Queen & Adam Lambert / Manchester 2022 / 4CDR

Queen & Adam Lambert / Manchester 2022 / 4CDR / Uxbridge

AO Arena, Manchester, England 30th & 31st May 2022

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QUEEN + Adam Lambert’s “The Rhapsody Tour” resumed after a two-year and three-month blank. Introducing a live album set where you can fully experience the latest show.
It was the two consecutive performances that took place at the same venue that were imbued with this work. This is the best audience recording of “May 30th + 31st, 2022 Manchester performance”. The “The Rhapsody Tour” started in 2019 following the big hit of the movie “Bohemian Rhapsody”, but it was finally suspended in February 2020 due to the damn new Corona Pandemic. It was postponed repeatedly, and it was finally resumed recently. This work is the first report of such a latest tour. In order to know what they are doing, let’s first review the schedules that have been published so far.

● Adam’s solo
・ April 28-May 6: North America (6 performances)
● QUEEN + Adam
・ May 27-June 3: UK # 1 (6 performances) ← ★ Coco ★
・ June 4: Platinum Jubilee appearance
・ June 5-21: UK # 2 (12 performances)
・ June 24-July 25: Europe (18 performances)

This is the outline of activities in 2022. First of all, a mini tour was performed by Adam’s solo, and “The Rhapsody Tour” was restarted. The beginning of this was a large-scale UK tour, with a total of 19 performances including the 70th anniversary concert of Queen Elizabeth’s reign (so-called “Platinum Jubilee”). By the time this article is published, preparations for its final day in London should be steadily underway. Under such circumstances, the Manchester performance of this work was a concert that corresponded to the 3rd and 4th performances at the beginning of “UK # 1”.
This work, which is a vacuum-packed version of these two performances, is a neat and clear beauty recording. Probably a sister collection by the same recorder, although details have not been given. After all, the sound is just like that. It doesn’t feel like it’s in close contact with a sound board, but that doesn’t mean it’s too far away. The slight hall sound is fine, giving thickness and dynamism to the core that extends straight like a laser beam. Of course, if the details are hidden by that, there is neither a former nor a child, but there is no worry about this work. A powerful core reaches the hand as if it breaks through the veil of ringing, and along with that, you can hear the details clearly. This sense of balance is similar to Kinney recording in Japan. Of course, the performance of the equipment is completely different from that of the 1980s when Kinney was active, and it is a sound world with even more brilliance and fineness.
The beautiful sound depicts the latest “The Rhapsody Tour” full 2 ​​performances. The official live album “LIVE AROUND THE WORLD” was also released during the tour interruption, so let’s organize the set while comparing.

● 70’s (15 songs)
・ Sheer Heart Attack: Now I’m Here / Killer Queen (★) / In The Lap of the Gods … Revisited (★)
・ A Night at the Opera: I’m In Love With My Car (★) ／ Love of My Life ／ ’39 (★) ／ Bohemian Rhapsody
・ Jazz: Don’t Stop Me Now / Bicycle Race (★) / Fat Bottomed Girls
・ Others: Seven Seas of Rhye (★) / Somebody To Love / Tie Your Mother Down (★) / We Will Rock You / We Are The Champions
● Since the 1980s (12 songs)
・ The Works: Tear It Up / Hammer to Fall / I Want To Break Free / Radio Ga Ga
・ Others: Another One Bites the Dust / Crazy Little Thing Called Love / Under Pressure / A Kind Of Magic (★) / Who Wants To Live Forever / I Want It All (★) / These Are the Days of Our Lives (★) / The Show Must Go On
* Note: The “★” mark is a song that cannot be heard in the official work “LIVE AROUND THE WORLD”.

…… And it looks like this. It’s already full of “★” marks, but among them, “A Kind Of Magic”, “These Are the Days of Our Lives”, and (although there is no mark) “Tear It Up” are the first resurrection songs in four years. These are the repertoires that were not performed even in the performance in Japan that was realized in January 2020.
Also, the performance of spelling such a set is wonderful. Especially at the age of 40, Adam’s singing voice is greasy as a singer. He was always a stupid and undisputed master, but his rich voice and free control were further refined, and his expressive power that changed his facial expression every moment was a godsend. Speaking of 40 years old, Freddie’s age is “LIVE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM”. You can fully enjoy the singing voice that this moment is the heyday.
QUEEN + Adam Lambert who regained the shining masterpieces on the earth exhausted by pandemics and war. It is a superb set where you can fully experience the luxurious entertainment show for 2 performances. A 4-disc set that vividly revives the memories of the wonderful performance in Japan and allows you to immerse yourself in the continuation of that dream. Please enjoy it to your heart’s content.

