Dream Theater / Along For The Ride In Wolverhampton / 3CDR

Dream Theater / Along For The Ride In Wolverhampton / 3CDR / Shades

Translated Text:
Live at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK 15th February 2014

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United Kingdom of February 15, 2014 from the tour due to the Dream Theater of the latest album, which was the first time the band ever bearing the self-titled is also appeared early titles complete recording of the Wolverhampton show! From the British resident of local residents familiar you are using a high-quality original master by the taper, moderate space of great sound quality performance sound comes through the expressive from the venue boasts of 3 Disc. Was whole recorded a spectacular show of while passing the video on the stage behind, it has become the latest title that just arrived fresh latest live hot from the oven can be fluent in superb sound quality!

Disc-1 is complete recording of the first part. Been recorded from the video SE before the curtain to be displayed on the stage behind, wider sound image with a little extra padding in the powerful from the lead track of the album “The Enemy Inside”. Massive a fine sound of each instrument that moves in the sound has also captured perfectly, will dance heart in the recorded sound DRIVE feeling with the song comes through in a straight ball. In a fragment of the past of the song was re-built side-by-side skillfully “The Shattered Fortress”, deciphering an interesting song structure is this day is challenging to be cast more, is playing like also felt the challenge from the band is impressive. “On The Backs of Angels” is noted for comparison of the midrange and treble are out good, be a bridge from the piano in the middle portion to the guitar looming straight sound image. SE flowing from the venue of the video will come hear after the finale, but tired to listen even if a hard finish playing, in order to have picked up on unrelated mild sound and also harsh sound state of these interlude without, nature it is also a major feature of this work recording sound Do fulfillment is the sound quality was maintained. Omagari “The Looking Glass” is not only dramatic music structure is coming into the nature and the body, is the charm of the difference between the conversion representation concentration in live sound is deep feeling can be. Sound number is reduced toward the finale, the depth of the condensed feeling and one sound one note of gradually slowly folded and Yuku sound, has become a listening far from of this work one of the best. Are recorded in the reply is wonderful sound of each instrument stacking serious in dialogue in a rhythm to be dynamic in the “Enigma Machine”, you will be fascinated by the Hyakka playing force of live unique. Since the drum solo to expand from the middle also captures firm the dampers and the loud sound, I do not miss also listen firmly able to track points ability of Manjini. In addition, “Breaking All Illusions” of this first day has become a vivid performance that beauty and motility songs have underlying (※ especially the middle section 5 minutes 03 seconds near-deployment of) came out well, deep strongly how Yuku concludes the first part, leaving the excitement in the field have been recorded vividly.

Disc-2 is the second part. It has complete recording from intro SE which has been flowing at the venue of the video up to 2 parts finished before curtain. From the fact that hitting the announced 20 anniversary of the 2014 masterpiece “AWAKE” this year, the second part is the main thing that was reproduced in almost non-stop from “The Mirror” in the second half of the album to the last track, “Space-Dye Vest” It has become a show configuration. It is of course the situation facing challenging attitude, such as to show off the new song comes through, but it more than to explore the meaning 20 years ago, originally of the song had of, to again inquire of smb. About smth. Of such performance going on points will far from listening to the maximum. Among these masterpieces shade of vivid expression of “Lifting Shadows …” is a goose bumps things, how this is looming in the ear with a great sound image is should there is unbearable to the fan. “Scarred” also piled the years has become a performance to suggest that the increasing number of musical vocabulary, here and the depth of the deep gouge such singing expression, playing force put out a sound that appeals to a variety of things to Flowing contrast will become you feel strongly that you are changing the music to a larger thing. “Space-Dye Vest” is also similar, a somber expression depiction with the song imminent in either of such sound image this work again calmly staring, even of different musical in subtle yet fairly faithful performance to the original the difference between the breathing has brilliantly captured. “Illumination Theory” is a tough sound of the intermediate portion fine-sounding and the second half after a rush after rush to turn the Kyokuso also been reported in the stoic tone, never in echoing the ensemble that has been suppressed not forget us, yet passionate , music has been containment beautifully how the reach the heavens of the show end.

Disc-3 of Angkor also not missing care until the end. In vivid sound image from the rise of the “Overture 1828”, deep music from the beginning of the bottom will come overflows like a huge avalanche. In “The Dance of Eternity”, but I think the grain of sound that forms the foundation of the whole song is deprived of natural and ears in uniform unison progress, here is also not far from harsh sound, yet intense sound, one I think that it can be seen that the notes of each have been recorded smoothly. Decorate a show-end classic “Finally Free”. Scene sound, such as reading a scene and car engine sound that flows in the video has also picked up firmly, will come transmitted is impressed enough trembling out just this introduction. Also played in the Perfect, harsh, yet also never boldly without music one of the sound is the entire music and drama is impaired if Kuzurere, continues to emit a music that was facing the future with unyielding throughout the songs on this day how is one after another reported in the high-resolution sound, it does not mind doubt be struck by the sound. Since the complete recording after the show even the greeting of Ravurie, is exceptional also lingering and satisfaction you have finished listening.

Band musical culmination with the current state-of-the-art tour that idea is embodied should say also, of course there will be the ones likely to be transmitted Only with a video. However, if you look at the pure musical evolution itself, this is should there are things that come deeply transmitted than what listening to concentrate only performance sound rather. Such Dream Theater music itself sound source of the latest live Yukeru to come close to the will represent the whole picture finally this weekend than proven Shades label !!

