KOENJIHYAKKEI LIVE AT DOORS

Well, you can't say this dvd was pro-shot, as it uses only 2 (yes, two) cameras: one is a static wide-angle camera to cover the band from a distance, and the other camera just moves from player to player, sometimes in a rush (and some violent moves).

Aside from the rough camera work, you get a wild, high-energy performance from one of the craziest prog groups in Japan. Yoshida is a monster, as usual, handling inhuman drum-work with an ease, like a walk in the park. He's amazing! Kengo the bass player is pretty fast but doesn't have many solos. Miyako the keyboardist is a pleasure to behold, beating up her two keyboards like she's punishing them.

The star of the dvd, in my view, is Kyoko, the main vocalist. The chants like an opera singer, and when she's not singing - she's dancing nicely. Her strong vocal performance is the highlight of the show, although all the other members are working very hard all the time. Take Keiko, the reeds player - she's doing plenty of hard blowing and plenty of solos, but she lacks charisma and presence.

Anyhow, this show is a true blast. They run through most of their 2005 album (Angherr Shisspa), which has great material to choose from. Older stuff is also covered swiftly, with a few hits and classics thrown in together, some of the tracks glued within medleys. I had trouble breathing between songs - the dvd doesn't really let you rest...

I really enjoyed this dvd, more so because Koenji are not gigging outside Japan very often, if at all. No matter where you live, there's very low chance you'll ever see them live (excluding Nearfest X, which doesn't really count). So if you've already got their four studio albums, and you like them, I recommend getting this for understanding how they actually do this crazy stuff on stage.

In short: essential for Koenji fans, and recommended for admirers of Zeuhl, fast prog or extreme prog-metal.

Yesterday I have received this DVD. After no luck in finding it in any european store, I've ordered it at Aquarius Records (aquariusrecords.org).

Shipping was fast (USA to Italy in 14 days) and price was cheap ($22.38 including shipping fee).

I highly recommend anyone enjoying Koenji Hyakkei to get this DVD: the band is fully capable of playing the entire Anger Shisspa even faster!

But if you like KH, you know that it is not just about the technique.. Either you find them amusing or not, but if you do, looking at them while playing their songs gives you an excellent feeling.

The drummer has an easy flow whatever he does, even when playing some complex line while yelling intricates lyrics. The keyboardist is precise and energetic. The bass player is astoundingly rich in his sound. The reed player is somewhere in between improvisation and Hey-I-Know-Exactly-What-I-Am-Doing-And-I-Will-Do-It-Again. The soprano has great voice and a disquieting presence.

The set is quite basic, with cheap video editing, but the sound is clear and the bare images are satisfactory enough.