★ The best audience recording set of “May 30th + 31st, 2022 Manchester performance”. The slight hall sound is fine, giving thickness and dynamism to the core that extends straight like a laser beam. A powerful core reaches the hand as if it breaks through the veil of ringing, and along with that, you can hear the details clearly. It is a beautiful recording like a prestigious Kind, and you can fully experience two delicious performances with resurrection songs such as “A Kind Of Magic”, “These Are the Days of Our Lives” and “Tear It Up”.

２年３ヶ月のブランクを超えて再開されたQUEEN＋アダム・ランバートの“The Rhapsody Tour”。その最新ショウをフル体験できるライヴアルバム・セットが登場です。
そんな本作に吹き込まれているのは、同会場で行われた２連続公演。「2022年５月30日＋31日マンチェスター公演」の極上オーディエンス録音です。映画『ボヘミアン・ラプソディ』の大ヒットを受けて2019年に始まった“The Rhapsody Tour”でしたが、その後に忌々しい新型コロナ・パンデミックによって2020年２月を最後に中断。延期に延期を繰り返し、つい最近やっと再開される事になりました。本作は、そんな最新ツアーの第一報。彼らの近況を知る意味でも、まずは現在までに公表されているスケジュールからおさらいしておきましょう。

●アダムのソロ
・４月28日ー５月６日：北米（６公演）
●QUEEN＋アダム
・５月27日ー６月３日：英国#1（６公演）←★ココ★
・６月４日：プラチナ・ジュビリー出演
・６月５日ー21日：英国#2（12公演）
・６月24日ー７月25日：欧州（18公演）

これが2022年の活動概要。まずはアダムのソロでミニ・ツアーを行い、“The Rhapsody Tour”が再起動。その手始めとなったのは大規模な英国ツアーであり、エリザベス女王在位70周年コンサート（いわゆる“プラチナ・ジュビリー”）も含む全19公演を実施。本稿が公開される頃には、その最終日であるロンドン公演の準備が着々と進んでいるはずです。そんな中で、本作のマンチェスター公演は「英国#1」の序盤、３公演目／４公演目にあたるコンサートでした。
そんな２公演を真空パックした本作は、端正でクリアな美録音。詳細は伝わっていないものの、恐らくは同じ録音家による姉妹コレクション。何しろ、サウンドがそっくり。サウンドボードと間違えるド密着感はないのですが、だからと言って遠さも感じない。ほんのりとしたホール鳴りがきめ細かく、レーザー光線のように真っ直ぐ伸びる芯に厚みとダイナミズムを与えている。もちろん、それでディテールが隠されては元も子もないのですが、本作にその心配はなし。力強い芯が鳴りのベールを突き破るように手元まで届き、それに伴って細部まで鮮明に聴き取れる。このバランス感覚は、日本で言うところのキニー録音に近いタイプ。もちろん、キニーが活動していた80年代とは機材の性能がまるで違い、さらに輝きときめの細かさがアップしたような音世界なのです。
その美音で描かれるのは、最新“The Rhapsody Tour”のフル２公演。ツアー中断の間に公式ライヴアルバム『LIVE AROUND THE WORLD』もリリースされましたので、比較しながらセットを整理してみましょう。

●70年代（15曲）
・シアー・ハート・アタック：Now I’m Here／Killer Queen（★）／In The Lap of the Gods … Revisited（★）
・オペラ座の夜：I’m In Love With My Car（★）／Love of My Life／’39（★）／Bohemian Rhapsody
・ジャズ：Don’t Stop Me Now／Bicycle Race （★）／Fat Bottomed Girls
・その他：Seven Seas of Rhye（★）／Somebody To Love／Tie Your Mother Down（★）／We Will Rock You／We Are The Champions
●80年代以降（12曲）
・ザ・ワークス：Tear It Up／Hammer to Fall／I Want To Break Free／Radio Ga Ga
・その他：Another One Bites the Dust／Crazy Little Thing Called Love／Under Pressure／A Kind Of Magic（★）／Who Wants To Live Forever／I Want It All（★）／These Are the Days of Our Lives（★）／The Show Must Go On
※注：「★」印は公式作『LIVE AROUND THE WORLD』では聴けない曲。

