Pink Floyd / Montreux 1971 Radio Suisse Romande Open Air Mics Recording / 2CD

Pink Floyd / Montreux 1971 Radio Suisse Romande Open Air Mics Recording / 2CD / Sigma

Translated text:

Festival de Musique Classique, Pavillon De Montreux, Montreux, Switzerland 18th September 1971 

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“LABYRINTHS OF CORAL CAVES (Sigma 18)” and performances this! That Montreux performance of September 18, 1971 and famous as an excellent performance-name sound source has played a upgrade of the surprise of the stereo AUD recorded in the separate master from previous It has been popular in the title of some “ECHOES IN MONTREUX (Sigma 53)” such as, but when you want to renovate them finally to come here seems to have come!

Omoto of the sound source (※ hereafter called (X) original recording this) it was air check tape the fan is recording what time, radio station “Radio Suisse Romande” Swiss aired. Original is like was a stereo broadcasting, but it has become a mono at some stage that generation has been piled up into the hands of the people, or relationship of the recording machine to which air check, in general this is referred to as the “recorder 2” I had spread as a sound source. TSP label has released the old days “Live In Montreux 1971” and the like is the reason it was something the recorder 2 this, but the missing portion and pitch correction to the source of the younger generation original recording from (X) while the same sound source and this (※ rest of this Sunde-hatsu-ban (a) and this) it is a translation of the above-mentioned upper plate was finished with compensation was’ LABYRINTHS OF CORAL CAVES “. Of this CD is used, new air check tape that has emerged this year is one of the recorder 2 to this (a) similar, but the sound quality is divided recorded on reel tape of one 3 A, B, and C, long definitive edition this time! it was a source of surprise that maintaining the texture and closeness of a much more natural sound was touted as from (a) are rearranged in the correct track order it, between songs of some is “between the song” only (※ . the supplemented definitive so far from (a) a place that had been missing in) remains in perfection all by giving the 2014 latest remastered, including a strict pitch adjustment and careful treatment, music past Montreux 71 boasts a long and longest best sound quality was achieved. That is the exactly this work!

There is a sound like sonar called “Pikin!” At the outset “Echoes” first, but the difference between its outstanding has come out already in the 2nd sound and the first note of this. Of stereo recording AUD “ECHOES IN MONTREUX” (※ later, you Sunde-hatsu-ban and (b)) This work is sound in loud blur-free with a moderation than and, in sharper than (a) Sunde-hatsu-ban You will’ll find it’s approaching. The sound of a bass’s been recorded by a thick sound (a) and (b) more than in the feature, the same for example come out in 31 seconds around 11 minutes and 40 seconds to 51 seconds around 10 minutes of “LIVE AT POMPEII” You hear based approach characteristic, such as be heard in one late song part is remarkably even and is that happy, and also cry of albatross from the middle, notes played (cry) rang in the delay faintly in the distance You hear the firm (a) and (b) more than’s are. The performance of the day because it is playing the first Become a formal lyrics, you can not end coder to land in the final sound rather than a fade-out, but as far as contact with this sound image also this innocent expression will be have a different impression. The following “Eugene” was also played in medley with “Green Is The Colour” to performances just before Speaking first, but came to this is simple and he showed off his is from this performance probably. The sharpening the sense of urgency and with minimal number of notes Or partly it, representation of the early stages, such as burn-Yuku has been recorded in the mysterious of (a) or more. There is a depth to the sound than the stereo recorded in (b) also Screaming of Roger and you will able to realize the weight of tone to each one sound leading up to the scene. By the way, speaking of a unique scene of this play of the day, it will be a scene that proceeds at a guitar-less for a while by Dave began to tune the guitar at all is said and done music through the middle and come out. Complaints of tuning in this famous scene also hear better than (a), and the state of Roger and Rick to support it also handed down firmly.

