GiGinJapan Artwork of Japanese CDs (mostly) UK / Kawasaki 2011 2nd Night / 2CDR / Amity
Live at CLUB CITTA’, Kawasaki, Japan 16th April 2011
Play sample :
In 2011, the U.K. made its first performance in Japan in 32 years. A newly excavated original billion sound that allows you to experience the scene is here.
The performance of “April 16, 2011 Club Citta Kawasaki” is imbued in this work. It is the transcendental audience recording. At that time, John Wetton was working in parallel with solo / ASIA / UK. It’s also a good opportunity, so let’s look back on “2011” from Wetton’s point of view.
《Production of “RAISED IN CAPTIVITY” in January》
* April 8th + 11th: North America # 1 (2 performances)
*April 15-18: Japan (3 performances) ← here
* April 23: San Francisco performance
・ April 28-May 14: North America # 2 (14 performances)
・ May 20-30: Central and South America (7 performances)
・ June 5-18: Europe (11 performances)
《“RAISED IN CAPTIVITY” released on July 1》
*Note: Performances marked with “*” are for reunited U.K., and performances marked with “・” are for reunited ASIA.
This is John Wetton in 2011. It is considered as the year when his last solo album “RAISED IN CAPTIVITY” was released after 8 years, but in fact, when it comes to live activities, only ASIA / UK. At first glance, the two bands seem to be half and half, but the scale is completely different. ASIA, which was on track to reunite, performed 32 performances around the world, while UK, which had just restarted, performed only 6 performances. And the main is the performance in Japan for the first time in 32 years. With only three consecutive performances at Club Citta Kawasaki, this work is a live album recorded in the middle of the day.
By the way, this work, which vacuum-packed such a show, has the finest sound with “super”. It is a storehouse master of Mr. “West Japan’s Strongest Taper” who is familiar with our shop, but this is a ridiculous business. The core that is turned on is very thick and roars, and while there is no sense of distance, the sense of separation is enormous. And the details are super fine. Speaking of coming to Japan in 2011, although it is also left in the genuine official work “REUNION: LIVE IN TOKYO”, I am surprised that it is not defeated at all even if it is played alternately.
I wrote something similar in ASIA’s “OSAKA 2010 (Amity 705)”, which will be released at the same time, but there was also an aspect of surpassing the official side precisely because the official side was unlucky. UK’s “REUNION: LIVE IN TOKYO” is a firm official level, so if you are asked, “Is it beyond the official?” If I had to pick a difference, it would be just the timbre level of “Does the snare have a little air?” The treble that stretches comfortably, the midrange with plenty of response, and the glossy deep bass to the vibe are wonderful, and the balance of all of them is also beautiful. It is exactly a gem that is far from the audience called “complete official class”.
A full show similar to but different from the official work “REUNION: LIVE IN TOKYO” is drawn with such a transcendent sound. The official work was also a record of the performance in Japan, but over there it was an edited work assembled from 3 days. The set is also different from this work from beginning to end. Let’s organize them by comparing them here.
●U.K. (13 songs)
・Yukoku no Shishi: In The Dead Of Night/By The Light Of Day/Presto Vivace And Reprise/Thirty Years/Alaska/Time to Kill/Nevermore
・Danger Money: Danger Money/Carrying No Cross/Caesar’s Palace Blues/Nothing To Lose (★)/The Only Thing She Needs/Rendezvous 6:02
● Others (4 songs)
・King Crimson: Book of Saturday (★) / Starless / One More Red Nightmare
・Bruford: The Sahara of Snow Part Two (★)
* Note: “★” marks are songs that could not be heard in the official “REUNION: LIVE IN TOKYO”.
… and it looks like this. There are three songs that are not in “REUNION: LIVE IN TOKYO”, and it is delicious to listen to KING CRIMSON’s “Book of Saturday”, but the biggest point is “The Sahara of Snow Part Two”. This song is included in BRUFORD’s “ONE OF A KIND”. Although Eddie did not play in “ONE OF A KIND”, it was probably picked up because he and Bruford co-wrote it. Whatever the circumstances, this song has been played on one hand in the history of the UK. To listen to such a rare song with official super direct sound … ….
A truly world-class treasure of Japan. It may have been unpublished due to the official “REUNION: LIVE IN TOKYO”, but even with the current ears that have been pulled out sufficiently, it is extremely striking (if it was published at that time, it would have been a press mistake, but …). A super rare masterpiece all over the world with an outrageous transcendental sound. And the excitement of peering behind the official works. An absolute must-listen live album for the first time in every sense. Please enjoy it to the fullest.
★Recording of the superlative audience of the “April 16, 2011 Club Citta Kawasaki” performance, which came back to Japan for the first time in 32 years. “West Japan’s Strongest Taper” Mr. Kuradashi Master, a ridiculous business. The core that is turned on is very thick and roars, and while there is no sense of distance, the sense of separation is enormous. And the details are super fine. Even if you play alternately based on the official work “REUNION: LIVE IN TOKYO”, it’s amazing, and the super rare songs “The Sahara of Snow Part Two” and “Book of Saturday” that can’t be heard in the official work are also delicious full songs. It is a new masterpiece that you can enjoy the show.
