Pink Floyd / Rainbow Theatre 1972 1st Night 1st Gen / 2CD

Pink Floyd / Rainbow Theatre 1972 1st Night 1st Gen / 2CD / Sigma
Translated Text:
Live at Rainbow Theatre, Finsbury Park, London, UK 17th February 1972

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Pink Floyd’s “THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON” that can not be avoided in lock history. That world premiere was Briton Dome performance in Britain on January 20, 1972. In September of last year, this most important performance which has a big meaning in the history of Floyd or rock has been released as “BRIGHTON JANUARY 1972 (Sigma 167)” as the highest quality top plate was released, is. On the other hand, the second coming to Japan in Japan two months later, this time the pattern has also been released from this Sigma label a number of decisive titles complete with sound quality and content. When arranging them in chronological order,

· ECLIPSE OF THE SUN (Sigma 84) – March 6 (Tokyo)
· TOKYO 1972 2ND NIGHT (Sigma 161) – March 7 (Tokyo)
· ASSORTED LUNATICS (Sigma 40) – March 8 (Osaka) / 9 (Osaka) / 10 (Kyoto)
· KYOTO 1972 (Sigma 92) – March 10 (Kyoto)
· SAPPORO 1972 DIRECT REEL MASTER (Sigma 137) – March 13 (Sapporo)

…. etc., etc. are all definitive titles which can be grasped by the sound quality of special in the performance of each performance place in Japan in 1972. It is quite interesting to see how the foundation structure of the song and the whole show have become solid to some extent just by having a performance experience of about two months since the world premiere in January, but on the other hand, the next Like knowledge desire should also be boiled at the same time.

“Which performance in February can you trace the change of the show as a whole from the premiere in January to the Japanese performance in March?

Let’s answer.
The bridge that connects the world premiere and the Japanese performance will be released this time Sigma latest work, February 17, 1972 · Great excavation of British Rainbow Theater Show 1st Generation · Tape is a sound quality special edition board!

This latest work is using the hot 1st gen tape original sound just released the other day the other day, but actually this source itself is the same as “RAINBOW DAY 1 (Ayanami – 212)” which appeared from the Ayanami label before thing. However, this 1st gen version finally came out was overwhelming to finish its function at last. Because it turned out that this original recording was recorded as Steve B on the front row of the Rainbow Theater on the day of the performance (!!), Ayanami board did not tell the front and low sound pressure feeling It is because the prospect of the sound is surprisingly inhabited.

Why is there a difference in the quality that can be said to be a completely different thing so far though Omoto is the same source? What I would like to pay attention to here is that when Mr. Steve B made this 1st gen tape in 1983, it will be using the TDK · SA series (* TDK SA 90). Although I should have chosen a normal position that is easy to record / play with a normal deck, I was daring to make the first generation with high position tape, but Mr. Steve was still not satisfied with the hi-posi recording at that time. Selector) should have had a possible deck, it is easy to imagine that this 1st gen tape was made by sticking to the sound quality. And the thing that the sound is dropped in the hyposi means that the ingredients of the sound sucked from the master and the amount of information are as much as that. In fact when listening to this sound the Ayanami board sound seems to have been reproduced later on normal tape Things come naturally visible from the narrowness of the range and the deterioration of the quality of the sound. In order to make this sound a sound, Sigma label thoroughly examines the sound image of this large excavation 1st gen, somewhat shifted to the left side and the pitch which swayed was changed with commercial equipment and the latest software so as not to kill the characteristics of the highposition I realize the best finish that I have perfectly adjusted. To be honest with the quality of the sound not only improves dramatically than the one published online but probably this is the closest to Master Steve B master, world premieres with unprecedented high resolution sound It is the title that connects the missing link of the Japanese performance!

