U2 / Las Vegas 2023 1st & 2nd Nights / 4CDR+1DVDR

U2 / Las Vegas 2023 1st & 2nd Nights / 4CDR+1DVDR / Uxbridge

The Sphere, Las Vegas, NV, USA 29th & 30th September 2023

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The latest “U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere” is attracting attention with its performance of all songs of “Achtung Baby”. Introducing a shocking and exquisite live set that will quickly report on a concert residency that has never been seen before.

[A concert venue in another dimension that has never been seen before is born in Las Vegas] It has been four years since U2’s concert since “THE JOSHUA TREE Tour 2019”, but this time it was not a “tour” but a “residency”. A “tour” involves repeating performances and traveling, but a “residency” is an entertainment style in which a performer stays in one place and performs at the same venue many times. The reason why it’s a residency is because the venue is super important. This time, it was the opening of the latest facility built in Las Vegas, “The Sphere”, and this is a concert venue with an incredibly different dimension. The spherical building’s exterior and interior walls are all LED screens, and if images of the moon are projected on the exterior, it will look like a 160-meter-sized celestial body is rolling across the city.
Of course, the inner wall screen is a super huge planetarium, and the resolution using over 1.2 million 16K LED monitors is without a doubt the largest on earth. What was even more surprising was the sound, with no PA in sight. In fact, more than 160,000 speakers are used to transmit sound through the floor and not interfere with the screens surrounding the audience. What’s more, it is an entertainment space that has never been seen before by humans, with 4D effects (scents and wind) that are familiar to movie theaters.
U2 were chosen to kick off the opening of this exciting new venue, and are showing off their power. This work is a 5-disc set that will give you the fastest report on that different dimension space. The contents are a 5-disc set of the best full recordings of two shows and multi-camera footage of one show. First of all, let’s check it easily.

・CD 1-2: Full recording of the first day (September 29th)
・CD 3-4: Full recording of the second day (September 30th)
・DVD: Full video of the first day (September 29th)

[A 4-disc live album containing all songs from “ACHTUNG BABY” for 2 performances] The first thing that will appear is a full live album of 2 concerts of the century. This is the best audience recording of “September 29, 2023 (first day) + 30th (2nd day)”. This is also a different dimension recording that is incredibly clear. While the realistic on-site feel is similar to that of an audience, the strong and meaty performance sound is strangely up close and direct. When written like this, it seems like an ordinary superb recording, but instead, its individuality itself is an unexperienced feeling. This is probably due to the acoustics of the new venue “Sphere”. As mentioned above, this venue emits sound through the floor. Perhaps because of that, you can’t feel any sense of distance from the live music that rises from beneath your feet.
In this way, the sound itself is on a different level, but the recording side of this work is also of the highest quality. Both performances are by the same recording artist, but the resolution using the famous “Schoeps MK4” is neat and beautiful. Because it was such a shocking concert, various records were released immediately after the performance, but it is the most beautiful sound among them.
It’s a must-listen just for that “beautiful sound from another dimension,” but the content of the show is also shocking. Although Larry Mullen Jr. was absent due to medical treatment (his substitute was Dutch drummer Bram van den Berg), he was able to perform all of “ACHTUNG BABY”. Moreover, it is not just a reproduction of the album, there is an acoustic section of the “RATTLE AND HUM” number in the middle, and the encore calls out a new song that is a hot topic. Both performances are basically the same set (there are differences in the fragments of famous songs woven into them), so let’s summarize them here.

●First half: CD 1/3
・Acton Baby #1: Zoo Station/The Fly/Even Better Than The Real Thing/Mysterious Ways/One/Until The End Of The World/Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses/Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World
・Scream of the Soul (Acoustic): All I Want Is You/Desire/Angel Of Harlem/Love Rescue Me
●Second half: CD 2/4
・Acton Baby #2: So Cruel/Acrobat/Ultraviolet (Light My Way)/Love Is Blindness
・Encore: Elevation/Atomic City (new song)/Vertigo/Where the Streets Have No Name/With or Without You/Beautiful Day

[Extraordinary video DVD that allows you to experience a different dimension space with multiple cameras] Well, the live album alone gives you the feeling of an incredibly different-dimensional concert, but the true value of the new venue “Sphere” is the ultra-planetarium-like interior wall projection. This work also includes a video version that allows you to experience its awesomeness.
The quality of this work, which conveys that dimensional venue space, is also not free. Basically it is an audience video, but I can’t say that. With multi-camera editing that combines various videos, the number of materials and the quality of each cut are at an extraordinary level. What’s more, no matter which direction you turn, the professionally shot screen footage will be flying around in disarray, making it difficult to tell from what position the scene you’re currently viewing is being filmed, or even if it’s an audience shot in the first place.
Furthermore, the editing skills are also amazing. Even in one song, countless images are generously poured into it, and it is not just a show off, but a great sense of style. The audio is also recorded in the highest quality, and the point is that there is no sense of discomfort from any viewpoint. The person who edited it was probably a video professional or an expert Youtuber who handles videos all year round. It’s not very beautiful, but it’s not the kind of visual beauty that even an average amateur can create.
By the way, this video is also a phantom masterpiece that was deleted immediately after its release, but this work has also updated the highest peak. The final song “Beautiful Day” was not included in the released version, but in this work it is supplemented with spectacular footage. It is a complete video of the full show.