Please note that the sound of the toms can listen early on, chanting such as the spell of Roger reaches the ear by a sound close (a) from (b) the “sun Hymn”. There is a big thing also sound quality difference from 15 seconds to around 5 minutes motility of the song is growing rapidly, the movement of the drum magical is twirling the ear with a driving rhythm (a) and (b) more than wild You snow. Middle, dialogue during this period unique by-based organ multiplied by the effect will start from 53 seconds around 6 minutes, but is a technique of Floyd unique music lost the rhythm that Yuku increase the tension in the only crossing of the sound is played with very raw and young sound over a period of about 3 minutes, it is sure that get goose bumps even here. The overall sound quality is accompanied by a deeper sense of transparency Did you change (difference? Kind of position? Reel tape of the antenna of ※ radio) recording position, the impression of the sound has been upgraded to higher quality from “Cymbaline” You. Raised a loud bass is much different from the previous songs to particular, that the movement of the base bouncing early on also has come out well (a) and (b) by more than this will be noted. I think how the performance of 48 seconds after 3 minutes to become the development unit in delicate way spelled the complaints, slide into crescendo one by one through repeated the sound polite and feel along with the outline of a clear sound. “Footsteps of high heels” are included in the second half has captured well the movement of sound towards the recorded sound is stereo recording truly (b) is echoed in the venue, rustling clothes and breath rough women For more of this work is close, you should be felt vividly up close is a possibility of the music that was created by embedding the song ecological sound emitted by people. In addition, I hear the howling of the lighter is’s ringing on the verge of started to sing the lyrics of the first, but with a resolution of Kizukeru about for the first time this howling also not only hear clearly from (a), it is pointed out in (b) You should also be reminded of the things you did not pick up sound only.

And has become well-established this performance is the final performance of Okeru Band + mixed chorus version of the 1970s virtually, this playing’s that best even among many fans is “Atom Heart Mother,” but, once this now It is a movement and sound of the chorus would like crowned by listening deeply at work. Each voice to plunge from 18 seconds around 16 minutes movement also, of fine complaints in the scene to drop the volume of voice and manner of diffusion and separation of harmony to be deployed over a period of about one minute 50 seconds around 9 minutes intermediate portion in particular fusion of harmony and gorgeous dialogue will quench us the ear with a clear sense of tone and brilliant much already and has had has been said that the definitive than (a). In addition, I think when all is said and done just before rush coder, another highlight of this performance that’s resonance scene wind band guitars and can be listened in 09 seconds to 37 seconds around 27 minutes to tailor strong shaking melodies. This dramatic resonance battle was familiar its outstanding (a) and (b) whether jumps out at the same vivid sound this time, please check all means the sound of surprise.

There is an interesting finding in that compare the sound with its outstanding board of from 15 seconds to 5 minutes near the middle of the “Syncopated Pandemonium” part “mystery”. First of all it is (a), but I think this film hear growth of melody of each instrument intertwined by colliding violently rugged while distortion is lifted in (a) above, and remember the excitement of the unknown fresh freshness of the sound You. It’s I think “? There” On the other hand in (b), where not completely capture the sound of the drum has become an important motivation that gives mobility in this Part is to be some Sanken (b). Recording position of (b) has become a bottleneck probably this factor, the spot can not be applied to only bass is a recording outlook of the entire sound is good therefore, three-dimensional impression of the tapping sound does not come out well. This part of (b) is lacks persuasiveness of this part that centered on mobility as a result, but this film tells as sound with a feeling of weight clear them, and clarity of tapping sound feeling is also quite good. The melody of the organ also has been recorded in a thick supple tone (a) and (b) or more in the introductory part finale, and the sound of the guitar by slide bar also makes carrying the tension and excitement in a really fascinating tone I think so, and I’d like your attention by all means to the state. In addition, traces are left (17 seconds near ※ 14 minutes) in the playing position of this work, even with the gloom is a small analog-drop that was in the 50 seconds around 13 minutes of (a), but the good news ( It’s important to note also that the more a) not to attract attention.

