U2 / Las Vegas 2023 8th Night / 2CDR+1DVDR

U2 / Las Vegas 2023 8th Night / 2CDR+1DVDR / Uxbridge

The Sphere, Las Vegas, NV, USA 14th October 2023

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“U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere” has sparked a concert revolution unexplored by mankind, and its impact has spread across the globe. This week, the latest report, a gorgeous set of “live album + video”, will be released at the same time.
If you’ve paid attention to this article, you probably already know that the topic of the music scene is currently dominated by U2 and a new venue called “The Sphere.” The new concert venue is spherical in appearance with a full-screen monitor screen, and even before the venue opened, images of a 160-meter-sized moon and eyeballs rolling in the middle of Las Vegas became a hot topic. However, the real shock is inside. Accommodating 18,000 people in Pacifico Yokohama class, the interior walls are covered with over 1.2 million 16K LED monitors, making it look like a gigantic planatarium. Furthermore, the acoustics are an unprecedented system that uses over 160,000 speakers to transmit music through the floor, creating an entirely different level of entertainment that has never been seen before by mankind.
At our store, we report on audience titles that will deliver that unexperienced feeling every day. We have introduced 5 performances in the form of “excellent full recording + spectacular video = 3-disc set”. This work is the audience set for “October 14, 2023 (8th performance)” which is the latest version.

[DISC 1-2: Tighter and clearer sister recording] As mentioned in the explanation of “LAS VEGAS 2023 7TH NIGHT (Uxbridge 2033)” which will be released at the same time, the live album version used in this double series is from the same recording artist collection. This is a high-quality sister recording that is a hot topic. However, it’s not just the good sound that’s surprising. The sound of the two series is quite similar only to the same recording artist, but in fact the recording position is completely different. While the sister work “7TH NIGHT” is located on the top row (5th floor seats?) furthest from the stage, this work is located in the center of the ground floor, which is the closest. In other words, in this two-part series, you can experience the extreme positions of the farthest seat of “Sphere” and the closest to the stage. And what is surprising is the fact that the sounds are so similar even though they are so drastically different. The feeling of sound being transmitted through the floor is still beyond imagination, but it seems that there is no doubt that the sound quality will be high from all seats.
However, although they are similar, they are not completely the same. In comparison, this work is clearer than “7TH NIGHT”. Although the direct feel of the on-core is not that different, there is less rumble that spreads into the hall, the vocals and chorus are tight, and the zero distance feeling is more emphasized.

[DISC 3: Front row shot that feels like another dimension even up close] Following the full live album with such a close-up sound, is a special seat video from a close-up perspective. It’s a front row shot with no passengers in front of you in sight. The field of view is completely exclusive to the stage. The only people other than the members that come into view are the on-site staff, and if you zoom in even a little, you can see the members super close up, like a professional shot angle. Although the audio conveys the excitement of the venue, there were so few other audience members in sight that it was hard to tell whether it was a live show or a rehearsal.
The camera work makes it even more special. At first, I tried to zoom in to get a pro shot look, but then I stopped zooming, perhaps noticing the dynamism of the contrast with the gigantic screen. Then, the scene becomes visible to the naked eye without the zoom function. The experience truly makes you feel like you’re “being there.” Moreover, just as the photographer was aiming for, the contrast between the super high-quality gigantic footage and the life-sized members is bizarre. You can experience the sensation of being in another dimension, as if your brain’s spatial perception had gone haywire.
What you can experience in these special seats is a full show centered around the performance of all the songs from the famous album “Acton Baby”. This day’s set may be slightly different from the basic set, so let’s compare and organize.

●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
●Acoustic section
・All I Want Is You／Desire／I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For（★）／Love Rescue Me
●Acton Baby #2
・Acrobat／So Cruel／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
*Note: Songs marked with “★” are not played in the sister work “LAS VEGAS 2023 7TH NIGHT”.

…and it looks like this. The song order of the second part of “Acton Baby” is the same as the previous day’s “7TH NIGHT”, but the acoustic section in the middle has a minor change. “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” is being played instead of “Angel of Harlem”.
Anyway, this is a 3-disc set of powerful and vivid special seat experiences. “Sphere” is the envy of music fans all over the world, but this is a shocking work that teaches you the “front row experience” that only a select few know about. Please take a closer look and enjoy.

★3-disc set of the best full recording of “October 14, 2023 Sphere” + audience with spectacular footage. The live album (DISC 1-2) is an arena recording by the same recording artist as the sister work “7TH NIGHT (Uxbridge 2033)”, and the video version (DISC 3) is a front row shot. You can fully experience “U2:UV Achtung Baby Live” with a super-huge image that fills your field of vision and a different dimension that will make your brain go crazy with the perspective of the members in front of you.

