Member:
JFM
Date:
11/11/2005
It’s been a long time coming, but Magenta’s first live DVD is finally here.
I was lucky enough to be at this event when it was filmed earlier this year. I enjoyed the concert and the filming experience enormously, but I did have misgivings about this method of filming a live DVD in this fashion. In an ideal world, I am sure most bands would like to film a handful of actual concerts, and put the best bits together for a complete live experience. But that can be logistically difficult and also horrendously expensive. Of course you can try filming just one concert, but that can be very limiting as you are prone to all sorts of sound/technical problems that you are just going to have to live with – unless you decide to “enhance” the finished product after the fact, which is never a very popular option with fans. So Magenta decided they would hire the Pop Factory venue in South Wales, which has studio and recording facilities as well as the capacity to film live events. So what we would have would be a very professionally filmed event, with a seated audience. My worry was that this relatively sedate and low-key approach would detract from the live atmosphere. But as it turned out, we just treated the night as a normal Magenta concert and whooped and cheered along as we normally do. And thankfully the finished product is a wonderful souvenir of that night and a very fine DVD.
First thing that strikes you is the wonderful, colourful packaging – sporting the new Magenta logo, it has the various album/single covers reflected in a silvery globe floating amongst billowing clouds. This theme is also used to good effect on the DVD menus.
Now, I’m a bit of an audiophile and can be very particular when it comes to sound and picture quality on DVD’s, so my association with the band is very much secondary in that regard.
Sound options are 5.1 and 2-channel stereo. I guess it’s down to personal preference, some people prefer 2-channel stereo for concert DVD’s as it is usually a more dynamic, powerful experience. Personally I like the spaciousness of a 5.1, as long as the mix is ok.
On first kicking off the concert section of the DVD, first impressions were that the picture was pin sharp, almost looks like high definition – so no complaints there. One thing that struck me initially on the 5.1 mix was that the center channel seemed quite prominent. OK, this is perhaps a personal preference issue and maybe it’s just me being a bit too picky – certainly no complaints about having Christina’s wonderful vocal prominent, that’s for sure. However, by the third track the mix evens out and the balance is fine. Bass is very strong, and it’s actually a very powerful, satisfying experience. By then I had just got wrapped up in the whole audio experience of listening to Magenta through my sound system, the neighbors were away so I cranked it up and just watched it right through. And the 2 channel stereo mix really does give your sound system a run for its money, and will please those who want that “you are there” effect for sure.
As I watched the concert, what started to occur to me as it went on was that it actually looked and sounded even better than what I remember from being at the live event. At the actual concert your viewpoint is limited to where you are sitting, but when you see the whole event captured from multiple angles it really does bring it to life.
I remember there was a large plasma screen at the back of the stage with some terrific CGI-style animations of the bands logo and some of the various album covers and promo photos – but it seemed to be largely hidden behind the drum kit on the night from where I was sitting. But with the use of multiple cameras you get to see it in all its glory and it looked great. Talking of visuals, there are occasional camera effects, slo-mo, morphing etc but they are used sparingly and are never distracting or take anything away from the live experience. Nothing worse than someone doing a great guitar solo and you are looking at a shot of trees blowing in the wind or something similar - I’m sure we’ve all seen a few live concert DVD’s that have made that mistake. Thankfully the actual utilization of the camera angles and positioning is very good indeed - lots of movement, sweeping across the front of the stage, looking from behind the band members and tracking the stage from a camera positioned at the rear of the hall. But where the mood of the song demands, the camerawork is also appropriately laid back and steady. A word too about the lighting, which once again comes across superb on the DVD. Lots of colour and very imaginative, framing the band members in reds, greens etc, and bathing the stage in light without being too fussy or overused.
And then there those magical ‘perfect’ moments - the first one comes in the middle of “Children Of The Sun”, during the “Take my hand, protect our land” section. A very complex and difficult vocal section that in the past the band have not always managed to nail down live – but here you have the full frontal attack of Christina, Rob, Martin and Chris singing all of the vocal harmony parts for all they are worth, and the cameras capture every moment of it, with superb intercutting between all of them. That was the first lump in the throat moment and it was only the first viewing. And it gets better – guitarist Chris Fry really goes for it in his solo, and the cameras are swooping and diving all over him to capture the moment perfectly. Awesome.
The second one comes halfway through “Call Me”. The camera is in front of Christina at a distance, and move forward very steadily framing her glowingly in the halo of the light directly behind her, and it’s a superb effect – it’s actually not an effect but you could be forgiven for thinking it is.
Performance-wise, the band were at full strength – they knew they all had to be at their best and they did not hold back, everyone gave 100%, that’s clear.
As for the set list, you get most of Revolutions, (albeit in their customary oft-reworked but always interesting forms), a few of the Seven tracks including my personal favorite “Pride”; the singles “I’m Alive” and “Broken”; the aforementioned “Call Me”; a couple from the soon (?) to be released new album Home, and the current set opener “King Of The Sky” (which at the recent Borderline gig a friend who had not seen the band live for a couple of years remarked “Damn – they’re a metal band!”).
All in all, a very good live document, and great to have the likes of “White Witch”, “Children Of The Sun”, “Genetesis” and “Call Me” as they will probably not be played live for much longer to make way for the newer songs.
On to the extras. A small but satisfying collection, consisting of a few little filmed pieces showing the audience arriving and being interviewed after the show; a couple of interview’s with Rob Reed that are insightful as to the process Rob adheres to when composing and putting material together for a new album’ and an interview with Christina on her influences and musical background (Shock horror – our Tina was a punk!). There is also a montage of photos from the bands triumphant appearance at Rosfest back in May, which brought back some great memories for me.
Though these are relatively short pieces, it’s my experience with DVD extras that it’s best that they don’t outstay their welcome - better to leave people wanting more than just throwing a whole load of irrelevant junk on the disc. I could happily have listened to more of Rob and Christina for example. With DVD’s the extras are just the icing on the cake; it’s the main event that is the real meat and potatoes and in that regard this first Magenta DVD does not disappoint. And who knows, hopefully this is just a first, and there is a lot more archive material around (I know the band shoot a lot of video footage wherever they go), footage from Rosfest maybe, more band interviews that could be filmed etc
OK, you all know I am biased when it comes to Magenta, and I am still waiting for the day when the band falter, give a bad performance, release a bad album etc, but a) as far as I am concerned it has not happened yet and b) if it does be sure I will be honest about my opinions on the subject. Like I said before I am very particular when it comes to good sound and I would be the first to pick fault here.
The simple fact is that in my opinion Magenta’s The Gathering DVD looks and sound a lot better than a lot of more expensive concert DVD’s I have seen by some major bands and artists.
John Morley
08/11/05
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