It’s important to note about the context of the present work was the venue of the last recorded with the “Pavillon De Montreux”. High ceilings, this venue was that Freddie Mercury spent his later years after, statue of him is built is now famous, the beautiful lakeside near, it is also known as a rich venue of sound. From the sound of this work because it is monaural As also noted in the text, there is no sense of reality and spread of the sound of this venue its outstanding board that is stereo recording said to audience recording as much as (b). But I want crowned by recall once now, the root of this work is the fact that an air check tape of the radio broadcast. There on the stage the recording microphone was recorded live Toko by the recording at the time, that it was recorded in an upright position the ambient microphone high-performance to record a classic performance has been found to usually. Therefore, the sound of this work has been off-air are also recorded well to complaints, biot while there is in mono, and the texture of the instrument and freshness, and the proximity of the sound I have come up bleeding deeply.

In other words, the sound you hear in this work because I a sound that was shooting recording engineer of professional radio station at the time using the equipment for business use, the sound of this venue that has been known for rich sound, and air it Regardless passed through the generator of some of the original recordings have checked “recorder 2” ie (X), and also, way became a monaural or any stage, the sound output and texture of basic sounds that have been recorded there closeness is a translation of the quality in the first place is wrong. In the comments of providers, which was announced in conjunction with the present sound source, this radio station is said that I keep the current master reel tape stereo version of this broadcast, but interpreted this title that best until it’s come out someday It would be good at. Let alone freshness because is good so far described as the definitive than (a) this work, the quality is proven.

This weekend, such this film will be released in the Limited with a sticker from the popular Sigma label that continues to place a significant source of Floyd in outstanding recording contents. And if you can in addition to the collection in the first with a sticker of 2014 the latest version that has been revamped, this performance renowned as good acting, there is no doubt that the adequacy of the collection and understanding of Floyd is enhanced. Because there is a limited number of Limited Edition because, I am waiting for the order ahead of us!

名演奏・名音源として名高い1971年9月18日のモントルー公演が驚きのアップグレードを果たしました!この公演は以前から『LABYRINTHS OF CORAL CAVES (Sigma 18)』や、その別マスターでステレオAUD録音の『ECHOES IN MONTREUX (Sigma 53)』など幾つかのタイトルで親しまれてきましたが、ここにきていよいよそれらを刷新する時が来たようです!

この音源の大元は当時、スイスのラジオ局”Radio Suisse Romande”が放送したものをファンが録音したエアチェック・テープでした(※以降、これを原初録音(X)とします)。オリジナルはステレオ放送だった様ですが、エアチェックした録音機の関係か、もしくは人の手に渡って世代が重ねられたどこかの段階でモノラルとなっており、これが一般に”recorder 2″と呼ばれる音源として広まりました。その昔TSPレーベルがリリースした『Live In Montreux 1971』等はこのrecorder 2そのものだった訳ですが、これと同音源ながらも原初録音(X)から比較的若い世代のソースにピッチ補正や欠落部を補填して仕上げたアッパー版が前述の『LABYRINTHS OF CORAL CAVES』だった訳です(※以降、これを既発盤(a)とします)。本CD使用の、今年出現した新エアチェックテープもこの(a)同様にrecorder 2のひとつですが、しかしA、B、Cの3つのリールテープに分割収録されていたその音質は、長く決定版と謳われた(a)よりずっと自然な音の近さと質感を保った驚きのソースだったのです! 今回はそれを正しい曲順に並び替え、幾つかの曲間(※あくまでも”曲間”です。楽曲は全て完璧に残っています)で欠落していた箇所をこれまでの決定版(a)から補填し、丁寧なトリートメントと厳密なピッチ調整を含む2014年最新リマスターを施す事で、過去最高の音質と最長の尺を誇るモントルー71が実現しました。それがまさに本作なのです!

