Customer Reviews for
A Sound Relief
Love the DVD but where's Leaves?
I would have loved if they would have performed Leaves.....but still a wonderful DVD. A great review by Ivor.
The long awaited event in the history of The Gathering took place at Paradiso, Amsterdam on the 23rd of May 2005 when the band held two concerts on the same day for DVD recording. It was a special event because during the 15 years of their existence no proper live footage has been released. True, Century Media had the "In Motion" DVD issued in 2002 but the band had no saying in its production. It's also special, because the recording of the DVD is their only live event of the year (if you don't count a small warm-up gig five days earlier).
It hasn't really occurred to me to have a seated gig but after seeing this show I cannot agree more that to enjoy The Gathering's music live you would need something that looks like the Paradiso theater. A beautiful place, if I'm to judge its inner appearance; it's something that fits the music. The stage set-up is appropriately great, even to the small details. Starting from the big ornamented windows of the theater in the back wall and huge video screen in the center, drums and keyboards on the pedestals in the back, respectively on the left and right, ending with guitar on the left, bass on the right and Anneke in the front with the microphone decorated with flowers.
The lighting is kept in the warm tones: shades of yellow, red, and green, add to the rich color of the music itself. The show is filmed with many cameras and each member of the band has a fair share of the screen time. You are often switched between different cameras, different angles and close-ups and even get to see some of the video material projected on the screen at the back of the stage. Even though I generally dislike such cuts while watching the show, this time it was very fitting with the music. And although the band itself is not very dynamic on the stage, by all these variations you still get the impression of the slowly flowing river. Slow, because of the music.
What is important here is that the sound production is awesome. If the "In Motion" DVD had pretty lousy sound then this time you are served with top quality, properly balanced instruments and sound levels. Most of the material played originates from the "How to Measure a Planet?" and "Souvenirs" albums with a couple of songs from "if_then_else," "Mandylion" and even "Almost a Dance." As the band promised before the recording, the songs performed are the slower, mellow and more beautiful parts of their work. But as the fans of The Gathering already know, slow rarely means simple in their music. The changing nature and many layers give plenty to listen to and look at. Ren? skillfully playing guitar, Marjolein, their not so new bass-player, enjoying the show on the bass, Hans drumming complicated rhythms, Frank creating atmosphere on keyboards and of course the unmatchable Anneke singing. She's still one of the best and most emotional singers around.
All these members together as one, enjoying the performance, playing for themselves and for the audience, with passion and devotion, is what makes this show special. It's the simple truth that while you watch and listen you are part of another world. You are somewhere else on the visual journey with the band wishing for the emotional atmosphere to last. And even though my opinion of the band may be biased the live performance was absolutely outstanding. If you add to it a very good production then you get a product that is brilliant. I tend to think that this release is the best one of my collection, even if I take a half point away it's because I wasn't there. People who like The Gathering's latest works will not be disappointed. Others should at least have a look at it to know what quality means.
A Sound Relief
Without a doubt, worth the wait
I always knew The Gathering's music was a complete musical experience (such is the case with Tool's music), but until I saw A Sound Relief I couldn't have begun to fathom how they would be able to take their pristine studio sound and make it even comparable on stage.
The answer is quite simple really, just play the songs the way you played them in the studio. Anneke, in my opinion, is the pinnacle of female musicians. Her voice is exactly the same live as it is on the CDs and her demeanor on stage is perfect. She doesn't take spotlight from the group yet she's not passive either.
The Gathering has a sound all their own and ranges from extremely experimental to rock. I was worried that songs such as Travel and In Motion II wouldn't translate very well live, boy was I wrong. In all actuality, hearing them live makes you love the song even more, and the band playing the song perfectly doesn't hurt either. The focus The Gathering shows during their performance is quite clear as the camera doesn't just sit on Anneke as you might think.
The songs played are great, though I won't lie, I would've loved to have heard You Learn About It as well. One song that really surprised me is A Life All Mine. I liked the song on Souvenirs but wouldn't have made time for it. On A Sound Relief it's one of the best songs played. The other astounding song, Like Fountains, is where Anneke simply steals the show.
My favorite songs are Rescue Me, Travel, A Life All Mine, Marooned, and Like Fountains. If you're new to The Gathering, this DVD is highly recommended. You get to see the band in one of the more intimate feeling shows I've seen, and you get to hear them play some of their best songs. Disc 2 seems to be aimed more toward the established fan, as it contains a few interviews and additional songs. I couldn't have put together a more perfect DVD of The Gathering if I tried, definitely pick this up.A Sound Relief
Gathering: surprising as usual
I listen and watched this DVD twice before realize what amazin band Gatherig is. I had their whole collection, and still their magic remain untouched.
Check out the credits, two guys from Chile, my country. How bizarre is that!A Sound Relief
The Gathering First Fifteen Years
This is a very interesting retrospective of this remarkable Netherlands ensamble known as the Gathering, this DVD edition features two DVDs , the first part contains 14 live cuts from previous albums in its more pure form, noise is keept at the lowest and the beautifull ethereal atmosphere the Gathering creates fills the space, "Broken Glass" is one of the more sublime and emotive moments as well "souvenirs" but the complete track listing is touching by far "herbal movement", "travel" etc. the whole performance is epic i must say , this time show is very sober being the music the most important thing to enjoy, as another reviewer states total length of this concert is maybe short but in essence you feel pleased with the material you enjoy.
Part Two is also enjoyable this consists of a tour retrospective you feel like youre a part of the last world tour The Gathering made before Anneke became mother and the band decided to take a breake, before that they visited Chile, France, Mexico, Russia, Belgium, Hungary , Canada , Italy, Portugal and brief glimpses of every city they visited with funny situations, long waits in airports, soundchecks, inteviews, fun in the tour bus etc. you can witness, this is followed by an interview with the band regarding their fifteen years together , they talk about their beginings, how Anneke joined from the third album , the process of maturity and the transittion from Metal band to progressive Metal Band to a simply progressive atmospherical band , they talk also about their future plans and the album that will follow "souvenirs".
Next Part is an italian TV special with interviews too were among other things the new bass player talks about how she joined the band and the last part consist of five animation videos made by different visual artists.
As you can realize this is a delightfull combo wich i reccomend you to get and enjoy because the Gathering are currently in a very well deserved breake and this could be the last we can have from them for a while as well the double cd "accesories" with rarities and bsides wich shortly i promiss to review here
HM
A Sound Relief
Captivating!
I rate this with one less star only because of its short length. I had hoped that the DVD format would allow this band to gather all kinds of live footage and finally put out a comprehensive release, or at least contain a two-hour show - unfortunately, this 2005 concert clocks in at about 76 minutes. But what a 76 minutes it is! The song selection, for me, was perfect, focusing on the more atmospheric part of the band's catalog, while also breathing new life into all of the songs, both old and new. So, if you think you've heard these songs enough via their studio versions, then think again, and pick this up. Second, the DVD focuses on the band without the usual MTV-style editing that so many concert discs are guilty of. The camera just casually glides between each member, out to the audience, back to a long view of the whole band, etc. occasionally focusing on the 3-D animation that the they use as a stage backdrop. Most importantly, the sound and performances are EXCELLENT, and singer Anneke is simply mesmerizing. The second disc, which I have yet to watch, is made up of several TV specials and documentaries, and this is where I wish they could have included some additional live footage from other eras of the band's past. Despite those shortcomings, though, this is a DO NOT MISS disc!A Sound Relief
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