First of all, the rise of that sound, the speech to me, which was recorded about 7 seconds longer than the Ayanami version, the distinctive transparency and sound prospects of noticeable, the tenacious and rigid base that bleeds out with “Breathe” Although it does not like the sound, I will give a shock to my ears, but I think that it is easy to understand that the rhythm and the outline of the melody line appear clearly differently by overlapping the sharp tones of the guitar. Especially on this day there is a sign that Gilmore is testing singing melodies from the beginning of lyrics beginning “♪ Breathe, breathe in the air …”, so how to pick up sounds in the process of forming such songs · It is a translation that the expression of the vividness of expressions is reviving with unexperienced sharpness. “On The Run” shows a song structure that seems to have a low sense of driving at this time, with a remarkable resolution, the connection from the last song to “Time” also has moistened silence playing power and the height of the hi-posi tape There is little and the width of the dynamic range is large) I think that you can feel. In “Time” it appears in extremely slow tempo that the performance will be played with a full sense of weight, but here as well as in the earlier midfield, the midfield is 3 minutes 33 seconds and 36 seconds, the missing sound caused by the original source is momentarily Only occurred. Although it was possible to restore it, it will result in 1st gen ‘s outstanding original sound power and sound pressure feeling being damaged in reverse, and in that case it is the result of thinking to leave with the figure faithful to the original. In ‘The Great Gig In The Sky’, the performance disappears and the part where multiple monologues SE are collaged (※ around 1 min 55 sec ~) revives with transparent sound full of space, unique to the front row recording. Also in “Us And Them”, the rising and spreading of the sound spreads three-dimensionally and will stimulate the intelligence of the listener more and more. As “Any Color You Like” guitar examinations are very sharp and reach the ear, it is possible to grasp the quality of the sound that Gilmore was trying to obtain with a more realistic feeling by overlapping the timbre. In “Brain Damage” heading towards the final appearance, it is possible that you can realize the difference in the case with the already-released board as the separation and diversion of sounds emitted around the guitar comes out with a more understandable sound.

Perhaps the state before the start of Part 2 is probably heard sound check of about two and a half minutes or more by supplementary recording on the same day, but when this sound image is switched to 1st gen in “One Of These Days”, too much sound quality It should be stunned by the difference. The bass bass sounds from the early stage to the loud, the power of the tremendous bass range peeps at the face after the bass drum hit in front of the monologue, and the sound that extends to the treble range such as the guitar comes out with vividness to dismiss the Ayanami version. “Careful With That Ax, Eugene” would be even more prominent in the sharpness of the sound of such an original sound. Nick’s cymbal work heard here and the strange sound that Gilmore produces have a prominence of the sound of the gooseberry thing, and in the already-launched version it should be amazing at the surprise that things that were pale colors are painted with dense primary colors is. In “Echoes”, you should feel like an overwhelming feeling of the tone of the sound, but the sound of the guitar which makes the nuance different from that of the other day can not be ignored without being a fan, even though it is not a fan I think. The scarce of the albatross also has its own distinctive, yet unreliable humble spirits can hear delicate nuances, and even if you look at the ensemble as a whole, the outline of the sound and the wall thickness, and this is close to the cymbal sound Noticeable, you can also see that the hardness of the sound image is also improved by +2 (= the sound image is tight). “Set The Controls For …”, which is an encore, is one song I want to get drunk with the big wave of the sound that was drawn in 1st gen. The sound check before the start of the performance is also vivid, and the musical instantaneous power which rapidly increases its motility rather than the performance of the other day comes out with a rich sound image of the highest ever. Please rejoin the pleasure and listening comprehension which the facial expressions of the song change drastically in the high resolution sound which can be only 1st gen with this latest work again.

Early in 1972 when recording “Madness” in the prototype period, there were a number of sound sources, and there was nothing to block in front of the recording machine. In the special sound pressure of the front / bow, the one that caught the performance of this period probably is the book Only the recording exists. To put it another way, this can be said to be a recording that can receive the initial concept and musical direction of “crazy” they were aiming at this time from the closest position, this is a special satisfaction for those who obtained this work It will bring a feeling. Also, the fact that the performance has not been tightened to the details is because it has a joy to be betrayed in various places as you try to leave yourself to the flow of songs that knows the development, so for the listener as well It is a great appeal of this work that you can listen to rare scenes with the stress / zero best sound quality.

February 17, 1972 when it finally appeared · The true appearance of the Rainbow Theater performance. Singapore’s latest work, discovered in each one of its performance expressions that is being unraveled with the wonderful upper sound by the front row 1st gen tape !!

