GiGinJapan Artwork of Japanese CDs (mostly) Deep Purple / Osaka 2023-Live Cover / 2CDR / Shades
Maruzen Intec Arena Osaka, Osaka, Japan 21st March 2023
Play sample :
The latest Japan tour of the newly born DEEP PURPLE that was finally completed. Introducing a super-superb original recording that vacuum-packed the scene that was whispered on the street as “the last live in Japan!?”.
This work is imbued with the “March 21, 2023: Maruzen Intec Arena Osaka” performance. It is a super tight audience recording. Our shop reports the latest Japan tour with the masterpieces “BUDOKAN 2023 (Shades 1716)” and “HIROSHIMA 2023 (Shades 1722)”, and this is the third work. First of all, let’s check each position against the arrival schedule.
・ March 13 “BUDOKAN 2023”
・March 17 “HIROSHIMA 2023”
・ March 19: Fukuoka Sun Palace Hall
・ March 21: Maruzen Intec Arena Osaka ← This work
A total of 4 performances. The Osaka performance of this work was the last day. There are constant rumors that this is the last visit to Japan due to the age of the members, and if it becomes true, the Osaka performance of this work will be “DEEP PURPLE’s last Japan performance”. Also, although the live album has not appeared only for the Fukuoka performance, there is no plan to receive the record at the moment, and the possibility that this work will be the “last bullet to Japan in 2023” cannot be wiped out.
This memorial work is also of superlative quality that blows away sentimentality. I think that there are many people who have already come to the pin, but the one who made this work a thing is Mr. “West Japan’s strongest taper” who is familiar with our shop. It is a modern masterpiece that is always praised as “like a sound board” and “better sound than heard at the venue”, but this work may be its masterpiece. The recording position is quite forward (about the 3rd row?) in the middle. For that reason, the feeling of the core is extremely thick, the density that is the exact opposite of the sky and the plumpness, the ultra-fine details and the separate feeling … everything is more than usual. Anyway, even if I listen to it with headphones, I can’t feel the hall noise component, and I’m attacked by a strong “in front of me” feeling that I wonder if it’s IEMs interception.
What’s more, because it’s so far forward, the cheering doesn’t come between the stage and the microphone. It is such a three-dimensional feeling that you are facing the band while carrying a big cheer from behind even between songs. “BUDOKAN 2023” was also a strange direct recording directly in front of the PA, but this work goes above the super tight feeling that does not even make you feel the atmospheric components. No way, another super recording comparable to that super masterpiece “BUDOKAN 2023” will appear …. I have dealt with countless records of visits to Japan by many bands, but this DEEP PURPLE is a serious shock.
The super-tight close-up sound captures the panorama of the live in Japan, which may be the last time. The set is the same as Tokyo and Hiroshima, so I will omit it, but the keyboard solo is a hot topic in Osaka. As usual, a solemn and splendid solo with various phrases unfolded, but suddenly the Hanshin Tigers cheering song “Rokko Oroshi” was inserted! On this day, the WBC semi-final “Mexico vs Japan” was held in the morning, and the whole of Japan was excited about the dramatic goodbye match. It makes me listen to a stylish arrangement that makes such feelings boil at once.
And above all, it’s amazing how the full set is in perfect condition. In order to explain the meaning, let me introduce the schedule for 2023 here.
・ February 10-21: North America # 2 (8 performances)
・ March 10: Surakarta Performance
・ March 13-21: Japan (4 performances) ← here
・ April 15-30: South America (6 performances)
・ June 8-July 19: Europe #3 (10 performances)
This is the 2023 DEEP PURPLE that has been announced so far. This visit to Japan took more than a week and it was a schedule with 4 performances, but after Japan it was off for more than 3 weeks. Therefore, on the final day in Osaka, there was no sign of worrying about the condition after that, and the performance was really good. Especially Ian Gillan’s vocals. As expected, it would be unsophisticated to say “compared to the 70’s …”, but the tension and growth of the voice are enough to make me think that almost nothing has changed in the last 30 years. Furthermore, new member Simon McBride is also doing a good job. It has both the orthodox style required by the song and the technical side that can be glimpsed in the solo, and it does not run like a copycat. Since he does not have his own original songs, his musicality is unknown, but he has been involved in the solo tours of Don Airey and Guillain, so he has a good sense of breathing.
“BUDOKAN 2023” was also a miracle board, but a super-famous recording that was as good as Osaka was born. An original recording only for our shop that can be called “modern MADE IN JAPAN”. Here is my grand birth.
★ “March 21, 2023: Maruzen Intec Arena Osaka” performance super-superb audience recording. This is the latest work by Mr. “West Japan’s strongest taper” who is familiar with our shop, and the sound captured near the third row in the center is super tight. The extra-thickness of the core, the denseness of the whip, the ultra-fine details and the sense of separateness… everything is more than usual, and you will be attacked by a strong “in front of your eyes” feeling. You can fully experience the Osaka night with transcendent sound, jumping out to “Rokko Oroshi” with a keyboard solo.
