UK / Live Under The Bridge 2015 / 2CD

UK / Live Under The Bridge 2015 / 2CD / Virtuoso

Translated Text:
Under The Bridge, Chelsea Football Club, London, UK 1st March 2015

uk-15live-under-bridge1

Click Image To Enlarge

uk-15live-under-bridge2

 

Finally the UK that “this really the end” is announced to have, you will receive finally sound source of 2015 Final World Tour. Would not many people you are greeted when this complex feelings from being announced that perform the last concert as UK in 2015 on Eddie’s home page at the end of last year. This final tour has finished the European tour of leg first half as already starting from Poland from this year February 22 of 2015, of the current as the second half of the United States leg, and as history Close ultimate destination of the band here in Japan 2’re ahead performances the (April 28, Osaka Namba hatch / same the 30th Tokyo Nakano Sun Plaza) in the you know if those who are gotten available shop.

End of the European leg had already completed what is recorded in this work, that of March 1, the UK London show the first day, the original that has been provided by the recording in person of local residents, it is not listen only in this work You are using a master (※ has not been published at all even on the net). The sound quality has become a thing of high quality that texture and outlook good of transparency with damp stand out, making it the best audience recordings were tightly focus to the subject in modern digital sound. Also, have become a thing of the top class in the UK reunion of the past except for the time when playing grade also Terry is back, would be a big topic also is suggests points would had piled up apparently polite rehearsal . This situation has appeared very remarkable in particular and Donati, and the Wet ‘n’ of performance. While these changes and improvements in performance surface try pleasure a digital high-grade live recording, the firmly grasp can be the final UK latest movement of Japan just before it has become a feature of this work!

Made a small start “Thirty Years” will rise to solemnly from the SE sound that is full of deep sense of transparency. Outlook good the sound has delicate texture such as lake surface illuminated in almost a month in the jet-black darkness, and it is sharply broken fall as soon as the performance sound from 5 minutes 16 seconds came out, transparency Final UK ensemble to become a high heavy sound of will rise strongly. Texture of its power some music and sound will captivate reliably listeners from this opening song. “Nevermore” is a concerted dialogue diligently Oeru the point of each instrument wavering in mellow Kyokuso. Well “beauty of the skeleton is beautiful” There is sometimes referred to as, but because there is a good prospect and texture of sound enjoyment of music structure Yukeru chasing in just like skeleton model Let Mose and point here. Sensual melody soar, middle portion of drumming witty of Donati that stand out from the early Yuku at stake violently with Eddie keyboard beautifully before (especially 3 minutes and 46 seconds to) is heinous, such as just music stand scent tone in it should become your feel the oncoming here. “Carrying No Cross” in I jumped at the sound raw voice and playing weave delicate representation of Wet ‘n’ that growth is full of moisture. Finale just before in surfacing to come based motion (~ 10 minutes 33 seconds) is showing off a phrase that inspired “Epitaph” of King Crimson, while issued a strong sound of Wet ‘n’ seems to attack, leaving the interesting listening meet also is characterized by have finished the song Te. “Rendezvous 6:02” Ai tapestries in dense is real voice of piano and Wet ‘n’, and the first half of that can be precisely because the original two, of expansion unit that is spelled out in some new interpretation to say the model year 2015 (※ ~ 2 minutes and 20 seconds) contrast has become a thing very interesting. It is never flashy, but it has become a quiet final UK soul of combustion is felt wonderful scene that spelled in pathos, we are not suggesting that the musical vocabulary by this lineup has increased. This is probably the very new form of 21st century UK.

To start by changing from the end of the drum solo “In The Dead Of Night” is pop out the sound that is playing is full of uplifting feeling full of real, full marks meet listen Yuku drawn in dash feeling is strong brushwork to spit on the reservoir of scene making it the. Song to transformation “By The Light Of Day” in polite playing that to suggest that piled the rehearsal (especially playing and singing of Wet ‘n’), the only Kumadori and sense of scale of representation is out bleeding firmly, and final UK But we are told well that you are moving by enthusiasm there workings of members. “Presto Vivace And Reprise” For example glimpse the goodness of Tsubuzoroi ensemble also unity of band at, superb performance accompanied by a three-dimensional DRIVE feeling will enjoy charm you with vivid sound image. “Forever Until Sunday” in it blossomed so that sound that spread to boost the confidence of playing force, how the expression Yuku spelled in rich shades of 21st century variegated along with the hook of the song that enters occasionally is a masterpiece . “Caesar’s Palace Blues” In there is a joy to Oeru in motility of height beauteous sound quality, for example, to sing to the audience by providing three places a short break before the rush of the violin solo, is where a review of the structure surface is also interesting. “The Only Thing She Needs” also deployed in tough sound, three-dimensional appearance and variety of facial expressions of performance would dance heart to joy appearing in high-quality sound. There is no difference to overwhelmed to play that road to beat heading into the second half from the middle. Configuration that at the same time as this of Finale “Carrying No Cross” is the show to reprise even a novel, making it last until the surprise final UK is prepared with between 108 minutes that road to excitement.

