UK / Cruise To The Edge 2014 / 2CD

UK / Cruise To The Edge 2014 / 2CD / Virtuoso

Translated Text:
Live at Pantheon Theater, MSC Divina, Docked at Cozumel, Mexico 9th April 2014

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From luxury liner tour “CRUISE TO THE EDGE 2014” which was held on April 7 to 12 this year , the ultra – quality triple threat of full recording and playing the best sound quality superb first day stage of the UK (9 day) and it is with the recording to be able to breadth and depth clarity of sound recording ! is the appearance of the title contained in the press CD Te , punch , range and sound board class anymore , but playing in front of totally with respect to the base among them it has been captured by the close sound like it if it were , and it is with a piece unbearable for a fan of the Wet-N . Also characteristic in the UK this year , it will be that Vu~ajinaru – Donati is participating again in the drum . He is the person ( North America performances , a total of six times of 19 to 27 April ※ 2013 years ) who had joined temporarily in UK , succeeding Terry left the band last CRUISE TO THE EDGE “2013” last year but , to succeed drummer selection when the DREAM THEATER associated with Portnoy withdrawal of 2010 , it became a topic greatly those who also stores and many as the person who competed in fierce the finalists Mike Manjini chosen to result I think . Eddie also like liked the drum of such him , CRUISE TO THE EDGE 2014 the next , which is announced on July 20, 2013 last year Donati already is scheduled members announced at the time of the UK in the ( performance of this work recorded in other words ※) it has announced the name of , and it is with the form that it was realized the announcement as this time . In addition it has also become an important factor in inspiring the Wet-N and Eddie , how the two of the original has been enthusiastically in everywhere in the drum approach fresh I have been recorded in the sound quality of the best .

What the first song that comes ramps up from improvisation noisy Disc-1 at the beginning , of the violin ” Starless ” . I’ve been playing in the middle of the show in April performances last year made ​​the first time in my home to Donati , but will be surprised at first that we brought to the opening number this . You can read that it is the topic as ” ! Began to show from Starless ” of course, as has been calculated , but the real intention is first in a difficult piece of popular everyone knows well , the performance power of the current UK I think in there is the aim would like her have confirmed . It is a song you do not want to select first the first place if there is anxiety in the playing surface and you will be Ninmari from the beginning that this is has been a good performance is quite good actually , a sense of transparency in near ” Starless ” is jumps out suddenly . In performance that is full of strong driving rhythm , some great force and depth of performance sound that comes through to the ear while also accompanied by a punch this day , ” In The Dead Of Night ” . Singing to grow significantly in the Wet-N the charm , it is sure to be deprived of the ear to sound like guitar which worked of the suppression that comes into play in that the intermediate portion and bass sound that is crisp , with its dramatic performance here . Singing ability of Wet-N with the core and thick will be relief After the transition to ” By The Light Of Day “, but volume comparison with complaints such as cymbals moving finely and keyboard sounds fine behind the scenes has been recorded as good as tasteful I think so cage , and I’d like your attention by all means this state. Ability of this recording has been demonstrated without state of the ” Thirty Years ” , how the notes flying through the wide range that not only high-pitched tone from the bass , leading to loud from complaints has been captured scrupulously . For example, the movement of the cymbal and toms Guitar Show delicate movement is Chase firmly in the early to proceed with baseless , and a stronger sense of attack is one in ( 57 seconds near ※ 3 minutes )-based incoming Kyokuso and at the same time make an about-turn melody of guitar and keyboard to feature a sound one sound , started to sing in a loud voice behind the scenes is conveyed in stunning tone the richness of the treble , you should breathtaking unintentionally how they harmony intersect most comprehensive . You will hear far from that (39 seconds to 54 seconds near ※ 7 minutes) , hidden even here there is also a location where strong baseline Wet-N seems to stand out in the finale before .