まず「Echoes」は冒頭に”ピキーン!”というソナーの様な響きがありますが、これの1音目と2音目で既に既発との違いが出ています。本作は既発盤(a)よりもシャープに、そしてステレオAUD録音の『ECHOES IN MONTREUX』(※以降、既発盤(b)とします)よりも節度のあるブレの無い強音で音が近付いてくるのがお分かり戴けるでしょう。ベースの音が(a)(b)以上に太い音で記録されているのも特徴で、例えば10分40秒～51秒付近や11分31秒付近で出てくる『LIVE AT POMPEII』の同曲パート1終盤で聴かれる様な特徴的なベースのアプローチが更に際立って聴こえるのも嬉しい点ですし、中盤からのアホウドリの鳴き声も、弾いた音(鳴き声)が遠くで微かにディレイで鳴っているのが(a)(b)以上にしっかり聴こえます。またこの日の演奏は正式な歌詞になって最初の演奏なので、コーダがフェイド・アウトではなく最終音で着地して終わっていますが、この初々しい表現もこの音像で接するとこれまでとは違った印象を持たれるでしょう。初回と言えば次の「ユージン」も直前の公演まで「Green Is The Colour」とメドレーで演奏していましたが、これが単体披露される様になったのも恐らく本公演からです。それもあってか音数を最小限に留めて緊迫感を研ぎ澄まし、溶け落ちてゆく様な序盤の表現が(a)以上のミステリアスさで記録されています。ロジャーのスクリーミングもステレオ収録の(b)に比べて音に厚みがありますし、そのシーンに至るまでの一音ずつにも音色の重みを実感して戴けるでしょう。ところでこの日のこの演奏の独特なシーンと言えば、何と言っても楽曲中盤でデイヴがギターのチューニングをし始めた事によって暫くギターレスで進行するシーンが出てくる事でしょう。この有名なシーンでのチューニングの弱音も(a)よりよく聴こえますし、それをサポートするリックとロジャーの様子もしっかり伝わってきます。

「太陽讃歌」は序盤で聴けるタムの響きと、ロジャーの呪文の様な詠唱が(a)(b)より近い音で耳に届く事に御注目下さい。曲の運動性が急激に高まる5分15秒付近からの音質差も大きなものがあり、ワイルドで呪術的なドラムの動きが(a)(b)以上のドライヴ感を伴って耳を駆け巡ってゆきます。中盤、6分53秒付近からはエフェクトをかけたオルガンとベースによるこの時期独特の対話が始まりますが、リズムを無くした音楽が響きの交錯だけで緊張感を高めてゆくというフロイド独特の手法が約3分間に渡って大変生々しい音で再生され、ここも鳥肌が立つこと請け合いです。「Cymbaline」からは録音位置(※ラジオのアンテナの位置？リールテープの種類の差？)を変えたのか全体の音質がより深い透明感を伴い、音の印象が更に高品質にグレードアップしています。特に低音のラウドな浮き出しが前曲までとは格段に違っており、これにより序盤で跳ねるベースの運動性も(a)(b)以上によく出ている点は特筆されるでしょう。展開部となる3分48秒以降の演奏も弱音の綴られ方がデリケートで、ひとつずつ丁寧に音を重ねながらクレッシェンドしてゆく様子が明瞭な音の輪郭と共に感じられると思います。後半に含まれている”ハイヒールの足音”はさすがにステレオ収録された(b)の収録音の方が会場で響く音の動きをよく捉えていますが、女性の荒い吐息や服が擦れる音は本作の方が近い為、人が発する生態音を曲に埋め込む事で生み出した音楽の可能性が間近で生々しく感じられる筈です。また最初の歌詞を歌い始める寸前で軽めのハウリングが鳴っているのが聴こえますが、このハウリングも(a)より鮮明に聞こえるばかりか、(b)では指摘されて初めて気付ける程度の解像度でしか音を拾っていなかった事にも気付かされる筈です。

そして事実上この公演が70年代に於ける吹奏楽＋混声合唱版の最終演奏となり、多くのファンの間でもこの演奏がベストというのが定評になっている「Atom Heart Mother」ですが、今いちど本作で深く傾聴して戴きたいのがコーラスの響きと動きです。特に中間部9分50秒付近から約1分間に渡って展開する和声の拡散・分離の様子や声量を落とすシーンでの微細な弱音の動き、また16分18秒付近から突入する各声部の華やかな対話とハーモニーの融合は、決定版と言われていた既発(a)より格段に鮮やかな音色と明瞭感を伴って耳を潤してくれるでしょう。またこの演奏のもう一つのハイライトは何と言ってもコーダ部突入直前、27分09秒～37秒付近で聴けるギターと吹奏楽隊が旋律を激しい揺さぶり合わせる共鳴シーンだと思います。既発(a)(b)でお馴染みだったこの劇的な共鳴バトルが今回どう鮮烈な音で飛び出してくるか、その驚きのサウンドも是非お確かめ下さい。

