DVD Review
With the visual medium coming closer to audio all the time, we felt it was time to give DVD it's own space on the FATEA site.
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Battlefield BandTitle:In Concert
Label:Tonn-Mor
Website:
http://www.battlefield.co.uk
There is one thing you'll always get with a Battlefield band release, passion, well passion and great instrumentation, well ok two things. It doesn't matter if it's an audio release or a DVD release, as is the case here, the
Battlefield Band and the team around them manage to get great passion into their sound, especially if the band are performing live as they are here. They are a band that seems to thrive with an audience.
I'll come back to the audio in a minute,I'm in one mind on that. I'm in two distinct minds where the visuals are concerned, it's live footage from a theatre, the band are in a relatively small space and with the deepest respect they are not the most dynamic band in the world as far as stage craft etc. is concerned, pipes and keyboards tend to be a bit restrictive. Actually in the venue, intimate with the band and atmosphere, I'm sure it was a fantastic night. The sound captures that. I don't think the visuals do. Some of the cuts are also a bit 1980s Top Of the Pops. One that works well though is Alasdair's Fiddle Solo that intercuts studio footage.
One thing I did enjoy was the Video Tour Diaries, yes it's a little bit cheesy, yes this sort of thing has been done before, but it does bring you closer to the band. Excerpts of the trip are blended with music by the band. I think it works well. You can't fault the music on "In Concert", but as a video experience, I'm not convinced.
I'll come back to the audio in a minute,I'm in one mind on that. I'm in two distinct minds where the visuals are concerned, it's live footage from a theatre, the band are in a relatively small space and with the deepest respect they are not the most dynamic band in the world as far as stage craft etc. is concerned, pipes and keyboards tend to be a bit restrictive. Actually in the venue, intimate with the band and atmosphere, I'm sure it was a fantastic night. The sound captures that. I don't think the visuals do. Some of the cuts are also a bit 1980s Top Of the Pops. One that works well though is Alasdair's Fiddle Solo that intercuts studio footage.
One thing I did enjoy was the Video Tour Diaries, yes it's a little bit cheesy, yes this sort of thing has been done before, but it does bring you closer to the band. Excerpts of the trip are blended with music by the band. I think it works well. You can't fault the music on "In Concert", but as a video experience, I'm not convinced.
Show Of HandsTitle:Tour Of Topsham March 2007
Label:Hands On Music
Website:
http://www.showofhands.co.uk
Conventionally when you're playing a warmup tour to get yourself gig fit for your third sell out show at the Royal Albert Hall, you keep the film of the warm up for home viewing and release The Royal Albert Hall footage. Well no
one can ever accuse Show Of Hands of being conventional, so welcome to the 'Tour Of Topsham' A five day tour through their home Devon range.
The tour started in The Cafe, moved to The Bridge Inn, then onto the Rugby Club. After that it was the turn of The Globe Hotel before the finale at Darts Farm. Ultimately though it's not the venues that matter, it's the music and the sentiment behind it. Whilst Show Of Hands can and do sell out the Royal Albert Hall and other large venues up and down the country, they can also be found playing village halls and folk clubs. There's symbolism aplenty on this disk. Playing "Roots" in the public bar of a pub puts a direct show across the bows of Labour minister Kim Howles who said his idea of hell was three folk singers in a pub near Wells. Great reply lads.
Regular bass player, Miranda Sykes, joins the band for the last three fifths of the tour. It's really a DVD with a message. Folk music is best experienced live with family and friends in live venues. There is an Englishness that can be celebrated without fear of bigotry, we just need to claim our heritage back and claim it. "Tour Of Topsham" provides a real sense of perspective with some great music.
The tour started in The Cafe, moved to The Bridge Inn, then onto the Rugby Club. After that it was the turn of The Globe Hotel before the finale at Darts Farm. Ultimately though it's not the venues that matter, it's the music and the sentiment behind it. Whilst Show Of Hands can and do sell out the Royal Albert Hall and other large venues up and down the country, they can also be found playing village halls and folk clubs. There's symbolism aplenty on this disk. Playing "Roots" in the public bar of a pub puts a direct show across the bows of Labour minister Kim Howles who said his idea of hell was three folk singers in a pub near Wells. Great reply lads.
Regular bass player, Miranda Sykes, joins the band for the last three fifths of the tour. It's really a DVD with a message. Folk music is best experienced live with family and friends in live venues. There is an Englishness that can be celebrated without fear of bigotry, we just need to claim our heritage back and claim it. "Tour Of Topsham" provides a real sense of perspective with some great music.
