WORK IN PROGRESS LIVE

Now this is how a live album should sound. Credit Mike Potter and the sound crew at NEARfest 2000 who did an amazing job. DFA are from Italy and this was their first ever show in the USA, and they certainly pulled out all the stops thrilling the crowd. The crowd was so enthusiastic that at one point the singer humbly says "I don't know what to say, i'm surprised". This is by far mostly instrumental but what vocals we get are very well done. What a talented band DFA is though. I highly recommend all of their studio albums.

"Escher" is 10 minutes of spacey synths, keyboard and guitar interplay and intricate drumming. I laughed when I heard the spontaneous burst of applause when this song ended. The crowd was so into it. "Caleidoscopio" is laid back with reserved vocals. I like the melancholic synths before 2 minutes.The song kicks into gear at 3 minutes and vocals return a minute later as it settles again. The tempo continues to shift. Great song ! "Trip On Metro" is the jazziest yet, especially the intro. This one has some KING CRIMSON-like complexity and intricacy. Bombast comes and goes too. Love the guitar before 2 minutes and later before 4 1/2 minutes.

"La Via" is a 15 1/2 minute ride, and my favourite. Bass to start as spacey synths come in. Vocals 1 1/2 minutes in. Outstanding guitar after 4 minutes. Keys come and go. This is all so impressive. A calm before 5 1/2 minutes and it sounds beautiful 6 minutes in. It kicks back in before 7 1/2 minutes. Vocals are back after 8 minutes. Nice. Organ a minute later. It settles again 11 minutes in, vocals before 12 minutes. Spacey synths are back and the guitar grinds it out before 14 minutes. Big finish. Bigger applause ! "Pantera" opens with outbursts of instrumental before settling into an uptempo jazzy mood. Organ and drums impress too. It settles after 3 minutes and piano comes in. The tempo picks back up and the organ returns before 7 minutes. Spacey synths end it. "Ragno" is just another platform for these four guys to amaze us all. The guitar is prominant along with the drumming and keyboards. Some excellent synth work as well. The tempo and mood changes at will throughout. Check out the drumming after 7 1/2 minutes and then the guitar comes in ripping it up. This song is a great way to end this fantastic album.

This is one of those recordings where the joy is in really listening to the way these 4 guys play.