「神秘」は中盤5分15秒付近からの”Syncopated Pandemonium”部分を既発盤と聴き比べる事で興味深い発見があります。まず(a)ですが、本作は歪みながら激しく無骨に衝突して絡み合う各楽器の旋律の伸びが(a)以上に浮き上がって聴こえ、その響きの新鮮さにフレッシュな未知の感動を覚えると思います。一方”あれ？”と思うのが(b)で、(b)はこのパートで運動性を与える重要な動機となっているドラムの音を捉え切っていない箇所が幾つか散見されるのです。この要因は恐らく(b)の録音位置がネックとなっており、全体音の見通しが良い録音であるが故に低音のみにスポットが当てられず、打音の立体感がうまく出ていません。結果として(b)のこの部分は運動性を基軸にするこのパートの説得力に欠けているのですが、本作はそれらを鮮明で重量感のあるサウンドとして伝えていますし、打音の明瞭感も優れています。また終曲導入部ではオルガンの旋律も(a)(b)以上に太くしなやかな音色で記録しておりますし、スライドバーによるギターの響きも実に艶やかな音色で緊張と興奮を運んでくれますので、その様子にも是非御注目戴きたいと思います。尚、(a)の13分50秒付近にあった僅かなアナログ・ドロップは本作の同演奏位置(※14分17秒付近)でも薄っすらと痕跡が残っていますが、嬉しい事に(a)ほどは目立たないことも付記しておきましょう。

最後にこの録音の会場となった”Pavillon De Montreux”と本作の関連についてメモしておきましょう。後にフレディ・マーキュリーが晩年を過ごし、現在では彼の立像が建っている事でも有名な、美しい湖畔近くにあったこの会場は天井が高く、響きの豊かな会場としても知られています。本作の収録音は文中でも記した通りモノラルですので、オーディエンス収録とはいえステレオ録音された既発盤(b)ほどにはこの会場の響きの広がりや臨場感がありません。しかし今いちど思い起こして戴きたいのは、本作の根本はラジオ放送のエアチェック・テープであるという点です。当時の記録によるとこのライブを収録した録音マイクはステージ上にあり、通常はクラシック演奏を録音する高性能のアンビエント・マイクを立てて収録された事が判明しています。それ故、エアチェックされた本作の音もモノラルではありながら弱音・微音までしっかり記録されていますし、音の近さと鮮度、そして楽器の質感が深く滲み出ているのです。

言い換えれば、本作で聴ける音は響き豊かな事で知られたこの会場の音を、当時のラジオ局のプロの録音技師が業務用の機材を使用してシューティングした音なのですから、それをエアチェックした原初録音の(X)、即ち”recorder 2″がどの段階かでモノラルになったにせよ、また多少のジェネを経たにせよ、そこに記録された基本的な音の質感や出音の近さはそもそもの品質が違っている訳です。本音源と共に発表された提供者のコメントでは、この放送のステレオ版のマスター・リールテープはこのラジオ局が現在も保管しているそうですが、いつかそれが出てくるまでは本タイトルがベストという解釈で良いでしょう。ましてや本作はこれまで決定版と評された(a)より鮮度が良いのですから、その品質は折り紙付きです。

そんな本作は今週末、傑出した収録内容でフロイドの重要音源を発信し続ける大好評Sigmaレーベルより初回限定ステッカー付きでのリリースとなります。名演として名高いこの公演を、刷新された2014年度最新版の初回ステッカー付きでコレクションに加えて戴ければ、フロイドの理解度とコレクションの充実度がより高まる事は間違いありません。限定盤ゆえ数に限りがありますので、お早目のオーダーをお待ちしています!



Disc 1(62:45)
1. Echoes 2. Careful With That Axe, Eugene 3. Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun 
4. Cymbaline

Disc 2(51:09)
1. Atom Heart Mother 2. A Saucerful Of Secrets 

Sigma 113