Truly a different dimension experience. What kind of concert venue will humanity have created in 2023? In that unexplored space, a super spectacular show centered around the performance of all “Acton Baby” songs is unfolding. This work is an amazing 5-disc set that brings to Japan such a different dimension concert that is difficult to experience. It doesn’t matter whether you like U2 or not anymore. This is an experiential blockbuster that we fully recommend to anyone who wants to know the latest in video, music, and entertainment. This is the year 2023 that humanity has reached. Here you go!

★Superb audience set for the “September 29/30, 2023 Sphere Performance” where the complete performance of “Acton Baby” is attracting attention. A 4-disc set of full recordings of the 2 performances + a 5-disc set of the complete video of the first day.The full recording uses the famous “Schoeps MK4” for the best sound. The video version is also a precisely crafted multi-camera editing work, allowing you to fully experience the opening performance of the new venue “Sphere” that feels like a super giant planetarium.

『アクトン・ベイビー』全曲演奏で話題を呼んでいる最新“U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere”。人類未到のコンサート・レジデンシーをいち早くレポートする衝撃の極上ライヴセットが登場です。

【人類未到の異次元コンサート会場がラスベガスに誕生】
U2のコンサートは“THE JOSHUA TREE Tour 2019”以来４年ぶりですが、今回は「ツアー」ではなく「レジデンシー」。「ツアー」は公演と移動を繰り返しますが、「レジデンシー」は１ヶ所に留まって同じ会場で何度もライヴを行う興行スタイルのことです。なぜレジデンシーかと言えば、会場が超・重要だから。今回はラスヴェガスに建設された最新施設「スフィア（The Sphere）」のこけら落としでして、これがとんでもなく異次元なコンサート会場。球形の建物は外観も内壁もすべてLEDスクリーンになっていて、外観に月の映像でも映されれば、街中に約160メートル大の天体が転がっているように見える。
もちろん内壁スクリーンは超デッカいプラネタリウム状態で、16ＫのLEDモニターを120万超も使った解像度は文句なしに地上最大。さらに驚きなのは音響で、ＰＡが見当たらない。実際には16万個以上のスピーカーが使用され、床面を通して音を届けており、客席を囲んでいるスクリーンを邪魔しないのです。さらには映画館でお馴染みの４Ｄ演出（香りや風）まで可能という、人類未到のエンターテインメント空間なのです。
そして、そんなド肝を抜く新会場のこけら落としに選ばれ、その威力を見せつけているのがU2。本作は、その異次元空間を最速レポートしてくれる５枚組なのです。内容は、ショウ２回分の極上フル録音と、１回分のマルチカメラ映像による５枚組。まずは、カンタンに確認しておきましょう。

・CD 1-2：初日（９月29日）のフル録音
・CD 3-4：２日目（９月30日）のフル録音
・DVD：初日（９月29日）のフル映像

【『ACHTUNG BABY』全曲ショウを２公演分フル収録した４枚組ライヴアルバム】
まず登場するのは、世紀のコンサートを完全収録したフルライヴアルバム×２公演分。「2023年９月29日（初日）＋30日（２日）」の極上オーディエンス録音です。これがまた、とんでもなくクリアな異次元録音。リアルな現場感覚はオーディエンスらしくもある一方、骨太・肉厚な演奏音は妙に間近でダイレクト感がスゴい。こう書くと普通の極上録音のようでもありますが、そうではなく個性そのものが未体験感覚なのです。恐らく、これは新会場“スフィア”の音響によるもの。前述のように、この会場は床面を通じてサウンドを響かせている。そのせいか、足下から立ち上る生演奏に距離感がまったく感じられないのです。
このように出音自体が異次元ですが、本作は記録側も最高級。２公演とも同じ録音家によるものですが、名機“Schoeps MK4”を使用した解像度は端正・美麗。あまりに衝撃のコンサートだけに、終演直後からさまざまな記録が噴出しているのですが、その中でもズバ抜けた美音なのです。
そんな「異次元の美音」だけでも必聴ですが、ショウ内容まで衝撃。ラリー・マレン・ジュニアは療養中のために不在（代役はオランダ人ドラマーのブラム・ヴァン・デン・ベルグ）ですが、『ACHTUNG BABY』全曲演奏が実現したのです。しかも、単にアルバム再現ではなく、途中で『RATTLE AND HUM』ナンバーのアコースティック・セクションがあったり、アンコールも話題の新曲が呼び出したり。２公演とも基本的には同じセット（織り込まれた名曲の断片に違いはあります）ですので、ここでまとめて整理しておきましょう。

●前半：CD 1／3
・アクトン・ベイビー#1：Zoo Station／The Fly／Even Better Than The Real Thing／Mysterious Ways／One／Until The End Of The World／Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses／Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World
・魂の叫び（アコースティック）：All I Want Is You／Desire／Angel Of Harlem／Love Rescue Me
●後半：CD 2／4
・アクトン・ベイビー#2：So Cruel／Acrobat／Ultraviolet (Light My Way)／Love Is Blindness
・アンコール：Elevation／Atomic City（新曲）／Vertigo／Where the Streets Have No Name／With or Without You／Beautiful Day