……と、このようになっています。もう「★」印だらけなわけですが、中でも「A Kind Of Magic」「These Are the Days of Our Lives」、それに（印はありませんが）「Tear It Up」辺りは４年ぶりとなる復活曲。2020年の１月に実現した来日公演でも演奏されなかったレパートリー達です。
また、そんなセットを綴るパフォーマンスも素晴らしい。特に40歳を迎え、シンガーとして脂の乗ったアダムの歌声。常にバカ巧で文句の付けようがない達人でしたが、豊かな声量も自在なコントロールもさらに磨きがかかり、一瞬毎に表情の変わる表現力は神懸かっている。40歳と言えば、フレディなら『LIVE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM』の年齢。まさに、今この瞬間こそが全盛という歌声をたっぷりと味わえるのです。
パンデミックと戦禍に疲弊した地球に、再び輝ける名曲群を取り戻してくれたQUEEN＋アダム・ランバート。その豪奢なエンターテインメント・ショウを丸ごと２公演フル体験できる極上セットです。素晴らしき来日公演の記憶が鮮やかに甦り、あの夢の続きに没入できる４枚組。どうぞ、心ゆくまで存分にお楽しみください。

★「2022年５月30日＋31日マンチェスター公演」の極上オーディエンス録音セット。ほんのりとしたホール鳴りがきめ細かく、レーザー光線のように真っ直ぐ伸びる芯に厚みとダイナミズムを与えている。力強い芯が鳴りのベールを突き破るように手元まで届き、それに伴って細部まで鮮明に聴き取れる。まるで名門キニーのような美録音で、「A Kind Of Magic」「These Are the Days of Our Lives」「Tear It Up」などの復活曲も美味しい２公演をフル体験できます。

AO Arena, Manchester, England 30th May 2022

Disc 1 (73:00)
1. Inneundo (Intro)
2. Now I’m Here
3. Tear It Up
4. Seven Seas of Rhye
5. Hammer To Fall
6. Somebody To Love
7. Killer Queen
8. Don’t Stop Me Now
9. In The Lap of The Gods… Revisited
10. I’m In Love With My Car
11. Bicycle Race
12. Fat Bottomed Girls
13. Another One Bites The Dust
14. I Want It All
15. Love of My Life
16. ’39
17. These Are The Days of Our Lives

Disc 2 (67:32)
1. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
2. Under Pressure
3. A Kind of Magic
4. Band Introduction
5. I Want To Break Free
6. Who Wants To Live Forever
7. Guitar Solo
8. Tie Your Mother Down
9. The Show Must Go On
10. Radio Ga Ga
11. Bohemian Rhapsody
12. Day-O
13. We Will Rock You
14. We Are The Champions
15. God Save The Queen

AO Arena, Manchester, England 31st May 2022

Disc 3 (72:33)
1. Inneundo (Intro)
2. Now I’m Here
3. Tear It Up
4. Seven Seas of Rhye
5. Hammer To Fall
6. Somebody To Love
7. Killer Queen
8. Don’t Stop Me Now
9. In The Lap of The Gods… Revisited
10. I’m In Love With My Car
11. Bicycle Race
12. Fat Bottomed Girls
13. Another One Bites The Dust
14. I Want It All
15. Love of My Life
16. ’39
17. These Are The Days of Our Lives

Disc 4(67:40)
1. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
2. Under Pressure
3. A Kind of Magic
4. Band Introduction
5. I Want To Break Free
6. Who Wants To Live Forever
7. Guitar Solo
8. Tie Your Mother Down
9. The Show Must Go On
10. Radio Ga Ga
11. Bohemian Rhapsody
12. Day-O
13. We Will Rock You
14. We Are The Champions
15. God Save The Queen

Brian May – guitars, vocals
Roger Taylor – drums, vocals
Adam Lambert – lead vocals
Spike Edney – keyboards, vocals
Neil Fairclough – bass guitars, vocals
Tyler Warren – percussion, additional drums, vocals

Uxbridge 1681