Technically two releases but available as a two-disc special edition with both the tour Live CD and the remix single for I Regret 2003, this release (or releases) stand as a testament to the talent of De/Vision. The first disc is the live CD recorded over two shows in Berlin and Leipzig, Germany in late April of 2003. To me this has all the elements of what a live CD should sound like. A lot of live albums recorded now just sound to close to the recordings and I think you really miss out on what a live album is. Conversely, I think we've all heard how a bad recording really just feels like a waste of time. This CD sounds live with the full audience interaction but its also very well done. The main reason I feel like a live CD really needs to sound like this is because the only real purpose of these recordings are as a tribute to the band you love. You wouldn't buy a live album from some band you're just trying to get into, otherwise you'd probably get pretty annoyed. The 2nd element that really makes this such a great live disc is that it does a great job promoting the most recent as of its release but also has some of the more popular tracks spread out over several albums (of which De/Vision has a lot, releasing an album no more than two years apart since the first album World Without End in 1993). De/Vision also isn't content with putting on a live show of a singer with some synths, no their shows feature a full band. If you ever get the chance to see De/Vision live I can't emphasize how much you should go. I saw them play at Safari Sam's a few years ago before it closed down (one of my favorite LA Venues, though I'm not sure everyone shared that sentiment) and they were intoxicating. Lead singer Thomas Adam just has a certain way about him that is energetic when he needs to be and completely soulful otherwise, which really translates well to this release. The remix disc is equally great featuring several remixes of the title track I Regret (one of De/Vision's absolute best songs) by some really talented remixers in addition to remixes of Bleed Me White and Try To Forget, and live versions of I Regret (the same version on the first disc), and Blue Moon. I think that Colony 5 has the best remixed track on this release. Colony 5 is one of the better bands to remix which I think often goes unnoticed but checkout the remix here of I Regret and also their remixes of Bruderschaft - Forever (only available on the special edition 2nd disc) and Pigface - Bitch (essentially Colony 5 remixing Dope, which is beyond strange but works really well). The other remixes of I Regret are also good with the VNV Nation one perhaps being the 2nd strongest, the HMB (Daniel Myer of Haujobb, Dennis Ostermann of In Strict Confidence, and Victoria Lloyd of Claire Voyant) is probably the most interesting (I somewhat suspect the remixing duties here were handled mainly by Daniel Myer but its hard to say), and the J.A.B. (José Alvarez-Brill) remix is nothing special but also doesn't hurt the track). The DJ Ram remix of Try To Forget is definitely the 2nd best track on the CD though the Backlash remix of Bleed Me White is equally strong. I think the real treat on this CD though is the live version of Blue Moon which is not included on the main live disc though recorded from the same set of shows. This version features just Thomas Adam and the crowd singing along in a really tender moment that takes full advantage of what a live show/CD is. This double release by one of (if not the) greatest synthpop bands ever is great for both a die-hard fan and club-goer/DJ alike. Favorite Tracks: Try To Forget (Live), Digital Dream (Live), I Regret (Live), Your Hands On My Skin (Live), Drifting Sideways (Live), I Regret (Radio Remix by Colony 5), Bleed Me White (Deadlock Remix by Backlash), Try To Forget (Reminder Remix by DJ Ram), I Regret (VNV Nation Remix), and Blue Moon (Live)
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Album a Day (Live/Remix Edition): De/Vision - Devolution Tour + I Regret 2003
Technically two releases but available as a two-disc special edition with both the tour Live CD and the remix single for I Regret 2003, this release (or releases) stand as a testament to the talent of De/Vision. The first disc is the live CD recorded over two shows in Berlin and Leipzig, Germany in late April of 2003. To me this has all the elements of what a live CD should sound like. A lot of live albums recorded now just sound to close to the recordings and I think you really miss out on what a live album is. Conversely, I think we've all heard how a bad recording really just feels like a waste of time. This CD sounds live with the full audience interaction but its also very well done. The main reason I feel like a live CD really needs to sound like this is because the only real purpose of these recordings are as a tribute to the band you love. You wouldn't buy a live album from some band you're just trying to get into, otherwise you'd probably get pretty annoyed. The 2nd element that really makes this such a great live disc is that it does a great job promoting the most recent as of its release but also has some of the more popular tracks spread out over several albums (of which De/Vision has a lot, releasing an album no more than two years apart since the first album World Without End in 1993). De/Vision also isn't content with putting on a live show of a singer with some synths, no their shows feature a full band. If you ever get the chance to see De/Vision live I can't emphasize how much you should go. I saw them play at Safari Sam's a few years ago before it closed down (one of my favorite LA Venues, though I'm not sure everyone shared that sentiment) and they were intoxicating. Lead singer Thomas Adam just has a certain way about him that is energetic when he needs to be and completely soulful otherwise, which really translates well to this release. The remix disc is equally great featuring several remixes of the title track I Regret (one of De/Vision's absolute best songs) by some really talented remixers in addition to remixes of Bleed Me White and Try To Forget, and live versions of I Regret (the same version on the first disc), and Blue Moon. I think that Colony 5 has the best remixed track on this release. Colony 5 is one of the better bands to remix which I think often goes unnoticed but checkout the remix here of I Regret and also their remixes of Bruderschaft - Forever (only available on the special edition 2nd disc) and Pigface - Bitch (essentially Colony 5 remixing Dope, which is beyond strange but works really well). The other remixes of I Regret are also good with the VNV Nation one perhaps being the 2nd strongest, the HMB (Daniel Myer of Haujobb, Dennis Ostermann of In Strict Confidence, and Victoria Lloyd of Claire Voyant) is probably the most interesting (I somewhat suspect the remixing duties here were handled mainly by Daniel Myer but its hard to say), and the J.A.B. (José Alvarez-Brill) remix is nothing special but also doesn't hurt the track). The DJ Ram remix of Try To Forget is definitely the 2nd best track on the CD though the Backlash remix of Bleed Me White is equally strong. I think the real treat on this CD though is the live version of Blue Moon which is not included on the main live disc though recorded from the same set of shows. This version features just Thomas Adam and the crowd singing along in a really tender moment that takes full advantage of what a live show/CD is. This double release by one of (if not the) greatest synthpop bands ever is great for both a die-hard fan and club-goer/DJ alike. Favorite Tracks: Try To Forget (Live), Digital Dream (Live), I Regret (Live), Your Hands On My Skin (Live), Drifting Sideways (Live), I Regret (Radio Remix by Colony 5), Bleed Me White (Deadlock Remix by Backlash), Try To Forget (Reminder Remix by DJ Ram), I Regret (VNV Nation Remix), and Blue Moon (Live)
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