Fairport ConventionTitle:Tony Palmer's Film Of Fairport Convention & Matthews Southern Comfort
Label:Voiceprint
Website:
http://www.voiceprint.co.uk
Originally recorded back in 1970, this film was recently rediscoverd and has had to be carefully restored under the auspices of the original director, Tony Palmer.
It features what is considered to be one of the all time great Fairport line ups, Richard Thompson, Simon Nicoll, Dave Pegg, Dave Swarbrick and Dave Mattacks. Support coming from Matthews Southern Comfort.
Thirty eight years has dated the film somewhat. This is mostly brought home by the youthful introduction by a certain Mr John Peel. Time, production and audio techniques have moved on. What was cutting edge feels a bit home made now and in many ways that really adds to both the charm and importance on the release.
It was a very different time, the band performed between a dog display and an appearance by the helicopters of the army air corp. A telling comment, the impact of which wouldn't be understood for years, is a request to ensure Dave Swarbrick gets a cigarette.
At just over thirty one minutes, for both bands, the DVD seems a touch short, but that's to ignore the importance of the content. This is two of the biggest folk rock acts of the time, effectively performing at a glorified garden fete. The music industry was a very different beast back then. It really is a dellight to be able to connect to it all these years later.
It features what is considered to be one of the all time great Fairport line ups, Richard Thompson, Simon Nicoll, Dave Pegg, Dave Swarbrick and Dave Mattacks. Support coming from Matthews Southern Comfort.
Thirty eight years has dated the film somewhat. This is mostly brought home by the youthful introduction by a certain Mr John Peel. Time, production and audio techniques have moved on. What was cutting edge feels a bit home made now and in many ways that really adds to both the charm and importance on the release.
It was a very different time, the band performed between a dog display and an appearance by the helicopters of the army air corp. A telling comment, the impact of which wouldn't be understood for years, is a request to ensure Dave Swarbrick gets a cigarette.
At just over thirty one minutes, for both bands, the DVD seems a touch short, but that's to ignore the importance of the content. This is two of the biggest folk rock acts of the time, effectively performing at a glorified garden fete. The music industry was a very different beast back then. It really is a dellight to be able to connect to it all these years later.
Waking The WitchTitle:Waking The Witch Live
Label:Voiceprint
Website:
http://www.wakingthewitch.co.uk
With "Boys From The Abattoir" having been in our top 3 albums for 2007, now seems like a good time to go back and look at the concert that launched the album onto an unsuspecting public. "Waking The Witch Live" is all the more
poigninant as the band have announced that they will be splitting following their Spring tour.
As well as the core Witches, Rach, Patsy, Jools & Bex, the girls also pulled in the other musicians that played on the album. It gives the concert a stunning sound. Even more stunning than the pair of purple boots that make an appearance through out.
Waking The Witch consist of four great, writers, singers and performers. "Live", recorded at the City Varieties, Leeds, so virtually a home town gig, captures all of that ability fueled by the buzz of launching a new album. It ferments a cauldron of blistering performances.
If I'm getting that off the DVD, imagine what it must have been like being there.
Here is a band captured at the very peak of their powers. It also captures them at a very human moment. You can sense the nervous tension at the start of the gig, when they're not fully sure how the new material is going to be recieved and the subsequent relief, not far in, when they realise theyive hit the nail on the head.
As concert footage goes, this comes out of the top draw, all that remains is to wish the girls well with their individual projects.
As well as the core Witches, Rach, Patsy, Jools & Bex, the girls also pulled in the other musicians that played on the album. It gives the concert a stunning sound. Even more stunning than the pair of purple boots that make an appearance through out.
Waking The Witch consist of four great, writers, singers and performers. "Live", recorded at the City Varieties, Leeds, so virtually a home town gig, captures all of that ability fueled by the buzz of launching a new album. It ferments a cauldron of blistering performances.
If I'm getting that off the DVD, imagine what it must have been like being there.
Here is a band captured at the very peak of their powers. It also captures them at a very human moment. You can sense the nervous tension at the start of the gig, when they're not fully sure how the new material is going to be recieved and the subsequent relief, not far in, when they realise theyive hit the nail on the head.
As concert footage goes, this comes out of the top draw, all that remains is to wish the girls well with their individual projects.