』からは「Le Tango」「All Hens On Deck」の2曲だけに留め、後は『IN AND OUT OF FOCUS』から『FOCUS 3』までの超名曲をズラリと並べた壮観さ。超大作「Eruption」はもちろんのこと、「Focus I」「Focus III」といった大作をたっぷりと演奏し、大代表曲「Hocus Pocus」も約18分の拡大バージョンで披露している。さらに、そんな豪華セットを描く演奏そのものがまた鮮やか。黄金期を知るのはオリジネイターのタイス・ヴァン・レアーとピエール・ヴァン・ダー・リンデンだけですが、タイスの義理の息子でもあるボビー・ヤコブス(ベース)や、加入6年目のメノ・ホーテス(ギター)も十二分なテクニシャン。往年の名曲群を見事にアップデートし、大作であっても時間を忘れるスリリングな演奏で走りきってしまうのです。

英米だけが独占していたロックの可能性を拓き、ヨーロッパ産バンドへ力づくで目を向かさせたFOCUS。その鮮やかなプログレッシヴ・ロックを2016年の最新サウンドでたっぷりと味わえる銘品です。彼らからの一番新しい音の便り。今なお、ユーロロックを愛し続けるあなたにこそ聴いていただきたい1本。今週末、お手元へお届けいたします。

Disc 1(49:47)
1. Focus I / Anonymous 2. House of the King 3. Eruption 4. Sylvia 5. Le Tango

Disc 2(37:52)
1. All Hens on Deck 2. Hocus Pocus 3. Focus III

Thijs van Leer – keyboards, flute, vocals Pierre van der Linden – drums
Menno Gootjes – guitar Bobby Jacobs – bass

Amity 358

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