Asia/Moscow Live 09-X1-90 Japanese Laser Disc Edition

The Japanese edition laser disc reprint/Asia edition will be released at the same time. This is a video of an outdoor live performance held in the Soviet Union on November 9, 1990, commonly known as "09-X1-90", approximately one month after the Japan performance at the time, with 20,000 spectators gathered at Moscow's Olympiyskiy Stadium. . It was once titled ``Asia Moscow Live'' on domestic video and LD discs in Japan, but the official DVD still does not exist. There is little hope that it will be made into a DVD). In 1990, I was once again surprised that there are two video works that were shot in the same year, "ANDROMEDA - Asia Live 1990" and this work, but this work "Moscow Live" in particular is the best at that time. Backstage and stage setup, the road crew, being interviewed by local media, the members enjoying shopping at the open market, the streets of the time, and above all, the local "Red Square". It has a documentary feel, with plenty of footage shot during the stay, such as the promotional video for ``Prayin' 4 A Miracle,'' which allows you to get a deeper insight into Asia at the time. It was a feature. It's interesting to see how Pat's appearance has changed since June's ``Live 1990,'' as her hair has grown, but the biggest change is that the faces of all the members have become softer. At "Live 1990," there was still a strong sense of fumbling and nervousness, and stiff facial expressions were noticeable, but in Moscow, all the members were expressive and relaxed, not only in backstage and off-shots, but also during the performance. It makes you realize that you are playing. In the end, that wonderful 1990 Japan performance was not officially preserved as a live album or video, but the show and the members' appearances from around the same time, which had a similar structure to the Japanese performance, are included, along with footage full of off-shots. What was left behind was of great significance to us Japanese fans as well. Such Moscow live also had an exceptional quality of the Japanese version LD. If you've seen this video, you'll know that the lighting for this live performance was probably intentionally red. Of course, this is probably due to the image color of a communist socialist country, but the Japanese version of the LD actually has this red color that is very vivid. This is noticeable when looking at the VHS videotape version that was released at the same time, but in the video version, the red color is more blurred, perhaps due to the characteristics of the magnetic tape, and due to the low resolution of the color difference signal, everything that appears (* There is a lack of sharpness, especially in the light sources and the outlines of people. On the other hand, with the LD version, which boasts a horizontal resolution of over 400 lines, the color tones of everything projected are crisp and sharp, making it easy to grasp the shapes and textures of objects, so differences in the amount of information and horizontal resolution depending on the recording medium are ignored. I can see it clearly. At the time of its release (* The release date in Japan was March 31, 1991), there was obviously a lot of added applause, and an unusual guest scene that was probably shot on home video. Although only negative aspects were pointed out, such as the fact that the song has been reused several times, the LD version has such clear picture quality and audio that even the poor editing makes you endearing, and it shows the documentary nature of this live performance to this day. It will tell you. Similar to "Live 1990", which was released at the same time, this work is the first playback from the completely unopened M+ Japanese LD and digitally transferred using the latest equipment, and the beauty of the image is It's so bright that you can't believe your eyes. As for the red component mentioned above, the noise component is as close to zero as there are no playback scratches on the disc, and the audio is also very powerful stereo, and it is probably a quality that cannot be expected any higher at this point. For example, in "Sole Survivor", Wetton's rising voice is more focused in the midrange than the magnetic tape version, and the difference in not only the image quality but also the sound image and the advantage of the recording media are noticeable. . At the bridge in the middle of the song, Pat is tapping, and even at the end, you can see how he colors the sound with a wonderful hard touch without destroying the image of the original song and elevates the music, but this is also a complaint. It flows with wonderful visual beauty without the slightest trace of impurity. Downs's solo part, ``Cutting In Fine'' as a so-called bolero scene, includes documentary footage of Wetton being interviewed by local media, rehearsals, and setting up a set that also mobilizes Russian soldiers. However, even if you take a look at how this set is assembled, it boasts a resolution that allows you to see every single steel frame. This same scene is played in the video version with a much rougher and blurrier image, and it is a