32年ぶりの来日公演を実現させた2011年のU.K.。その現場を極上体験できる新発掘オリジナル億音が登場です。
そんな本作に吹き込まれているのは「2011年４月16日クラブチッタ川崎」公演。その超絶級オーディエンス録音です。当時のジョン・ウェットンはソロ／ASIA／U.K.の３つを平行させながら活動していました。良い機会でもありますので、ウェットン視点で「2011年」を振り返ってみましょう。
《１月『RAISED IN CAPTIVITY』製作》
＊４月８日＋11日：北米#1（２公演）
＊４月15日ー18日：日本（３公演）←★ココ★
＊４月23日：サンフランシスコ公演
・４月28日ー５月14日：北米#2（14公演）
・５月20日ー30日：中南米（７公演）
・６月５日ー18日：欧州（11公演）
《７月１日『RAISED IN CAPTIVITY』発売》
※注：「＊」印は再結成U.K.、「・」印は再結成ASIAの公演。
これが2011年のジョン・ウェットン。８年ぶりにして最後のソロ・アルバム『RAISED IN CAPTIVITY』がリリースされた年としてキウされていますが、実はライヴ活動となるとASIA／U.K.のみ。上記では一見２つのバンドが半々のようにも思えますが、規模はまるで違う。再結成も軌道に乗っていたASIAが世界各地を巡って32公演を行ったのに対し、再始動したばかりのU.K.はわずか６公演だけでした。そして、そのメインは32年ぶりの来日公演。クラブチッタ川崎での３連続公演のみで、本作はその中日で記録されたライヴアルバムなのです。
さて、そんなショウを真空パックした本作は、「超」付きの極上サウンド。当店でお馴染み“西日本最強テーパー”氏の蔵出しマスターなのですが、これがとんでもない業物。オンな芯は極太で轟き、距離感がまったくない一方でセパレート感は絶大。しかもディテールが超細かい。2011年来日と言えば、正真正銘のオフィシャル作品『REUNION: LIVE IN TOKYO』にも残されているものの、交互に再生してもまったく負けていないがびっくりです。
同時リリースとなるASIAの『OSAKA 2010（Amity 705）』でも似たような事を書いていますが、あれは公式側が不甲斐ないからこそのオフィシャル超えという一面もありました。U.K.の『REUNION: LIVE IN TOKYO』はしっかりと公式レベルなために「オフィシャル超えか？」と問われたら迷いますが、完全に並んでいる事には迷わない。強いて違いを挙げるなら「スネアにちょっと空気感があるかな？」という音色レベルだけのもの。気持ちよく伸びる高音も手応えたっぷりの中音域もヴァイヴまで艶やかな重低音も素晴らしく、それらすべてのバランスも均整の美。まさに「完全オフィシャル級」というオーディエンス離れした逸品なのです。
そんな超絶サウンドで描かれるのは、公式作『REUNION: LIVE IN TOKYO』とは似て非なるフルショウ。公式作も来日公演の記録ではありましたが、あちらは３日間から組み上げられた編集作。終始一貫の本作とはセットも異なっているのです。ここで比較しながら整理してみましょう。
●U.K.（13曲）
・憂国の四士：In The Dead Of Night／By The Light Of Day／Presto Vivace And Reprise／Thirty Years／Alaska／Time to Kill／Nevermore
・デンジャー・マネー：Danger Money／Carrying No Cross／Caesar’s Palace Blues／Nothing To Lose（★）／The Only Thing She Needs／Rendezvous 6:02
●その他（４曲）
・キング・クリムゾン：Book of Saturday（★）／Starless／One More Red Nightmare
・ブルーフォード：The Sahara of Snow Part Two（★）
※注：「★」印は公式『REUNION: LIVE IN TOKYO』で聴けなかった曲。
……と、このようになっています。『REUNION: LIVE IN TOKYO』にないのは３曲で、KING CRIMSONの「Book of Saturday」が聴けるのは美味しいですが、最大のポイントは「The Sahara of Snow Part Two」。BRUFORDの『ONE OF A KIND』に収録された曲です。『ONE OF A KIND』ではエディは弾いていないものの、彼とブルーフォードの共作曲なので取り上げられたのでしょう。経緯はどうあれ、この曲が演奏されたのはU.K.全史でも片手で数えられる程度。そんな激レア曲をオフィシャル級の超ダイレクト・サウンドで聴けるとは……。
まさに世界に誇る日本の至宝。公式『REUNION: LIVE IN TOKYO』があるために未公開だったのでしょうが、十分に抜いた現在の耳でも鮮烈極まりない（当時公開されていたらプレス化間違いナシだったのですが……）。とんでもない超絶サウンドに、全世界的にも激レアな名曲。そして、公式作品の裏側を覗くようなワクワク感。あらゆる意味で絶対必聴の初公開ライヴアルバム。どうぞ、存分に味わい尽くしてください。
★32年ぶりの再来日「2011年４月16日クラブチッタ川崎」公演の超絶級オーディエンス録音。“西日本最強テーパー”氏の蔵出しマスターで、とんでもない業物。オンな芯は極太で轟き、距離感がまったくない一方でセパレート感は絶大。しかもディテールが超細かい。オフィシャル作品『REUNION: LIVE IN TOKYO』にもと交互に再生しても負けていない凄まじさで、公式作では聴けない激レア曲「The Sahara of Snow Part Two」や「Book of Saturday」も美味しいフルショウを楽しめる新名盤です。
Disc:1 (56:46)
1. In the Dead of Night
2. By the Light of Day
3. Presto Vivace and Reprise
4. Danger Money
5. Thirty Years
6. Alaska
7. Time to Kill
8. Starless
Disc:2 (74:59)
1. Carrying No Cross
2. Drum Solo
3. Violin Solo
4. Book of Saturday
5. Nevermore
6. One More Red Nightmare
7. Caesar’s Palace Blues
8. The Sahara of Snow Part Two
9. Nothing to Lose
10. The Only Thing She Needs
11. Rendezvous 6:02
John Wetton – Bass, Vocals
Eddie Jobson – Keyboards, Violin
Alex Machacek – Guitar
Marco Minnemann – Drums
Amity 706