As last year Pink Floyd put an end to its history, after unfortunately “patriotism of Yon-shi” who has become the only leave the final performance of in April the United States and Japan. That chose to avid fans often here in Japan the band final performance areas history Close because of not only the band side, we are also going to be a big event of the year for the Japanese fans. The UK changes in the remarkable representation of some of the music that can be found in performance is expressed as any in Japan, what kind do Will be engraved in the hearts of people. The polite rehearsal was superimposed it is suggests sense of unity with the expressive power of ensemble width, or Will scatter flowers of the full bloom all at once by how increased in April Japan. Perhaps this time of Osaka, and in particular of unprecedented at Nakano Sun Plaza “UK! UK! UK!” Would have large call arise. This work is also in order to keep the preparation of mind that is wrapped in the cheers should be the best of the title. Limited numbering sticker with Picture disc specification, popular Virtuoso label to continue to send it carefully selected only the high-quality titles, and finally up to deliver the excitement and emotion of the final UK this weekend !!

 

いよいよ「これで本当に最後」とアナウンスされたU.K.の、2015年ファイナル・ワールドツアーの音源が遂に届きます。昨年末にエディのホームページ上で2015年にU.K.として最後のコンサートを行うと発表されてからこの時を複雑な気持ちで迎えられている方も多いのではないでしょうか。このファイナル・ツアーは既に今年2015年の2月22日からポーランドを起点としてレグ前半のヨーロッパ・ツアーを終えており、現在はレグ後半としての米国、そしてバンドの歴史を閉じる最終到達地としてここ日本での2公演(4月28日・大阪なんばhatch / 同30日・東京 中野サンプラザ)を控えているのは当店を御利用戴いている方であれば御存知でしょう。

本作に収録されているのは既に終了したヨーロッパ・レグの終盤、3月1日・英国ロンドン公演初日のもので、現地在住の録音者本人から提供された、本作でしか聴けないオリジナル・マスターを使用しています(※ネット上にも一切公開されていません)。その音質は湿り気のある質感と見通し良好の透明度が際立つ高品位なものとなっており、現代デジタル・サウンドで対象にきっちりフォーカスした極上オーディエンス録音となっています。また演奏のグレードもテリーが戻った時期を除けばこれまでのU.K.リユニオンの中でトップクラスのものとなっていて、明らかに丁寧なリハーサルを重ねたのであろう事が伺える点も大きなトピックスでしょう。この様子は特にドナティと、そしてウエットンのパフォーマンスに大変顕著に現れています。こうしたパフォーマンス面での変化と向上をデジタル・ハイグレードな実況録音で愉しみながら、来日直前のファイナルU.K.最新の動きをしっかり把握出来るのが本作の特徴となっています!

ショウスタートとなる「Thirty Years」は深い透明感に充ちたSE音の中から厳かに立ち上がります。見通しの良いそのサウンドはまるで漆黒の暗闇の中で月に照らされた湖面の様な繊細な質感があり、それが5分16秒からの演奏音が出た途端に鋭く砕け散ると、透明度の高い重厚な響きとなってファイナルU.K.のアンサンブルが力強く立ち上がります。その威力ある演奏と音の質感はこのオープニング曲から確実に聴き手を虜にするでしょう。「Nevermore」はメロウな曲想の中で揺れ動く各楽器の協奏的対話がつぶさに追えるのがポイントです。よく” 美人は骨格が美しい “と言われることがありますが、音の見通しと質感が良いので楽曲構造がスケルトン・モデルさながらに追ってゆける愉しさがここでのポイントと申せましょう。官能的な旋律が舞い上がり、序盤から目立つドナティの機知に富んだドラミングがエディのキーボードと激しく絡んでゆく中間部(特に3分46秒~)などは凶悪なまでに美しく、まさに音楽が香り立つ音色でこちらに向かってくるのをお感じになる筈です。「Carrying No Cross」では伸びのあるウエットンの生声と演奏が織り成す繊細な表現が潤い溢れる音色で飛び出します。終曲直前で浮上してくるベースの動き(10分33秒~)は、ウエットンらしいアタックの強い響きを出しながらキング・クリムゾンの「Epitaph」を髣髴させるフレーズを披露しており、興味深い聴き応えを残して曲を終えているのも特徴です。「Rendezvous 6:02」はピアノとウエットンの肉声が濃密に綴れ合い、オリジナルの2人だからこそ可能な前半と、2015年式とも言うべき新しい解釈で綴られる展開部(※2分20秒~)の対比が大変興味深いものとなっています。決して派手ではありませんが、しかし静かな情念の中で綴られるファイナルU.K.の魂の燃焼が感じられる素晴らしいシーンとなっており、この布陣による音楽的ボキャブラリーが増えたことを伺わせています。これはまさに21世紀型U.K.の新たな姿と言えるでしょう。