scene that clearly shows how much information LD had. In "Days Like These", a strong blue spotlight shines on the entire stage for the first time, from red to blue, and this bold color change is even more brilliant than the video version. On the other hand, in "Rendezvous 6:02," Wetton sings with a pin-spot in the darkness, and the reproduction of the pale lighting and the lustrous coloring of his skin is outstanding, and here is Carl hitting the drums tough in "The Heat Goes On." The winking scene also appears in the highest image quality ever. At the bridge of the song, Downs comes to the front with his shoulder keyboard and the three front members give a passionate performance, and I am once again impressed by the fact that this formation, unique to that time, has been preserved in such exquisite visual beauty. I'm sure you'll remember it. "Prayin' 4 A Miracle" is a scene centered around a promotional video shot in Moscow's "Red Square" at the time, and here too Pat's guitar, Downs' muffler and pants, and a child watching the performance are shown. You will be surprised at how vivid the contrast between the red of the hat and the monochrome basic image is, which is incomparable to the VHS version. ``Go'', which is once again hit by the blue spotlight, has an energetic Wetton singing with more enthusiasm than Nottingham in June, and the passionate performance in the second half of the song, which has been stretched out, is impressive even now. In addition, the contrast between the colors and the light source is spectacular, the sharpness of the reflections on the instruments is on an order of magnitude, and the performance that brings the original power of the song to fruition is revived with the special audio. “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” stands out with its outstanding white grand piano color, and the rare scene where Pat plays the bridge guitar that the original Howe played on his 1982 European tour is also unique to LD. You can follow it perfectly with the tough sound image and super clear video. In "Open Your Eyes," we can visually understand that Wetton was first presented as a singer when he started singing with both hands lowered and standing motionless under a bright blue light, and the bassist's performance in the vivid lighting. You will be thrilled by the excitement of his passionate performance as he appears in the beautiful visuals that are directly connected to the mint LD. If you look at “Heat Of The Moment” again, you will see that it was recorded with a fairly clear sound. The quality of the images is even more outstanding, and the outlines of people are clearly visible even when Pat is wearing black clothes against a jet-black background, and the image quality is maintained right up to the end of the disc. is. After this, the band went on a South American tour in early April 1991, and then Carl left, followed by Pat and Wetton, who left around July, and as you know, their dreams were quickly crushed. (*By the way, I think the first news of Wetton's departure in Japan was on the FM Sound Market program broadcast on September 12, 1991). Considering this, it can be said that this Moscow Live released on March 31, 1991 was the last souvenir left by Asia from 1989 to 1990 when she was a member of Wetton. "I moved to King Crimson in 1972, which was good, but in 1982 I started Asia. There were times when things didn't go well, but this was also the best of my career."As a fan One would expect such a comment, but perhaps for Wetton, musical continuity is the person himself working, and not a particular band. Looking back, it was only a little less than two years, but during that time there were major turning points in history, with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the perestroika and glasnost just before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, during which Asia regenerated and sought a new route.・In light of this, many people will be struck by how vibrantly Wetton is taking on challenges when they see him in this live video. The aim of this work is exactly that, and it is not because Wetton has passed away, but because he is bravely trying again in Asia, which can be said to be the culmination of his career. It is a pressed DVD. It shouldn't happen that such an important title has been out of print for such a long time, with no hope of re-release. This weekend, I hope you will pick up this DVD, which is worthy of permanent preservation, as well as the simultaneously released ``ANDROMEDA: ASIA'S GREATEST HITS LIVE: Laser Disc Edition'' and reunite with the passionate Wetton who took on the challenge. !! Live at Olymmpijski Stadium, Moscow, USSR 9th November 1990 Taken from the original Japanese Laser Disc (CSLM-797) 1. Introduction 2. Only Time Will Tell 3. Sole Survivor 4. Cutting In Fine 5. Days Like These 6. Rendezvous 6:02 7. The Heat Goes On 8. Book Of Saturday 9. Prayin' 4 A Miracle 10. Go 11. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes 12. Open Your Eyes 13. Heat Of The Moment John Wetton - Bass & Vocal Geoffrey Downes - Keyboards Pat Thrall - Guitar Carl Palmer - Drums PRO-SHOT COLOR NTSC Approx.66min.