ロック史上で避けては通れないピンク・フロイドの” THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON “。その世界初演は1972年1月20日の英国ブライトン・ドーム公演でした。フロイド史上、いやロック史上でも大きな意味を持つこの最重要公演は昨年9月に『BRIGHTON JANUARY 1972 (Sigma 167)』として音質最高の頂上盤がリリースされ、世界中のファンから大きな反響を呼んだばかりです。一方その2ヵ月後にやってくるのがここ日本での2度目の来日公演で、この時の模様も当Sigmaレーベルから音質と内容の充実した決定的なタイトルが幾つもリリースされています。時系列で並べてみますと、

・ECLIPSE OF THE SUN (Sigma 84) – 3月6日(東京)
・TOKYO 1972 2ND NIGHT (Sigma 161) – 3月7日(東京)
・ASSORTED LUNATICS (Sigma 40) – 3月8日(大阪) / 9日(大阪) / 10日(京都)
・KYOTO 1972 (Sigma 92) – 3月10日(京都)
・SAPPORO 1972 DIRECT REEL MASTER (Sigma 137) – 3月13日(札幌)

….等など、どれも72年日本各公演地での演奏を特上の音質で掴める決定的タイトルばかりです。1月の世界初演から約2ヶ月のパフォーマンス経験を積んでいるだけに曲の基礎構造やショウ全体像が或る程度固まってきた様子がどの日も実に興味深い訳ですが、しかしその反面で次の様な知識欲も同時に沸く筈です。

「では1月の初演から3月の日本公演までのショウ全体の変化を、良い音で辿れる2月の公演はどれだろう？」

お答えしましょう。
その世界初演と日本公演を繋ぐ架け橋となるのが今回登場するSigma最新作、72年2月17日・英国レインボーシアター公演の大発掘1stジェネレーション・テープによる音質特級盤なのです!!

この最新作はつい先日ネット公開されたばかりのホットな1st genテープ原音を使用しているのですが、実はこのソース自体は以前Ayanamiレーベルから登場した『RAINBOW DAY 1 (Ayanami-212)』と同一のもの。しかし遂に出たこの1st gen版はその役目をいよいよ終らせるに相応しい圧倒的なものでした。というのもこのオリジナル録音はSteve Bなる人物が公演当日にレインボーシアターの最前列(!!)から録っている事が判明しており、Ayanami盤では伝え切れていなかったフロント・ロウの音圧感と音の見通しが驚異的なまでに宿っている為なのです。

大元は同一ソースなのに何故ここまで完全な別物と言えるクオリティの格差があるのか。ここで注目したいのは、1983年にSteve B氏がこの1st genテープを作製した際にTDK・SAシリーズ(※ TDK SA90)を使っている事でしょう。通常のデッキで録音・再生し易いノーマル・ポジションも選べた筈なのにあえてハイポジション・テープで第一世代を作製しているという事は、Steve氏は当時まだ対応が少なかったハイポジ録音(※ CrO2対応セレクタ)が可能なデッキを持っていた筈であり、音質にこだわってこの1st genテープを作製した事が容易に想像出来る訳です。そしてハイポジに音が落とし込まれているという事はマスターから吸い込んだ音の成分と情報量がそれだけ多いという事であり、実際このサウンドを聴くとAyanami盤サウンドは後にノーマルテープで複製されたものらしい事がその音域の狭さや響きの質の劣化から自然と見えてくるのです。なので今回の音盤化にあたってはSigmaレーベルがこの大発掘1st genの音像を徹底的に精査し、やや左側にズレていた定位と揺れたピッチをハイポジの特性を殺さないよう業務用機材と最新ソフトでパーフェクト・アジャストした最良の仕上がりを実現させています。正直言って音のクオリティではネット公開されたものより飛躍的に向上しているだけでなく、恐らくこれこそがSteve B氏のマスターに最も近い筈であり、かつてない高解像音で世界初演と日本公演のミッシング・リンクを繋ぐタイトルとなっているのです!!

