WROCLAW LIVE

Following the successful release of his latest CD "Live At Mt. Fuji", German electronic music pioneer Manuel Gottsching brings us "Wroclaw Live", a stunning live DVD filmed and recorded in the Polish city of the same name. Since the music is the same as what was heard on "Mt. Fuji", this DVD serves as an excellent visual companion to that CD. The opening "Sunrain" sequence sets the overall mood for what's to come. We see Manuel getting a haircut, roaming the Polish streets and setting up for the concert. Then it's off to the concert proper with Manuel sitting at stage left operating his machinery while renowned visual artist Kinga Kielczynska is at stage right providing stunning computer visuals in real-time on the two giant video screens in the middle of the stage. "Saint and Sinner" has a more raw quality musically here that on the "Mt. Fuji" disc but the end results are still stellar. Manuel's guitar work on the piece is flawless and it's great to see some close-up shots of him in action across the fretboard during this relaxing piece. "Trunky Groove", a new Gottsching composition, carries on a dark cinematic quality with its charging dance rhythms and unsettling ambiance. Kinga's visuals of nighttime carnival scenes and flashing lights go perfectly with the music's 'club-like' atmosphere. Manuel's guitar lead during the second half of the piece adds a further dimension of intensity harkening back to Pink Floyd in their prime as well as Manuel's early years with Ash Ra Tempel. "Trunky Groove" fades directly into "Die Mulde" which in my opinion, is the highlight of the entire DVD. 22-minutes of the full 40- minute piece are performed beginning with a brief passage of the title movement accompanied by Kinga's beautiful visuals of a quiet waterfall. When the music merges into the "Spiegel" section, the visuals transition into various scenes moving at fast- forward. This goes hand-in-hand with the hypnotic floating sequencers in this section. Finally, as the music goes into the final "Zerfluss" section, both Manuel and Kinga provide some jaw-dropping moments musically and visually. Manuel's keyboard work is amazing and his guitar solo which follows equally riveting. Kinga's various visuals of trash heaps being dropped and a dog biting someone's pant leg actually do go in context with what's being heard musically. Definitely a great work of art. But it doesn't end there. After a brief acknowledgement to the audience, Manuel and Kinga bring this audio-visual experience to a close with Manuel's 1978 classic "Shuttlecock". Manuel's delayed guitar phrases bring back memories of the piece "Echo Waves" from his acclaimed "Inventions for Electric Guitar" album of 1974 while Kinga provides a visual accompaniment of people dancing in green fields - a suitable choice since this version of "Shuttlecock" is loaded with some great driving dance rhythms. As the music progresses, Manuel lets out all the stops with another ripping guitar lead ala Jimi Hendrix before going into some funk-style rhythm work and an atmospheric keyboard finale. The audience definitely shows their appreciation at the end of this concert and rightfully so. "Wroclaw Live" is an excellent DVD both musically and visually. Manuel Gottsching is still at the height of his powers musically while Kinga Kielczynska definitely has proven why she is in high demand as a talented visual artist. All in all, this DVD comes highly recommended for Manuel Gottsching's long-time fans as well as those who are just discovering him. You get to seem him in full action here with some excellent music and a full visual show to boot. After watching this, you'll definitely being shouting out for more.