【異次元空間をマルチカメラで体験する超絶映像DVD】
さてさて、ライヴアルバムだけでもとんでもない異次元コンサートが実感できるのですが、新会場「スフィア」の真価は超プラネタリウムな内壁映像。本作は、その凄みを体感できる映像篇もセットしました。
その次元な会場空間を伝える本作のクオリティもタダモノではない。基本的にはオーディエンス映像なのですが、そう断言することもできない。さまざまな映像を組み合わせたマルチカメラ編集で、素材数も１カット１カットのクオリティも異常なレベル。しかも、どの方向を向いてもプロ撮影のスクリーン映像が乱れ飛んでもいて、今観ている光景が一体どのポジションから撮影されているのか、そもそもオーディエンス撮影なのかも分からなくなってくるのです。
さらに言えば、編集技も凄まじい。１曲内でも無数の映像を惜しげもなく注ぎ込まれ、かと言って単に見せびらかすのではないセンスの良さも抜群。音声も極上クオリティの録音で通されていて、どの視点でも違和感がないのもポイント。恐らく編集したのは映像関係のプロか、年中映像を扱っている達人Youtuberなのでしょう。とてもではありませんが、そんじょそこらの素人が作れる映像美ではありません。
ちなみに、この映像は公開直後に削除されてしまった幻の名作でもあるのですが、本作はさらに最高峰を更新してもいる。公開版は最終曲「Beautiful Day」が未収録となっていましたが、本作では絶景映像で補完。フルショウの完全映像となっています。

まさに異次元体験。2023年の人類は、何というコンサート会場を創り上げてしまったのでしょう。その未踏の空間で『アクトン・ベイビー』全曲演奏を軸とした超スペクタクル・ショウが繰り広げられているのです。本作は、そんな実体験の難しい異次元コンサートを日本に運んでくれる驚異の５枚組。もはやU2が好きかどうかも関係ありません。「映像」「音楽」「エンターテインメント」の最先端を知りたいすべての方に全力でお薦めしたい体験型の超大作。これこそ人類がたどり着いた「2023年」です。さあ、どうぞ！

★『アクトン・ベイビー』全曲演奏が話題を呼んでいる「2023年９月29日／30日スフィア公演」の超極上オーディエンス・セット。２公演のフル録音４枚組＋初日の完全映像の５枚組で、フル録音は名機“Schoeps MK4”を使用した極上サウンド。映像篇も精密に作り込まれたマルチカメラ編集作で、超巨大プラネタリウム感覚の新会場「スフィア」のこけら落とし公演をフル体験できます。

The Sphere, Las Vegas, NV, USA 29th September 2023

Disc 1(71:52)
1. Lemon Remix
2. Brian Eno Choral Intro
ACHTUNG BABY SET #1
3. Zoo Station
4. The Fly
5. Even Better Than the Real Thing
6. Mysterious Ways
7. One
8. Until the End of the World
9. Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
10. Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World

ACOUSTIC SET
11. All I Want Is You
12. Desire
13. Angel of Harlem
14. Dancing in the Moonlight
15. Love Rescue Me

Disc 2(57:55)
ACHTUNG BABY SET #2

1. So Cruel
2. Acrobat
3. Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
4. Love Is Blindness

ENCORE
5. Elevation
6. Atomic City
7. Vertigo
8. Where the Streets Have No Name
9. With or Without You
10. Beautiful Day

The Sphere, Las Vegas, NV, USA 30th September 2023

Disc 3(73:19)
1 Lemon Remix (with vocal by Gavin Friday)
2 Brian Eno Choral Intro

ACHTUNG BABY SET #1
3 Zoo Station
4 The Fly
5 Even Better Than the Real Thing
6 Mysterious Ways
7 One
8 Until the End of the World
9 Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
10 Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World

ACOUSTIC SET
11 All I Want Is You
12 Desire
13 Angel of Harlem
14 Love Rescue Me

Disc 4(54:42)
ACHTUNG BABY SET #2
1 So Cruel
2 Acrobat
3 Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
4 Love Is Blindness

ENCORE
5 Elevation
6 Atomic City
7 Vertigo
8 Where the Streets Have No Name
9 With or Without You
10 Beautiful Day

DVD
The Sphere, Las Vegas, NV, USA 29th September 2023 (MULTICAM)

1. MSG Sphere Las Vegas
2. Intro
3. Zoo Station
4. The Fly
5. Even Better Than The Real Thing
6. Mysterious Ways
7. One
8. Until The End Of The World
9. Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
10. Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World
11. All I Want Is You
12. Desire
13. Angel Of Harlem
14. Dancing In The Moonlight
15. Love Rescue Me
16. So Cruel
17. Acrobat
18. Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
19. Love Is Blindness
20. Elevation/My Way
21. Atomic City
22. Vertigo
23. Where The Streets Have No Name
24. With Or Without You
25. Beautiful Day

COLOUR NTSC Approx.126min.