まずその音の立ち上がり、Ayanami版より約7秒長く収録された「Speak To Me」でハッと気が付く別格の透明感と音の見通しの良さ、そして「Breathe」でジュワッと滲み出す粘り強くて硬質なベースの響きが嫌でも耳にショックを与えてきますが、これにギターの鋭い音色が重なる事でリズムと旋律線の輪郭が別物の様にハッキリ出ている事が容易に理解出来ると思います。特にこの日は歌詞冒頭” ♪ Breathe, breathe in the air… “の節回しからギルモアが歌メロをテストしている気配が濃厚に出ていますから、そうした曲の形成途上にある音の拾い方・表現の生々しさも未体験の鮮明さで甦っている訳です。「On The Run」ではドライヴ感を抑えたこの時期らしい曲構造が抜群の解像度で現れ、終曲～「Time」までの繋ぎも潤いある静音の再生力にハイポジ・テープのポテンシャルの高さ(※ ノイズが少なくダイナミックレンジの幅が大きい)を感じ取れると思います。その「Time」では極端にスローテンポで演奏される姿が重量感満点サウンドで出てきますが、ここは既発盤同様に中盤3分33秒と36秒で元ソースに起因する音抜けが一瞬だけ生じています。修復は可能でしたが、そうすると1st genが持つ抜群の原音力と音圧感を逆に損ねてしまう事にもなり、それならばオリジナルに忠実な姿で残そうと思慮した結果です。「The Great Gig In The Sky」では演奏が消えて複数のモノローグSEがコラージュされる部分(※ 1分55秒付近～)が最前列録音ならではの、空間性溢れる透明音で甦ります。また「Us And Them」でも響きの立ち上がりと拡散が立体的に広がって、聴く者の知性をますます刺激してくれるでしょう。「Any Colour You Like」はギターの調べが非常に鋭く耳元に届く為、音色を重ねる事によってギルモアが得ようとしていた響きの質をより確かな実感で掴める筈です。終演に向かう「Brain Damage」でもギターを中心にして放たれる音の離合集散が一層理解し易い響きで出ていますので、既発盤との格の違いを実感出来るに違いありません。

第2部の開始前の様子は恐らく同日の別録音補填によって約2分半以上のサウンドチェックが聴けますが、しかしこれも「One Of These Days」で音像が1st genに切り替わると音質のあまりの違いに唖然となる筈です。ベースの低音が序盤からラウドに響き、モノローグ手前にあるバスドラム連打以降は凄まじい低音域の威力が顔を覗かせ、ギターなど高音域に伸びる響きもAyanami版を一蹴する鮮烈さで出てきます。こうした原音の持つ音の鋭さが一層際立つのが「Careful With That Axe, Eugene」でしょう。ここで聴けるニックのシンバルワークやギルモアの出す奇妙な響きは鳥肌モノの音の際立ちが備わっており、既発盤では淡い色彩だったものが濃密な原色で塗られてゆく驚きに目を見張る筈です。「Echoes」では音色の瑞々しさにときめく様なアッパー感を感じる筈ですが、他日演奏とはニュアンスを異ならせるギターの響きがこれほど向上した音で聴ける喜びはファンならずとも無視出来ないと思います。アホウドリのシーンも初期独特の、まだ型にハマっていない控え目の鳴き声が繊細なニュアンスまで聴き取れますし、アンサンブル全体で見ても音の輪郭と肉厚さ、そしてこれはシンバル音の近さに顕著ですが、音像の硬質感も＋2ほど向上している(＝音像が引き締まっている)のも分かる筈です。アンコールとなる「Set The Controls For…」は1st genに描かれていた響きの大きな波動にダメ押しで酔って戴きたい一曲です。演奏開始前のサウンドチェックも生々しいですし、他日の演奏よりその運動性を急速に高めてゆく音楽的な瞬発力が過去最高の潤い豊かな音像で出てきます。1st genでしかあり得ない高い解像音の中で曲の表情がじんわり変わってゆく悦びと聴き応えを、この最新作で改めて噛み締めて下さい。

試作期の” 狂気 “を録音した72年初頭音源は数あれど、録音機の前に遮るものが一切無いフロント・ロウの特別な音圧の中でこの時期の演奏を掴まえたものは恐らく本録音しか現存しません。言うなればこれはこの時の彼らが目指していた” 狂気 “の初期構想と音楽的な方向性を最も近い位置から受け取れる録音とも言える訳で、これは本作を手にした人に特別な充足感をもたらすでしょう。また演奏が細部まで固まりきっていないという事は、展開を知る曲の流れに身を委ねようとすればするほど様々な箇所で裏切られる嬉しさも備えている訳ですから、これもまた聴く側にとっては珍しい各シーンをストレス・ゼロの最上音質で聴ける本作の大きな魅力となっています。

遂に登場した72年2月17日・レインボーシアター公演の真の姿。最前列1st genテープによる驚異のアッパー・サウンドで解き明かされてゆくその演奏表現のひとつひとつに発見がある、魅惑のSigma最新作です!!

Disc 1(45:39)
The Dark Side Of The Moon

1. Speak To Me 2. Breathe 3. On The Run
4. Time 5. Breathe Reprise 6. The Great Gig In The Sky 7. Money 8. Us And Them
9. Any Colour You Like 10. Brain Damage 11. Eclipse

Disc 2(66:36)
1. Soundcheck 2. One Of These Days 3. Careful With That Axe, Eugene 4. Echoes
5. Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun

Sigma 181