ドラムソロの終わりから変化してスタートする「In The Dead Of Night」は躍動感に充ちた演奏が実の詰まったサウンドで飛び出し、溜めて吐き出す疾走感が強い筆致で描かれてゆく聴き応え満点のシーンとなっています。曲が変容する「By The Light Of Day」もリハを重ねた事を伺わせる丁寧な演奏で(特にウエットンの歌唱と演奏)、表現の隈取りやスケール感がしっかり滲み出ているだけに、ファイナルU.K.がメンバーの熱意ある営みによって動いている事をよく伝えています。「Presto Vivace And Reprise」での粒揃いなアンサンブルもバンドの纏まりの良さが垣間見え、立体的でドライヴ感を伴った極上の演奏が鮮やかな音像でお愉しみ戴けるでしょう。「Forever Until Sunday」では広がりのある響きが演奏力の確かさを後押しする様に花開き、時折入る曲のフックと共に変化に富んだ21世紀型の表現が濃淡豊かに綴られてゆく様子は圧巻です。「Caesar’s Palace Blues」では運動性の高さが麗しい音質で追える喜びがあり、ヴァイオリン・ソロの突入前に短いブレイクを3箇所設けて観客に歌わせるなど、構成面での見直しも興味深いところです。「The Only Thing She Needs」もタフな音像で展開し、演奏の立体感と表情の多彩さが質の高いサウンドで現れる喜びに心踊るでしょう。中盤から後半に向かうビートに充ちた演奏には圧倒されるに違いありません。これの終曲と同時に「Carrying No Cross」がリプライズして終演するという構成も斬新で、最後までファイナルU.K.が用意した驚きと興奮に充ちた108分間となっています。

去年ピンク・フロイドがその歴史に幕を下ろした様に、残念ながら” 憂国の四士 “達も後は4月の米国と日本での最終公演を残すのみとなってしまいました。熱心なファンが多いここ日本をバンドの歴史を閉じる為の最終公演地に選んだ事はバンド側だけでなく、私達日本のファンにとっても今年の大きな出来事となりそうです。この英国公演で確認出来る幾つかの楽曲の目覚ましい表現の変化は日本ではどの様に表現され、どの様に人々の心に刻まれるのでしょうか。また丁寧なリハを重ねた事が伺えるアンサンブルの一体感と表現力の幅は、4月の日本でどれほど高まってその満開の花を一斉に散らすのでしょうか。恐らく今度の大阪、そして特に中野サンプラザではかつて無いほどの「U.K.! U.K.! U.K.!」大コールが沸き起こるでしょう。その歓声に包まれる心の準備をしておく為にも本作は最適のタイトルとなる筈です。限定ナンバリングステッカー付き・ピクチャーディスク仕様で、質の高いタイトルだけを厳選してお送りし続ける好評Virtuosoレーベルが、いよいよこの週末にファイナルU.K.の感動と興奮をお届けに上がります!!

Disc 1(63:58)
1. Thirty Years 2. Nevermore 3. Eddie Jobson Introduction 4. Carrying No Cross 5. Alaska
6. Time To Kill 7. Eddie Jobson Introduction 8. Keyboard Solo 9. Violin Solo
10. John tton Introduction 11. Rendezvous 6:02

Disc 2(44:13)
1. Drum Solo 2. In The Dead Of Night 3. By The Light Of Day 4. Presto Vivace And Reprise
5. Forever Until Sunday 6. Caesar’s Palace Blues 7. The Only Thing She Needs
8. Carrying No Cross Reprise

John tton – Bass, Vocals Eddie Jobson – Keyboards, Violin Virgil Donati – Drums
Alex Machacek – Guitar

Virtuoso 247/248

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.