人類未踏のコンサート革命を巻き起こし、その衝撃が全地球を駆け巡っている“U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere”。今週も、その最新レポートとなる「ライヴアルバム＋映像」の豪華セットが２タイトル同時リリース決定です。
本稿に目を留めた方ならすでにご存知と思いますが、今音楽シーンの話題を独占しているのはU2と異次元の新会場「The Sphere（スフィア）」。外観からして全面モニタースクリーンという球形の新設コンサート会場で、開場前からラスベガスのド真ん中に160メートル大の月や目玉が転がっているようなイメージ映像が話題となりました。しかし、真の衝撃は内装。パシフィコ横浜クラスの１万8000人を収容しつつ、内壁は16ＫのLEDモニターを120万超がびっしりと敷き詰められ、さながら超巨大プラナタリウム。さらに音響も16万個以上のスピーカーが使って床面を通して音楽を届けるという前代未聞のシステムで、すべてが異次元な人類未踏のエンターテインメントが繰り広げられているのです。
当店では、その未体験感覚を届けてくれるオーディエンス・タイトルを連日レポート。「極上フル録音＋絶景映像＝３枚組」という形態で５公演分をご紹介してきました。本作はその最新弾である「2023年10月14日（８公演目）」のオーディエンス・セットです。

【DISC 1-2：よりタイト＆クリアな姉妹録音の妹篇】
同時リリースとなる『LAS VEGAS 2023 7TH NIGHT（Uxbridge 2033）』の解説でも触れましたが、今回の２連作に採用されたのはライヴアルバム篇は同録音家コレクション。ハイ・クオリティで話題の姉妹録音です。しかし、単に音が良いだけで驚かれているわけではありません。２連作のサウンドは同録音家だけにかなり似ているのですが、実は録音ポジションが丸っきり違う。姉妹作『7TH NIGHT』はステージから一番遠い最上段（５階席？）なのに対し、本作はもっとも近いグランド・フロアのド真ん中。つまり、今回の２連作で「スフィア」の最遠方席とステージ直近という両極端なポジションを体験できるわけです。そして、驚きなのはそこまで極端に違っていながらサウンドが似ているという事実。床面を通して音を届けるという感覚は未だに想像を超えていますが、あらゆる座席で高音質なのは間違いないようです。
ただし、似ているとは言っても完全に同じでもない。比較すると『7TH NIGHT』よりも本作の方がよりクリア。オンな芯のダイレクト感はさして違わないものの、ホールに広がっていく鳴り成分が少なく、ヴォーカルやコーラスもタイトでゼロ距離感がより強調されて感じるのです。

【DISC 3：間近でも異次元感覚な最前列ショット】
そんな間近席サウンドのフル・ライヴアルバムに続くのは、これまた間近視点の特等席映像。なんと、視界に前方客がゼロな最前列ショットなのです。その視界は、まさにステージ独り占め。メンバー以外に視界に入ってくるのは現場スタッフだけですし、少しでもズームすればプロショットの１アングルのようにメンバーが超ドアップ。音声からは会場の熱気も伝わってくるものの、視界に他の観客がいなさすぎて本番ライヴなのかリハーサルなのか分からないほどです。
さらに特別感を引き上げているのがカメラワーク。最初はズームでプロショット風を狙ったりもするのですが、そのうち超巨大スクリーンとの対比ダイナミズムに気づいたのかズームを止める。すると、その光景はズーム機能のない肉眼感覚になるのです。その体験感はまさに「その場にいる」感じになれる。しかも撮影者の狙い通り、超ハイクオリティな巨大映像と等身大のメンバーの対比が異様。脳の空間認識が狂ったような異次元感覚を味わえるのです。
そんな特等席で体験できるのは、大名盤『アクトン・ベイビー』の全曲演奏を軸としたフルショウ。この日は基本セットとも微妙に異なっていたりしますので、比較しながら整理しておきましょう。

●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
●アコースティック・セクション
・All I Want Is You／Desire／I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For（★）／Love Rescue Me
●アクトン・ベイビー#2
・Acrobat／So Cruel／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
※注：「★」印は姉妹作『LAS VEGAS 2023 7TH NIGHT』で演奏していない曲。

……と、このようになっています。『アクトン・ベイビー』第二部の曲順は前日『7TH NIGHT』と同じですが、中盤のアコースティック・セクションがマイナー・チェンジ。「Angel of Harlem」の代わりに「I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For」が演奏されています。
とにもかくにも、ド迫力にして鮮烈な特等席体験の３枚組です。全世界の音楽ファンが羨む「スフィア」ですが、その中でもホンのひと握りの選ばれた人間しか知らない「最前列体験」を教えてくれる衝撃作。どうぞ、刮目してご堪能ください。

★「2023年10月14日スフィア」の極上フル録音＋絶景映像のオーディエンス３枚組。ライヴアルバム（DISC 1-2）は姉妹作『7TH NIGHT（Uxbridge 2033）』と同録音家によるアリーナ録音ですし、映像篇（DISC 3）はなんと最前列ショット。視界を埋め尽くす超巨大映像と目の前感覚のメンバーの遠近感に脳がバグる異次元感覚で“U2:UV Achtung Baby Live”をフル体験できます。

Disc 1(75:13)
1. Lemon Remix
2. Choral 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. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
14. Love Rescue Me

Disc 2(59:46)
1. Acrobat
2. So Cruel
3. Ultra Violet (Light My Way)
4. Love Is Blindness
5. Elevation
6. Atomic City
7. Vertigo
8. Where The Streets Have No Name
9. With Or Without You
10. Beautiful Day

DVD★驚愕の最前列撮影。この映像がベスト！！！
1. Choral intro
2. Zoo Station
3. The Fly
4. Even Better Than The Real Thing
5. Mysterious Ways
6. One/Love Me Tender
7. Until The End Of The World
8. Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
9. Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World
10. All I Want Is You
11. Desire
12. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
13. Love Rescue Me
14. Acrobat
15. So Cruel
16. Ultra Violet (Light My Way)
17. Love Is Blindness
18. Elevation/My Way
19. Atomic City
20. Vertigo
21. Where The Streets Have No Name
22. With Or Without You
23. Beautiful Day
24. Outro

COLOUR NTSC Approx.125min.