Disc-2 is the second half of the show . Tone offers a variety of traveling around and movement harmoniously early on in the ” Time To Kill ” , but please pay attention to the height of the resolution Yuku is being played in the sound with the outline , each firm . Base which worked of the Dos will be heard in the sound very close again , but powerful singing Wet-N has also become a major topic at the same time , it has become the scene unbearable to his fans . ” Nevermore ” would be good acting scene in the goodness of the original song is more advanced , feel the richness of this day most musically probably . Interaction of guitar and piano spot hits in the first half of the song is captured clearly as a sequence of sound can be seen by grain , and weak the mystery of the music changes in scene impressive Kyokuso is blurred once finale before I will have to record perfectly sound . Scene that seems difficulty playing truly is outstanding difficult piece played a set containing the first time ever in the Japan tour last year ” Mental Medication ” , but I would like to note here three other relying on the melody with no blurring of Eddie it is that people are struggling . Welcome to the point where the contrast of music interpretation is to stand out on their own scrupulously Unlike other musical performance , the fun of this song of the day this is hidden . Will it not be realized ability of Donati has come out well ” The Only Thing She Needs ” , drummer be raised prime gorgeously from base music this much Terry other than the not here very much . Reason alone how the Wet-N and Eddie is also a string of vivid performance riding comfortably beat songs over other has been recorded are many . It should be noted that , in relation to the time of appearance band were pushing this day , was scheduled to be played at the beginning and ” Caesar’s Palace Blues ,” ” Forever Until Sunday ” has not been played , but has been playing (※ 11日but , ” Mental Medication ” was removed instead) , but it has become a show configuration unusual short subtly it was the case , but therefore , has become a point unique of this title as well.

UK is not over yet Terry is also away . It will comes through how the firm is being depression in the area of ​​the unknown history of the band by the baton is passed to the Donati rather you listen to this . This weekend , the title that can be experienced in the best sound quality with such 2014 is the latest UK will comes up from Virtuoso label familiar with recording high-quality content !

今年4月7日~12日に開催された豪華客船ツアー”CRUISE TO THE EDGE 2014″より、U.K.の初日ステージ(9日)を完全収録・演奏最高・音質極上の三拍子揃ったウルトラ・クオリティにてプレスCDに封じ込めたタイトルの登場です! 収録音の透明感、パンチ、レンジの広さと深さはもうサウンドボード級と言える録音となっておりますが、中でもベースに関してはまるで目の前で演奏しているかの様な近い音像で捉えられており、ウエットンのファンには堪らない一枚となっています。また今年のU.K.で特徴的なのは、ドラムにヴァージナル・ドナティが再び参加している事でしょう。彼は昨年のCRUISE TO THE EDGE “2013”を最後にバンドを離れたテリーの後任としてU.K.に一時加入していた(※2013年4月19日~27日の北米公演・計6回)人物ですが、大きく話題になったのは2010年のポートノイ脱退に伴うDREAM THEATERの後任ドラマー選考時に、結果的に選ばれたマイク・マンジーニと最終選考を熾烈に競った人物として御記憶の方も多いと思います。エディもそんな彼のドラムを気に入っていた様で、去年2013年7月20日に告知された次回のCRUISE TO THE EDGE 2014(※つまり本作収録の公演)におけるU.K.の予定メンバー発表時では既にドナティの名をアナウンスしており、今回それが告知通りに実現した形となっています。またそれはエディとウエットンを奮起させる重要な要素ともなっており、そのフレッシュなドラム・アプローチにこのオリジナルの2人が随所で熱演している様子が極上の音質で記録されているのです。