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から2014年2月15日のイギリスはウォルバーハンプトン公演を完全収録したタイトルが早くも登場です! 収録は現地在住のイギリス在住のお馴染みのテーパーによる高音質オリジナル・マスターを使用しており、会場の適度な空間性の中から演奏音が表情豊かに伝わってくる素晴らしい音質が自慢の3枚組です。ステージ後方に映像を流しながらの壮大なショウを丸ごと収録した、まさに届きたてホヤホヤの最新ライブが見事な音質で堪能出来る最新タイトルとなっています!

Disc-1は第1部を完全収録。ステージ後方に映し出される開演前の映像SEより収録され、アルバムのリード・トラック「The Enemy Inside」からふくよかで迫力ある音像が広がります。マッシヴな響きの中で動く各楽器の細かい音もバッチリ捉えており、曲が持つドライヴ感が直球で伝わってくる収録音に心踊るでしょう。過去の曲の断片を巧みに並べて再構築した「The Shattered Fortress」では、読み解きが面白い曲構成がこの日はより挑戦的に投げ掛けられ、まるでバンドからの挑戦状とも感じられる演奏が印象的です。「On The Backs of Angels」は中音域と高音域の対比がよく出ているのが特筆され、中間部のピアノからギターへのブリッジもストレートな音像で迫ってきます。終曲後に会場の映像から流れてくるSEが聴こえてきますが、こうした幕間の様子も耳障りな音とは無縁のマイルドな音で拾っている為にハードな演奏が終わっても聴き疲れが無く、自然な充足感が保たれた音質である事も本作収録音の大きな特徴です。大曲「The Looking Glass」はドラマチックな楽曲構造が自然と体に入ってくるだけでなく、ライブサウンドに変換された表現濃度の差が深く実感出来るのが魅力です。終曲へ向かうにつれて音数が少なくなり、次第にゆっくり折り畳まれてゆく音の凝縮感や一音一音の奥行きは、本作屈指の聴きどころとなっています。「Enigma Machine」では躍動するリズムの中でシリアスに対話を積み重ねる各楽器の応酬が素晴らしい音で記録されており、ライブならではの百花繚乱な演奏力に魅了されるでしょう。中盤から展開するドラムソロも弱音とラウドな響きをしっかり捉えているので、マンジーニの実力がしっかり追える点も聴き逃せません。またこの初日の「Breaking All Illusions」は曲が根底に持っている美しさや運動性(※特に中間部5分03秒付近~の展開)がよく出た鮮烈な演奏となっており、強く深い興奮を場に残して第1部を締めくくってゆく様子が生々しく記録されています。

Disc-2は第2部。開演前に会場の映像で流れていたイントロSEから2部終了まで完全収録しています。今年2014年は傑作『AWAKE』の発表20周年に当たっている事から、この第2部は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。新曲を披露する様なチャレンジングな姿勢で臨む様子が伝わってくるのは勿論ですが、それ以上に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しょう。中でも名曲「Lifting Shadows…」の鮮やかな表現の陰影は鳥肌モノで、これが素晴らしい音像で耳元に迫ってくる様子はファンには堪らないものがある筈です。「Scarred」も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。「Illumination Theory」は曲想が一転する中間部突入後の微細な響きや後半突入後のタフな響きもストイックな音色で報告され、情熱的でありながら決して我を忘れない抑制されたアンサンブルが響く中、音楽が天上のショウ・エンドに辿り着く様子が見事に封じ込められています。

Disc-3のアンコールも最後まで気が抜けません。「Overture 1828」の立ち上がりから鮮烈な音像で、序盤から底の深い音楽が巨大な雪崩の様に溢れ出してきます。「The Dance of Eternity」では、曲全体の根幹を成す音の粒が揃ったユニゾン進行に自然と耳を奪われると思いますが、ここも激しいサウンドでありながら決して刺々しい音ではなく、ひとつずつの音符が滑らかに記録されているのが分かると思います。ショウ・エンドを飾るのは名曲「Finally Free」。映像で流れる朗読シーンや車のエンジン音といった情景音もしっかり拾っており、この導入部分だけでも打ち震えるほどの感動が伝わってくるでしょう。演奏もパーフェクトで、ひとつの音が崩れれば音楽とドラマ全体が損なわれる厳しい音楽でありながらも決して臆することなく、この日も曲の随所に不退転で未来を向いた音楽を放ち続けている様子が解像度の高いサウンドで次々と報告され、その音に心打たれること間違いありません。終演後もラヴリエの挨拶まで完全収録しているので、聴き終えた余韻と満足度も格別です。

バンドの音楽的集大成とも言うべきアイデアが具現化された現在の最新ツアーは、もちろん映像を伴ってこそ伝わり易いものではあるでしょう。しかし純粋な音楽的進化そのものに目を向ける場合、これはむしろ演奏音のみを集中して聴いてこそより深く伝わってくるものがある筈です。そんなドリームシアターの音楽そのものに肉迫してゆける最新ライブの音源が、定評あるShadesレーベルより今週末いよいよ全貌を現します!!

Disc 1 First Set (77:30)

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 7. Enigma Machine
8. Along For The Ride 9. Breaking All Illusions

Disc 2 Second Set (62:18)
1. Intro 2. The Mirror/Lie 3. Lifting Shadows Off A Dream 4. Scarred 5. Space-Dye Vest
6. Illumination Theory

Disc 3 Encore (29:01)

1. Overture 1828 2. Strange Deja Vu 3. The Dance Of Eternity 4. Finally Free
5. Outro : Illumination Theory

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

 

Shades 582

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