Disc-1冒頭、ヴァイオリンのノイジーなインプロから立ち上ってくる1曲目は何と「Starless」。ドナティを擁して初めて行われた去年の4月公演でもショウの中盤でプレイしていましたが、これをオープニング・ナンバーに持ってきた事にまず驚かされるでしょう。勿論「Starlessからショウを始めた!」と話題にされる事も計算していた様に読めますが、しかしその本心は現行U.K.の演奏力を、皆がよく知っている人気の難曲でまず確かめて貰いたいという狙いがあったのではないでしょうか。そもそも演奏面に不安があるならまずセレクトしない楽曲ですし、実際これがなかなかの好演奏となっていて、近くて透明感のある「Starless」がいきなり飛び出してくることに冒頭からニンマリされるでしょう。「In The Dead Of Night」はこの日も強いドライヴ感に充ちた演奏で、パンチを伴いながら耳へ伝わってくる演奏音の奥行きと迫力は素晴らしいものがあります。ここではウエットンの大きく伸びる歌唱も魅力で、バリバリと鳴るあのベース音や中間部で絡んでくる抑制の効いたギターなど、その劇的な演奏と音像に耳を奪われること請け合いです。「By The Light Of Day」に移行すると太くて芯のあるウエットンの歌唱力が浮き彫りになりますが、その後ろで微細に鳴るキーボードや細かく動くシンバルといった弱音とのボリューム対比が心憎いほどよく録れておりますので、この様子も是非御注目戴きたいと思います。「Thirty Years」は本録音の実力が如何なく発揮されており、低音から高音だけでなく、弱音から強音に至る幅広い音域の中を音符が飛び交う様子が克明に捉えられています。例えばベースレスで進む序盤では細やかな動きを見せるギターとシンバル・タムの動きがしっかり追えますし、曲想が一転すると同時に入ってくるベース(※3分57秒付近)にはより強いアタック感が一音一音に備わり、その後ろで高らかに歌い始めるキーボードやギターの旋律は高音域の豊かさを見事な音色で伝えており、それらハーモニーが縦横無尽に交差する様子に思わず息を呑む筈です。終曲手前ではウエットンらしい力強いベースラインが際立つ箇所もあり(※7分39秒~54秒付近)、ここも隠れた聴きどころでしょう。

Disc-2はショウ後半です。「Time To Kill」では序盤で様々な音色が渾然と動き廻っていますが、それぞれがしっかりした輪郭を伴う音で再生されてゆく解像度の高さに御注目下さい。ここでもドスの効いたベースが大変近い音で聞こえますが、同時にウエットンの力強い熱唱も大きなトピックスとなっており、彼のファンには堪らないシーンとなっています。「Nevermore」はオリジナルの曲の良さが更に進化した名演で、恐らく音楽的にこの日一番の充実度を感じられるシーンでしょう。曲の前半でスポットが当たるピアノとギターの対話は音の連なりが一粒ずつ分かるほど明瞭に捉えられており、終曲前一旦曲想がぼやける印象的なシーンでもその音楽的変化の不思議さを微弱な音まで完璧に記録しております。昨年の日本公演で史上初めてセット入りを果たした難曲「Mental Medication」はさすがに演奏し難そうなシーンが目立ちますが、しかしここで注目したいのはエディのブレの無い旋律を頼りに他の3人が奮闘している点です。他の演奏曲と違って楽曲解釈の対比が各自で克明に浮き出ている点にこそ、この日のこの曲の面白さが隠れています。「The Only Thing She Needs」はドナティの実力がよく出ており、テリー以外にこれだけ楽曲を底辺から華やかに盛り立てられるドラマーはなかなか居ないと実感されるのではないでしょうか。それだけにエディとウエットンも他の曲以上に気持ち良くビートに乗って鮮烈な演奏を連発している様子が多々記録されています。尚、この日は出演バンドの時間が押していた関係で、当初は演奏される予定だった「Caesar’s Palace Blues」 と「Forever Until Sunday」が演奏されませんでしが(※11日は演奏されましたが、代わりに「Mental Medication」が外されました)、しかしそうであったが故に微妙に短めの珍しいショウ構成となっており、これもまた本タイトルのユニークなポイントとなっています。

テリーが去ってもU.K.はまだ終わっていません。むしろバトンがドナティに渡された事によってバンドの歴史が未知の領域に踏み込みつつある様子がこれを聴けばしっかり伝わってくるでしょう。そんな2014年最新U.K.を最高の音質で体験出来る本タイトルが今週末、高品質な収録内容でお馴染みのVirtuosoレーベルより登場致します!


Disc 1 (39:15)
1. Violin Intro 2. Starless 3. In The Dead Of Night 4. By The Light Of Day 
5. Presto Vivace And Reprise 6. Thirty Years 

Disc 2 (46:15)
1. Alaska 2. Time To Kill 3. Nevermore 4. Mental Medication 5. Carrying No Cross
6. Band Introductions 7. The Only Thing She Needs 

John Wetton – Bass, Vocals Eddie Jobson – Keyboards, Violin Virgil Donati – Drums
Alex Machacek – Guitar

 

Virtuoso 175/176

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